Same Old 2024

What do the top 10 biggest box offices of 2024 have in common? They’re all

sequels, adaptations, and remakes (check the full list on Box Office Mojo). Every

one of them is based on solid intellectual properties (IPs), reinforcing a long-

standing Hollywood truth: familiar sells.

From the magical return to Oz in “Wicked” to the sand-swept arenas of “Gladiator

2” and the emotional journey of “Inside Out 2,” 2024 has been dominated by

stories audiences already love.

The Wizard of 2024

“Wicked” is on its way to become one of the year’s most lucrative films,

shattering box office records with a global opening of over $200 million (more on

THR). The adaptation of the Broadway musical (a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz”)

resonated with audiences worldwide, extending it beyond theaters, with its

soundtrack dominating streaming platforms.

Animated Sequels

2024 proved to be a banner year for animated franchises. "Moana 2” led the

charge with a record-breaking $150 million opening weekend and it is the new

biggest Thanksgiving holiday opening at $250 million. Not far behind are “Inside

Out 2” and “Despicable Me 4”, each raking in over $100 million globally during

their debuts (more on Variety).

Nostalgia

After a 20-year gap,”Gladiator 2” roared back into cinemas with a $120 million

global opening weekend (Variety). Featuring Paul Mescal, with legendary Ridley

Scott at the helm, the film capitalized on nostalgia, securing its place as one of

the year’s most profitable sequels. Something similar happened back in July with

“Twisters”, which scored a $105 million worldwide debut, a thrilling sequel to the

1996 original.

Book to Screen

Literary adaptations continue contribute to the top box offices, proving that great

stories can transcend mediums. “Dune: Part Two” grossed $135 million globally

in its opening weekend, while Colleen Hoover's bestselling "It Ends With Us"

collected a stellar $130 million worldwide to start.

Capes and Masks

Superhero films remained steady in 2024, with ”Deadpool 3” shattering records

for an R-rated film, opening with a staggering $444 million worldwide. However,

the genre faces increasing scrutiny for oversaturation, as studios strive to

innovate and keep audiences engaged amidst a flood of capes and masks (more

on our past newsletter).

What’s Next?

A recent Variety article highlights an important debate in Hollywood: while

sequels, remakes, and adaptations dominate the box office, there’s growing

concern that this reliance on familiar IPs could stifle originality and leave fewer

opportunities for groundbreaking storytelling.

As studios continue to prioritize projects with built-in audiences, the industry

faces a delicate balancing act between maintaining creative diversity and

meeting audience expectations.

If you have a powerful project, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Our

Welcome to Hollywood Academy will help you format your IPs, shop them

around, and get in front of the right content buyers.

Cheers,

Duda

(Duda Persson is a junior content manager at Malin Entertainment)

WELCOME TO HOLLYWOOD ACADEMY