This was the lowest year for movie theater attendance in more than 20 years. But it wasn’t for a lack of good films. Yeah, there could have been some more original movies to choose from, and some of those were turned into hits. But there was still plenty of reasons for studios to be happy, and plenty of reasons for them to think again before they just ladle slop out there.
SURE-FIRE HITS – The Kings of the Box Office
Guardians of the Galaxy ($332.9 million)
*The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 ($313.2 million)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier ($259.7 million)
The LEGO Movie ($257.7 million)
SURPRISE SUCCESSES – They got there through word-of-mouth or succeeded where others failed
Maleficent ($241.4 million)
*Gone Girl ($166.1 million)
Neighbors ($150.1 million)
Lucy ($126.6 million)
CONSOLATION PRIZES – Didn’t do so hot here, but made up for it overseas
Transformers: Age of Extinction ($245.4 million) – $841 million
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 ($202.8 million) – $506 million
*Interstellar ($179.3 million) – $464 million
Edge of Tomorrow ($100.2 million) – $269 million
DISAPPOINTMENTS – Movies that should have done better
How to Train Your Dragon 2 ($177.3 million) – cost $145 million, previous film made $217.5 million
Divergent ($150.9 million) – cost $85 million, first Hunger Games film made $408 million
Rio 2 ($131.5 million) – cost $103 million, previous film made $143.6 million
Think Like a Man Too ($65.1 million) – cost $24 million, previous film made $91.5 million
FLOPPIEST FLOPS – These cost a lot and didn’t come close to returning their investment
*Exodus: Gods and Kings ($55.7 million) – cost $140 million
Pompeii ($23.2 million) – cost $100 million
Transcendence ($23.0 million) – cost $100 million
The Legend of Hercules ($18.8 million) – cost $70 million
LOW BUDGET VICTORIES – Low-cost, high-yield successes
Heaven is for Real ($91.4 million) – cost $12 million
Let’s Be Cops ($82.3 million) – cost $17 million
*Nightcrawler ($31.8 million) – cost $8.5 million
Annabelle ($84.2 million) – cost $6.5 million
SADDEST STATISTIC
God’s Not Dead made more in its 16th weekend ($36,204) than Believe Me did in its entire run ($23,419).
*still in theaters