The Christmas Eve box office results featured a revenue of $25 million, reflecting a 19% decline from Monday’s impressive $30.9 million. While the decrease raises concerns, it’s crucial to recognize that this figure still surpasses last year’s Christmas Eve earnings by a substantial 34%, which recorded a disappointing $18.6 million on a Sunday—a day particularly unfavorable for box office performance. Looking ahead, the industry is poised for a surge in ticket sales as the holiday festivities kick off, leading to a potential deluge of moviegoers over the coming week and a half.
One of the highlights this season is the biopic “A Complete Unknown,” directed by James Mangold and centering on the legendary musician Bob Dylan. This film has already garnered attention with a commendable $1.4 million in previews, setting the stage for a projected $15 million opening over five days across 2,835 locations, which notably includes Imax screenings on January 3. Although it’s still early to evaluate its long-term performance against other biopics—especially considering it had previews starting at 2 p.m. Thursday—initial figures indicate a promising start.
Interestingly, comparing these preview results with previous musical biopics reveals the competitive landscape. For example, Paramount’s “Rocketman” secured $2.3 million in previews before launching with a strong $25.7 million opening in May 2019, while Warner Bros.’ “Elvis” opened with $3.5 million in previews and enjoyed a robust $31.2 million debut in June 2022. With a production budget estimated between $60 million and $70 million before marketing, “A Complete Unknown” is anticipated to attract significant audience interest, especially with its impressive 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The ongoing cinematic battle on the Christmas Eve box office saw “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” emerge as the leader with $7.5 million, showcasing a modest drop of 25% from the previous day and amassing a total of $77.6 million in its first week. Following closely behind is Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which raked in $7.1 million on Christmas Eve, marking a slight increase from the day before and bringing its total earnings to $49.6 million.
The day’s top performers also included “Wicked” at $3.2 million, “Moana 2” at $3 million, and “Gladiator II,” which rounded out the top five with $955,000. These performances highlight an overall competitive environment, with several high-profile releases vying for box office supremacy.
As we move forward, the box office landscape will continue to evolve, especially with the anticipated releases from Amazon MGM’s “The Fire Inside” and A24’s “Babygirl,” both of which are expected to make their mark despite opening on a smaller scale. Meanwhile, Focus Features’ adaptation of “Nosferatu” is also on the horizon, aiming for a $25 million debut—demonstrating the variety of options available to audiences during this bustling holiday season.
Ultimately, as theaters prepare for the influx of moviegoers in what is often one of the most lucrative times of the year, industry observers will be keenly watching whether these new releases can sustain momentum and meet or exceed expectations. The Christmas season has long been synonymous with magic in cinemas, and this year is poised to continue that tradition.