The 2014 holiday box office is now somewhat better than average but behind last year’s pace.
The top 10 films on Tuesday December 30, 2014 totaled $38.1 million, a touch below the average $39.0 million for the days since 2002 when this date landed on a weekday. The last time December 30 fell on a Tuesday (2008), the day’s top 10 films added up to a somewhat lower $34.6 million.
The 15 days December 16-30 total $560 million this year, now +5.4% ahead of the average for this period the last 12 years. Compared to the same December 16-30 period in 2013, this year is -3.6% behind last year’s pace.
| Box Office Volume — Top 10 Films North America | ||||||
| ($ millions) | Past 12 years — 2002-2013 | |||||
| # days | 2014 | 2013 | Average | Peak Year | Low Year | |
| Dec 16-22 | 7 | 196 | 193 | 181 | 223 (’03) | 112 (’08) |
| Dec 16-23 | 8 | 222 | 226 | 214 | 247 (’03) | 128 (’08) |
| Dec 16-24 | 9 | 238 | 248 | 234 | 266 (’09) | 138 (’08) |
| Dec 16-25 | 10 | 309 | 315 | 290 | 349 (’09) | 205 (’08) |
| Dec 16-26 | 11 | 376 | 373 | 347 | 445 (’09) | 268 (’08) |
| Dec 16-27 | 12 | 440 | 432 | 397 | 521 (’09) | 329 (’08) |
| Dec 16-28 | 13 | 487 | 494 | 444 | 579 (’09) | 375 (’08) |
| Dec 16-29 | 14 | 522 | 541 | 488 | 637 (’09) | 408 (’04) |
| Dec 16-30 | 15 | 560 | 580 | 531 | 693 (’09) | 442 (’04) |
| Dec 16-31 | 16 | 616 | 568 | 742 (’09) | 475 (’08) | |
| Dec 16-Jan 1 | 17 | 664 | 616 | 820 (’09) | 525 (’08) | |
| Dec 16-Jan 2 | 18 | 690 | 652 | 901 (’09) | 558 (’04) | |
| Dec 16-Jan 3 | 19 | 733 | 679 | 947 (’09) | 571 (’04) | |
Looking ahead to the New Year’s Eve box office, December 31 has averaged $35.4 million when it has fallen on a weekday in the last 12 years, as it does this year (while the date has averaged a fairly similar $37.9 million when it has fallen on a weekend). The last time December 31 was on a Wednesday (2008), the day totaled a relatively meager $30.5 million for the top 10 films, and the time before that (2003) New Year’s Eve added up to $31.3 million.
Of course, the holiday box office will get back on track on New Year’s Day. Since 2002, January 1 has averaged $44.8 million for the top 10 films when the date falls on a weekday as it does this year (and a robust $53.7 million when January 1 is on a weekend). January 2 has averaged $48.7 million when it is on a weekend (like this year), while the date is a relative afterthought when it is on a weekday ($27.0 million on average).
Come back tomorrow for a look at the actual results for New Year’s Eve.
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