For a year that was supposed to provide a decline in box office revenue, 2016 has provided to be quite the defiant year. In fact, current box office projections have the year on track to be the best damned period of history. Such bold claims can be made very easily, but backing them with numbers is something that's not as easily done. Yet the $11.3 billion that's looking to be the final gross of 2016's box office pretty much spells it out: this year has been the best for Hollywood's checkbook.
The figures, reported by The Hollywood Reporter, come from the number crunchers at ComScore. Should this number stand true, it will narrowly beat last year's record breaking haul of $11.14 billion. So what happened that caused 2016 to buck the expectations and deliver in the face of Avatar 2 and Star Wars: Episode VIII's delays from their original 2016 release dates? Well, a lot happened. Between Marvel and DC duking it out, the over-performance of films like Deadpool, The Jungle Book, and Finding Dory, and even some flat out surprises like Doctor Strange and The Secret Life of Pets, 2016 was a very eventful year at the movies.
Though 2016 wasn't without its disappointments, as some films just couldn't get off the ground fast enough. In particular, the reboot of Ghostbusters, as well as the misfire that was Zoolander 2 managed to crash and burn when compared to the expectations set at their feet. Also, Alice Through The Looking Glass and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows both proved that successful predecessors don't always make for return successes in today's box office. A lesson we hope studios will take to heart, particularly when planning out multi-part series / adaptations in rather hasty fashion. We're looking in your direction, Lionsgate.
The final totals will obviously be handed in after Saturday's box office results are recorded, which is especially important considering Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is still going strong at the box office, with Sing being the only recent competitor to actually give the film some chase. Both are successful with specific fanbases, as well as younger audience members and possibly repeat viewers, so it cannot be stressed enough that this week's results will be the difference between percentage points in the record books.
While we'll have to wait until at least Sunday for a better estimate of this year's total result, we'll have to wait even longer to see if Captain America: Civil War will stay the top grossing film of 2016, or if Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will unseat it. As soon as we have an answer to that question, we here at CinemaBlend will do our best to keep you informed.
