Box Office - 2009 Officially Goes for $10.61 Billion

We told you last week that 2009 toppled the all-time annual box office record, becoming the first year to eclipse $10 billion. But that was before the last week of the year, one that included incredible returns for Avatar and solid follow-ups for Sherlock Holmes and Alvin and the Chipmunks. So the grand total for the domestic box office was $10.61 billion, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and that's almost a full billion bucks more than 2008. Avatar, Transformers, Harry Potter, Star Trek, and Up were all huge successes, roughly to their expected goals prior to their release. But 2009 was prodded along by surprise hits, too, like The Hangover, The Blind Side, and Taken, to name just a few. They helped the year slough off some slower-than-expected returns on blockbusters that weren't, like Terminator Salvation and Wolverine. Admissions were up 4% across the board, and the 8% climb in revenue reflects ever so slightly higher ticket prices and more people paying increased rates for 3-D and IMAX presentations. Warner Bros. was the lead dog by quite a bit, and we've charted the top studios below. Here's another interesting tidbit, by the by: 2009 is responsible for the top-earning months for eight months out of the year, while 2007 holds down the records in March, April, July, August, and September. The top-grossing studios of 2009: 1 - Warner Bros. ($2.13 billion)
2 - Paramount ($1.46 billion)
3 - Fox ($1.45 billion)
4 - Sony ($1.44 billion)
5 - Disney ($1.21 billion)
6 - Universal ($900 million) Looks like NBC/Universal's fortunes aren't only bad on the small screen. That's quite a discrepancy between first and sixth. You can kind of understand the pile-up in the middle of the pack, but Warners is way, way out in front. Its 2009 total, too, is a new standard for success.

Comments

[Aaron]

Fuck! how are warner bros not bankrupt?

2.13 Million?

LOL!

[Get The Big Picture]

Yeah, yeah...I fixed it, smart ass...

[W]

I haven't researched it enough, but if you include Fox Searchlight with FOX...which I think you should...they are number 2. Warner Bros. makes the most movies and has the most overhead, but I think they still take the prize for profit. I would love to see the profit with television/vod/online media included.

[Honz Brix]

I was reading somewhere that when Avatar and Chipmunks are done Fox may actually overtake WB. Don't know if the money after New Years still counts but i remember reading that yesterday somewhere

[Nelson]

once again, Warner Bros dominates

[SEAN]

Disney may have took a closer shot at Sony if...The Princess Frog didnt flop...which is disheartening b/c hand animation is so brilliant and classic...I seriously hope they dont give up on it.