Breaking Box Office Records: The Sole Blockbuster of 2023 That Turned a Profit
Despite numerous high-grossing films in 2023, only a solitary big-budget movie has managed to turn a profit, defying expectations and industry trends
In 2023, despite impressive movie numbers, only one big-budget film has managed to turn a profit. Many credit the resurgence of cinema to films like Barbie and Oppenheimer, which brought audiences back to theaters and redefined the communal experience of watching a movie.
The concert movie industry has been revolutionized, with films like Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and Beyoncé Renaissance pulling in millions of dollars in their opening weekends. Despite this, new reports indicate that only one 2023 movie with a budget of over $200 million has managed to turn a profit.
Only one big-budget 2023 movie has made a profit
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which was released back in May, is the only big-budget movie to have made a profit in 2023.
With a starting budget of $250 million, the MCU film featuring Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana surpassed $845 million in global box office revenue. It currently holds the fourth position for highest-grossing movie of the year, trailing behind Barbie, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
The film's synopsis states that Peter Quill and his team must protect one of their own to defend the universe after losing Gamora. If they fail, it could spell the end of the Guardians. High-budget films like Indiana Jones 5, The Flash, and The Marvels are at risk of being the biggest financial losses of 2023, as they struggle to recoup their multi-million dollar budgets.
13 releases in 2023 have collectively exceeded $200 million in production costs. Recent additions include Disney’s 100th year celebration Wish and Ridley Scott’s historical epic Napoleon. Warner Bros. is yet to release Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom with a budget of $205 million, but the expectations for its success are low.
According to Deadline, Aquaman 2 is expected to have an opening weekend of $50-60 million, which is lower than the $67.8 million it earned in its original release in 2018.
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Editor's P/S
As a passionate fan of movies, I am thrilled to hear that Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has managed to turn a profit in 2023. This is a testament to the enduring popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. The film's success is a bright spot in an otherwise challenging year for the movie industry, which has seen many big-budget films fail to recoup their costs.
I am particularly impressed by the fact that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has managed to achieve this success despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has had a significant impact on the movie industry, leading to theater closures and reduced attendance. Despite these challenges, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has managed to connect with audiences and become a box office hit. This is a testament to the film's quality and the enduring appeal of the Marvel brand.
