Box Office Struggles as Oscar Weekend Hits a Decade-Long Low
This year’s Oscars weekend proved underwhelming for the box office. According to AP News, total domestic revenue for the new movies in theaters is projected to range between $56 million and $57 million: the lowest in over a decade, excluding 2021 when the ceremony was delayed due to the pandemic. For comparison, Oscar weekend in April 2021 saw $57.2 million in revenue.
What’s Behind the Lackluster Box Office Performance?
A shortage of major new releases, combined with the polarizing reception of Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World, contributed to the sluggish numbers. Many Oscar-nominated films had already completed their theatrical runs or were available for home viewing.
Despite the downturn, Brave New World remained at the top of the box office in its third weekend, earning $15 million. This brings its domestic total to $163.7 million and its global earnings to $341.8 million. The question remains: Will Brave New World have staying power, or will it fall short like some of Marvel’s past disappointments?
Captain America’s Performance in Context
The film, which introduces a new Captain America led by Anthony Mackie, saw a steep 69% drop in its second weekend but recovered with a more moderate 47% decline this time around. While its $15 million third-weekend earnings are on the lower end for a Marvel Cinematic Universe film, it’s performing better than The Marvels or Eternals.
Notably, it’s showing stronger legs than Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which suffered a 60% drop in its third weekend. Brave New World has benefited from its appeal to young male audiences and families, as well as its diverse cast.
The Weekend’s Sole New Release: Last Breath
Focus Features’ deep-sea survival thriller Last Breath was the only new wide release, debuting with a solid $7.8 million, exceeding expectations thanks to positive reviews and a B+ CinemaScore. The film has also garnered a strong 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Starring Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Finn Cole, and Cliff Curtis, Last Breath was developed by Longshot Films and produced in collaboration with Dark Castle Entertainment. Focus Features acquired the North American distribution rights. Directed by Alex Parkinson, the screenplay was co-written by Parkinson, Mitchell LaFortune, and David Brooks.
Other Box Office Standouts
Neon’s The Monkey secured third place with $6.4 million, bringing its domestic total to $24.6 million—more than doubling its $10 million production budget.
Meanwhile, Paddington in Peru, produced by StudioCanal and Sony, earned $4.5 million, pushing its domestic total to $31.4 million.
Rounding out the top five, DreamWorks and Universal’s Dog Man continued its strong performance, earning $4.2 million in its fifth weekend. The animated feature has now surpassed $100 million globally, reaching a total of $113.1 million.
A Look at Past Oscar Weekend Performances
Last year’s Oscar weekend saw a significantly stronger debut with Kung Fu Panda 4 raking in nearly $60 million. Other past Oscar weekend successes include Scream VI ($44 million), The Lost City ($30.5 million), and Get Out ($33.7 million).
How Did Oscar-Nominated Films Fare?
While most Best Picture contenders have already transitioned to digital platforms, those still in theaters saw a noticeable uptick in ticket sales, fueled by Oscar buzz.
Among this year’s contenders:
- Anora has grossed $15.9 million domestically and $14.2 million internationally, bringing its global total to $30.1 million.
- The Brutalist has earned $15.8 million in the U.S. and $25.6 million overseas, reaching a total of $41.4 million.
- Conclave has performed well, generating $32.5 million domestically and $68.9 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $101.4 million.
- A Complete Unknown has also surpassed $100 million, with $73.8 million domestically and $46.2 million internationally, reaching $119 million globally.
Final Thoughts
This year’s Oscar weekend delivered one of the weakest box office performances in recent memory, largely due to a lack of major new releases and the mixed reception of Brave New World. However, strong holdovers and well-received indie releases kept the numbers from being even worse.
With Shrek 5, Deadpool & Wolverine, and Inside Out 2 on the horizon, Hollywood is banking on a major box office rebound in the coming months.
