Hollywood’s December box office kicked off with a bang as sequels dominated theaters across North America, led by an unexpected horror champion.
Universal Pictures’ “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” claimed the weekend crown with an estimated $63 million domestically, crushing projections.
The video game adaptation’s performance signals renewed strength for theatrical releases after October’s historically weak results.
With horror franchises driving nearly 14% of global box office revenue and major releases lined up through year’s end, industry insiders are cautiously eyeing that elusive $9 billion annual threshold.
Freddy’s Frightens Competition Into Submission
The jump-scare animatronic sequel demolished expectations, which initially pegged it at $55 million for opening weekend. While it didn’t match its predecessor’s $80 million debut from 2023, the strong performance confirms audiences’ appetite for horror franchises remains robust.
Disney’s “Zootopia 2” settled for second place with $43 million, bringing its domestic total to approximately $220 million since last weekend’s opening. The animated sequel continues performing solidly but couldn’t match Freddy’s momentum.
December Delivers After October Disaster
Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Comscore, emphasized the weekend’s significance for exhibitors.
After a lot of hand-wringing over the October box office, which was a decades-low result, there’s no better way to start December for movie theaters.
The weekend’s total earnings hit a better-than-expected $154 million domestically, according to Comscore data. That momentum couldn’t come at a better time as Hollywood desperately chases $9 billion in annual earnings—a threshold achieved only once since 2020’s pandemic devastation.
Horror Genre Haunts Box Office Success
This year’s horror titles collectively could generate $2.65 billion globally, representing roughly 14% of Hollywood’s worldwide business, according to David A. Gross of industry newsletter FranchiseRe.
Major horror releases still scheduled include:
- Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Sinners”
- “The Conjuring: Last Rites”
- “Weapons”
- Universal’s “Black Phone 2”
- Sony Pictures’ “28 Years Later”
The genre’s dominance reflects broader audience preferences toward franchise familiarity and theatrical experiences that deliver genuine scares impossible to replicate at home.
Wicked Continues Enchanting Audiences
Universal Pictures’ “Wicked: For Good” secured third place with $16.75 million, pushing its domestic total toward the $300 million milestone. The musical fantasy sequel to last year’s blockbuster demonstrates staying power beyond opening weekend hype.
The musical’s performance validates Hollywood’s bet on splitting beloved properties into multiple installments, maximizing both creative storytelling and commercial returns.
Anime Compilation Cracks Top Five
GKids’ “Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution” finished fourth with $10.15 million, bringing anime back into mainstream theatrical conversation. The release compiles Season 2 content while introducing Season 3.
Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory, suggested the compilation format offers advantages.
Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution’s compilation format could be easier to digest for new audiences.
Rounding out positions five and six: Lionsgate Films’ “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” earned $3.5 million, while Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair”—his 270-minute revenge saga originally released across 2003 and 2004—captured $3.25 million.
Eclectic Marketplace Signals Diverse Tastes
Dergarabedian highlighted the unusual variety competing for ticket sales.
This is one of the most eclectic movie marketplaces I’ve ever seen.
Horror sequels, animated franchises, musical fantasies, anime compilations, heist thrillers, and classic re-releases all found audiences simultaneously—a rare occurrence reflecting fragmented viewing preferences.
December Lineup Could Push Industry Over Threshold
Disney’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash” opens December 19 alongside Lionsgate Films’ “Housemaid” and Paramount Pictures’ “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.” Christmas Day releases include A24’s “Marty Supreme,” Focus Features’ “Song Sung Blue,” and Sony’s “Anaconda.”
Robbins identified the December 19 trio as particularly strategic, targeting distinct demographics without cannibalizing each other’s audiences.
To see another major female-driven movie out there during peak movie-going season, is really important.
He noted “Housemaid” could emerge as a sleeper holiday hit, while “Avatar” draws male-centered crowds and “SpongeBob” captures family audiences.
Nine Billion Dollar Question Remains Unanswered
Since 2020’s pandemic shutdown, only 2023—the year of “Barbenheimer”—managed crossing the $9 billion domestic threshold. Reaching that mark again requires sustained momentum through December’s competitive landscape.
Dergarabedian acknowledged the challenge while expressing measured optimism.
The 9 billion mark could be a challenge to reach. That’s no easy task … but I’m cautiously optimistic.
Whether horror sequels, animated blockbusters, or strategic counter-programming ultimately deliver remains Hollywood’s biggest December question. What’s certain: theatrical exhibition desperately needs these final weeks to salvage 2024’s financial trajectory after months of underperformance.