Disney's Defeat: How Universal Dethroned Disney At The 2023 Box Office

The End of an Era

For the first time since 2015, Disney has been dethroned as the highest-grossing studio at the global box office. This marks a significant shift in the entertainment industry, signaling the end of Disney's era of unrivaled box office dominance.

Cillian Murphy as J Robert Oppenheimer Smoking a Cigarette in Oppenheimer

For the past decade, Disney has reigned supreme at the box office, propelled by the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Star Wars sequel trilogy, and a string of animated movie hits. However, 2023 brought a series of setbacks for Disney, as most of the studio's major releases, including multiple MCU movies, fell short of expectations.

The studio's slate, which included highly anticipated films such as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and The Little Mermaid, grossed $4.8 billion globally. Despite these blockbuster titles, Disney's performance paled in comparison to Universal's $4.9 billion gross from a lineup that included the box office success of Oppenheimer and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Universal's Triumph

Universal's ascension to the top spot at the global box office in 2023 was fueled by a combination of strategic film releases and the success of original movies. Despite releasing seven fewer films than Disney, Universal's dominance was evident as the studio secured the highest-grossing position.

The success of original movies, including the critically acclaimed Oppenheimer and the box office hit The Super Mario Bros. Movie, contributed significantly to Universal's triumph. These original films outshone Disney's underperforming sequels, solidifying Universal's position as the studio to beat in 2023.

Universal's impressive lineup also included the blockbuster Fast X, which grossed $704 million, and two of the biggest horror movies of the year, Five Nights at Freddy’s and M3GAN. These diverse successes across genres further strengthened Universal's box office supremacy, leaving Disney trailing behind.

Disney's Disappointing 2023

Disney's disappointing performance in 2023 can be attributed to the underperformance of its major releases and the inability to secure top positions at the box office. The studio's highly anticipated MCU movies, including Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels, failed to meet expectations, leading to a significant dip in box office earnings.

Furthermore, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which was expected to be a box office sensation, turned out to be a major disappointment, grossing far below projections. The Little Mermaid, despite its big budget, also underperformed, adding to Disney's woes at the box office.

The studio's centennial film, Wish, also suffered a dismal fate at the box office, failing to resonate with audiences and contributing to Disney's overall decline in 2023. While Disney remains a powerhouse in the entertainment industry, this year marked a significant setback for the studio as it relinquished its box office supremacy to Universal.