2 weeks Ago By Natalie
share 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 For the first time in cinema history, every single movie in the year’s top 10 highest-grossing films is a sequel . From Inside Out 2 to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes , Hollywood has leaned entirely on familiar franchises to draw audiences into theatres. While these films have collectively grossed billions at the box office, the trend raises questions about the state of originality in mainstream cinema.
The box office list is led by Inside Out 2 , which amassed an astonishing US$1.69 billion, followed by Deadpool & Wolverine at US$1.33 billion and Despicable Me 4 at US$968.
24 million. The full list is as follows: Inside Out 2 – US$1.69 billion Deadpool & Wolverine – US$1.
33 billion Despicable Me 4 – US$968.24 million Dune: Part Two – US$714.44 million Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire – US$571.
75 million Kung Fu Panda 4 – US$547.63 million Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – US$451.07 million Venom: The Last Dance – US$$439.
93 million Bad Boys: Ride or Die – US$404.51 million Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes – US$397.37 million Sequels have become the backbone of the industry, with their pre-built fan bases and recognizable IPs providing a sense of security for studios.
Bob Iger, Disney’s CEO, acknowledged this during the company’s earnings call in May 2024 . “I just think that right now, given the competition and the overall movie marketplace, that actually there’s a lot of value in the sequels obviously because they’re known and it takes less in terms of marketing,” he said. Advertisement ▼ However, this reliance on sequels comes at a cost to originality.
Comparing 2024’s top 10 to the early 1990s or even the year 2000 , the contrast is stark. In 1993, the list was dominated by originals like Jurassic Park , Mrs. Doubtfire , and Schindler’s List .
In 2000, only one sequel — Mission: Impossible II — made the top 10 alongside eight original films, including Gladiator and Cast Away . While sequels generate significant revenue, they may not be enough to reverse declining theater attendance. This year’s box office figures highlight a worrying trend: even with high-profile releases, the cumulative box office gross is falling.
In 2022, films made US$10.2 billion; in 2024, they brought in just US$7.5 billion.
Streaming continues to lure audiences away from cinemas, with many of 2024’s top films debuting on platforms like Disney+ just weeks after their theatrical runs. George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, recently criticised the lack of originality in modern blockbusters. “The stories they’re telling are just old movies.
‘Let’s do a sequel, let’s do another version of this movie.’ And it’s not just in movies, but in almost everything, there’s almost no original thinking,” he said in an interview with Brut Officiel . His comments reflect the growing frustration among cinephiles who yearn for fresh stories amid Hollywood’s franchise-heavy output.
Original films still emerge, though they struggle to compete with franchise juggernauts. This year’s most successful non-IP films include It Ends With Us , based on a bestselling novel; The Wild Robot , an animated feature; and the biopic Bob Marley: One Love . However, their box office returns pale in comparison to the sequels dominating the charts.
One potential disruptor is Wicked , a Wizard of Oz prequel. Early projections suggest it could earn over US$1 billion, potentially breaking into the top three. Ironically, a sequel to Wicked is already in the works, further illustrating Hollywood’s cyclical reliance on established properties.
Franchise films are not a new phenomenon, but their grip on the industry has tightened significantly over the past two decades. Starting in the early 2000s, series like Harry Potter , The Lord of the Rings , and Pirates of the Caribbean paved the way for an era dominated by sequels, reboots, and shared universes. The question remains whether this reliance on sequels is sustainable.
While these films draw audiences in the short term, the decline in overall box office revenue suggests a need for fresh ideas to reignite interest in theatrical releases. Until then, Hollywood’s assembly line of nostalgia-fueled sequels shows no signs of slowing down. Natalie Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it.
When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols. Bad Boys: Ride or Die beetlejuice beetlejuice box office Deadpool & Wolverine despicable me 4 dune: part two global box office Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire inside out 2 kingdom of the planet of the apes kung fu panda 4 Venom: The Last Dance Claws out! Deadpool & Wolverine is raking in streaming views. Venom’s last dance.
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