2024 shows how much the box office has changed in the last 10 years

The box office has always been an important indicator of a film's success or failure, but in 2024, the box office proved that films are making more and more money than ten years ago. It should come as no surprise that the media landscape has changed between 2014 and 2024. Audience interests have changed and new technologies and talent have raised the stakes. However, not only did the top films of 2024 make significantly more money than the top films of 2014, but the films and IPs that enjoyed those successes also changed drastically.

The change in box office numbers and trends from 2014 to 2024 may seem arbitrarybut they say a lot about the future of cinema. Large corporations like Disney, Marvel, Sony and others depend on box office numbers to stay afloat. If these companies start to see declining box office numbers, it could put their popularity at risk. Regardless of how well a film is received, if it doesn't have the financial security to back it, it could spell trouble for the future of that franchise or brand. So, the highest-grossing movies of 2024 reveal some interesting changes in Hollywood.

The barrier to being one of the 10 highest-grossing films of the year is much higher in 2024

The $1 Billion Movie Is Becoming More Common

One of the most obvious changes in the box office from 2014 to 2024 is how much the highest-grossing films are earning. In 2014, Transformers: Age of Extinction It was the highest-grossing film of the year, grossing US$1.1 billion. On the other hand, 2024 had two films that broke the US$1 billion barrierand both surpassed Transformers: Age of Extinction. Inside Out 2 pocketed US$1.7 billion, while Deadpool and Wolverine reached US$ 1.3 billion. Essentially, $6 million is the amount that differentiates a 2024 blockbuster from a 2014 blockbuster.

2024 aside, there's no doubt that the $1 billion movie has become much more common in the last ten years. In 2023, Barbie and The Super Mario Bros. movie they were the winners of two billion dollars. Before that, 2022 boasted Jurassic World: Dominion, Top Gun: Maverick, and Avatar: Path of Water, the last of which earned $2 billion. Ultimately, This Rise in Billion-Dollar Films Will Likely Continue Beyond 2024as more films attract audiences with big IPs and big celebrities.

Hugh Jackman's Wolverine Is the Only Returning Box Office Star in 2024

The sequels are also still going strong

When the highest-grossing films of 2014 and 2024 are compared, there are only a few similarities between the films. An interesting commonality is that Hugh Jackman stars in two films in the top ten: X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014 and Deadpool and Wolverine in 2024. Considering Wolverine is a beloved superhero, it's not surprising that Jackman appears on both lists, but it's impressive that he's stayed in the role for so long. While the numbers and franchises change, Jackman's success proves that not everything has changed in Hollywood over the past decade.

Another subtle similarity is that 2014 and 2024 thrived on sequels. Every viewer knows that Hollywood exploits sequels, remakes, and spinoffs as much as possible, but this isn't a new trend. In 2014, seven of the 10 highest-grossing films were sequels. Two of these films later had their own sequels. The same can be said of 2024. Nine of the ten main films are sequels, and the only standalone film, Evil, already has a guaranteed sequel in 2025. So, the sequels may seem annoying, but they're definitely making a lot of money.

Transformers and Lord of the Rings struggled to remain big box office performers

What Declining Box Office Numbers Mean for Transformers and LOTR

Of course, the highest-grossing films in 2024 show a large number of changes since 2014. For example, the biggest earners in 2014 were Transformers: Age of Extinction and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. Ten years later, both franchises are still producing films, but they are not as successful. In 2024, Transformers One ranks 30th among the year's biggest earners, raising US$129 million. About that, The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim it grossed just $15 million, placing it in 119th place.

The decline in financial success for Transformers and Lord of the Rings It's disappointing. These are huge, long-running franchises that have a lot of dedicated fans, but have fallen off a bit with the mainstream audience. Fortunately, this isn't the end for either franchise, despite the box office numbers. Transformers next crossover with GI Joe it's a chance for the film series to come back to life. Furthermore, Lord of the Rings could see a revival like other fantasy series like Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia are being redone.

Planet Of The Apes Isn't As Big A Franchise In 2024 As It Was In 2024

Planet of the Apes has already proven the strength of its sequel

Another franchise that suffered a definitive decline from 2014 to 2024 was Planet of the Apes film series. In 2014, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes it grossed US$710 million at the box office, consolidating itself in 8th place. However, 2024 Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes dropped several positions to 13th placeand grossed just $397 million. This is a catastrophic decrease in franchise earnings. Again, Planet of the Apes is a franchise that used to reign supreme at the box office, but has now been wiped out by bigger (and better) players.

Although Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes grossed much less than its 2014 predecessor, the film still ranks highly among other 2024 films. The film was by no means a failure and its critical response was quite positive. An argument for Planet of the Apes it just needs time to warm up. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes introduced a whole new set of characters and audiences may need time to adjust. Just like how Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' box office almost doubled compared to Rise up, Kingdom the sequel could be much better.

Animated Films Are Much Bigger Box Office Hits in 2024

How animated films have changed in the last decade

A more positive change that has occurred in 2024 is that animated films earn more at the box office. In 2014, several animated films debuted with varying degrees of success, ranging from Big Hero Six and How to Train Your Dragon 2 to The Lego Movie. Although these films did well at the box office, none of them broke the top 10. However, In 2024, four of the top 10 films were major animated films from Disney, Dreamworks and Illumination. Of Inside Out 2 to Despicable Me 4, Animated films are the best players these days.

Arguably, there was a subtle but marked difference in animated films from 2014 to 2024. Some could say that 2014 simply didn't feature the best IPs, and that definitely could have made an impact. How to train your dragon does not have the same staying power as Moana. However, Animated films also become more adult-oriented in 2024. Films like Inside Out 2 and Moana 2 both have dark, relatable themes that make them much more exciting for older viewers while still catering to children.

The Monsterverse became a huge franchise after 2014's Godzilla

The Future of the Monsterverse Explained

One more incredible change from 2014 to 2024 is the growing popularity of the Monsterverse. In 2014, the franchise was just getting started with the release of Godzilla, which grossed a solid $525 million. A decade later, the film series has grown exponentially and more recently found success with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which raised US$572 million. Where other franchises have failed in the last ten years, The Monsterverse is a film series that has only grown in strength and will hopefully continue to do so.

Considering the success of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, It shouldn't surprise anyone that a new film is already in the works. In May 2024, it was announced that a sequence of The New Empire is in development and scheduled for release in March 2027. Although this is a heavy wait for Godzilla lovers, it seems likely that the hiatus will be worth it. Godzilla managed to keep audiences invested for ten years, so another ten might not be too far off the mark.

The MCU isn't as prominent as it was in 2014

Marvel needs to prove itself again

As much as 2024 has seen the rise of oppressed people like Godzilla, also saw the decline of powers. Marvel is an important example. In 2014, four of the top 10 highest-grossing films were Marvel films or properties. This year, there were only two. Although the $1 billion success of Deadpool and Wolverine it's incredible, It should be noted that Marvel lost the control it had in 2014. Fewer Marvel films are gaining traction, especially those that introduce new characters instead of bringing back old, beloved ones. This trend is even riskier in Marvel's new era.

In some ways, 2024 is something of a turning point for Marvel. 2023 has been a tough year for the superhero company, as films like The wonders and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania it did not become a box office success and received negative reviews. With Deadpool and Wolverine With its only release coming in 2024, Marvel has proven it can still make blockbusters. The only problem is, Marvel has to keep proving itself in 2025 and beyond. Despite having a box office monopoly for a long time, Marvel now needs to get back to the top with quality films.

Disney's live-action remake films have declined

Disney's Upcoming Films Hint at a Different Future

Another large company that has undergone some changes in the last decade is Disney. In 2014, Maleficent It was successful as the fourth highest-grossing film of the year, with US$758 million. As of 2024, Disney has not released any live-action films and has instead made its fortune from sequels and animated films. This may come as a surprise considering Disney's string of live-action productions, especially in the intervening years. Maleficent, but this scenario is more of a break than a complete end to Disney's live-action films. If anything, Disney is simply gearing up for a live-action explosion.

In 2025, Disney has two major live-action films planned: Snow White and Lilo and Stitch. Both films will likely be box office hits or at least create a lot of conversation at Disney. These films are also being accompanied by highly anticipated sequels such as Zootopia 2 and Craziest Friday. In short, Disney may have put its live-action films on hold in 2024, but Disney's upcoming films hint at a very different future in the years to come.