As a whole, this summer so far has not been one for the record books in regards to the world of film; business has been in a slump overall. However, some individual films are still putting up massive numbers. On the top of that list is Captain America: Civil War. While the film hasn't even been out for two months, it's hit a significant milestone, as it just became the first film of 2016 to do over $400 million at the domestic box office.
While the top five films at this year's North American box office have all exceeded $300 million, only Captain America: Civil War has been able to cross the next plateau. Deadpool, which currently sits at number 2, finished its run at $363 million. According to Deadline, Civil War is likely to finish the summer as the number one movie, as the major releases still to come like Star Trek Beyond and Suicide Squad are not expected to put up numbers to compete with Captain America. The only other film on the slate that might be on track for a $400 million summer is Pixar's Finding Dory, which is expected to net a $120 million opening weekend, which would be the second-highest of the year, right behind Civil War.
To see how significant the $400 million mark is one only needs to look at the 2015 box office. Only three films surpassed that total last year, and all three, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Jurassic World, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, are now among the top 10 domestic box office leaders of all-time. In 2014, not a single film reached the $400 million mark; the box office leader for that year was Clint Eastwood's American Sniper at $350 million.
The fact that Captain America: Civil War is sitting essentially alone at the top of the summer movie heap shows just how rough the season has been for most studios. Civil War was the first release of the summer movie season and only two films released since then, X-Men: Apocalypse and The Angry Birds Movie, have even been able to gross more than $100 million.
With another Star Wars movie on the horizon this holiday season, it's a safe bet that another 2016 film will reach the same level as Captain America: Civil War. Although it will need to earn money very quickly in order to do it within the calendar year, as Star Wars: The Force Awakens was able to do.
Do you think there are any movies, besides Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, that could do $400 million at home? What are the dark horse candidates that might surprise us and take the box office by storm? Sound off in the comments section below.
