The aftermath of Christmas has always been a lucrative time for the film industry, with moviegoers flocking to theaters to continue the holiday cheer. However, this year’s post-Christmas box office results took a surprising turn, as Warner Bros’ “Wonka” claimed the top spot with a disappointing $8.9 million. This figure marks the second lowest earnings for a number one movie after Christmas since 2000, just ahead of Warner Bros’ “Wonder Woman 1984,” which made $5.8 million during a time when many cinemas were closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the past two years, the highest-grossing movie on December 26th has easily surpassed $30 million in a single day. Blockbusters like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Avatar: The Way of Water” set the bar high in the post-pandemic era. However, the post-Christmas momentum seems to have dwindled significantly this year, with “Wonka” and its meager earnings as evidence. In 2019, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” raked in a record-breaking $56.7 million on December 26th, showcasing the immense potential of holiday moviegoing.
Warner Bros/DC’s “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom,” which enjoyed a successful opening weekend with a four-day gross of $38.3 million, dropped to the second spot with $8.3 million on December 26th, representing a 21% decrease from Christmas day. The lackluster performance of this highly-anticipated sequel only adds to the disappointment of the post-Christmas box office. It is difficult to ignore the stark difference in numbers compared to previous years when audiences flocked to theaters during the holiday season.
Despite its outstanding revival of the movie musical genre in a challenging marketplace, Warner Bros’ “The Color Purple” experienced a significant decline in its box office figures. The film made $7 million on December 26th, a steep drop of 61% from Christmas day’s impressive $18.15 million. It is important to note that the musical’s opening day gross was bolstered by a group sales program executed by the studio. This disparity becomes even more apparent when comparing it to Universal’s 2012 musical feature, “Les Miserables,” which had a better second-day hold with a 33% decrease and $12.1 million in earnings.
“Wonka” is expected to cross the $100 million mark domestically on its release day at 4,213 theaters, while “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” reaches $46.6 million at 3,706 theaters, and “The Color Purple” accumulates $25.1 million with its two Golden Globe nominations. Some may argue that the day of the week played a role since December 26th fell on a Tuesday in 2022 and a Sunday in 2021. However, even considering this factor, the post-Christmas daily grosses for “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Avatar: The Way of Water” were significantly higher at over $21 million each, showcasing a clear disparity with “Wonka” and “Aquaman 2.”
Other notable films in the post-Christmas landscape include Illumination/Universal’s “Migration,” which earned $6.5 million on December 26th, a 22% increase from Christmas day, bringing its total to $24.3 million after five days. Amazon MGM’s “The Boys in the Boat,” directed by George Clooney, grossed $3 million on Tuesday, representing a 47% decrease from Christmas and accumulating a two-day total of $8.7 million. The film, which lacks marquee stars, is performing well in the flyover states and has received an A CinemaScore. Sony’s “Anyone But You” takes sixth place with $2.6 million on December 26th, a 28% increase from Christmas, and a total of $10.7 million across 3,055 locations over five days. A24’s “The Iron Claw” lands in seventh place with $1.7 million, a 12% decrease from Christmas, and a running total of $8.5 million at 2,774 theaters. Finally, NEON’s “Ferrari,” directed by Michael Mann, takes the eighth spot with $1.5 million, a 47% decrease from Christmas, and an overall total of $4.4 million, including previews of $2.85 million. While “Ferrari” enjoyed a slightly higher gross on Christmas day compared to “All the Money in the World,” its earnings on December 26th fell just below that of the Ridley Scott film.
Films that open on Christmas day typically experience a significant boost in box office earnings, often reaching ten times their opening day gross. However, this rule does not apply to Christmas Eve previews. While the box office disappointment of the post-Christmas season may be disheartening for the industry, it is essential to remember that these are just individual cases in an overall landscape that is still adjusting to the uncertainties brought about by the ongoing pandemic. Let us remain hopeful that upcoming releases will provide the much-needed spark to reignite the holiday moviegoing tradition.