Shocking Box Office Performances Of 2023

2023 has been an interesting year for both the box office and movie studios. Everything from James Gunn’s changes at DC Studios to Disney celebrating its 100-year birthday has led to some startling performances for blockbuster films. The year saw the release of some of cinema’s most highly-anticipated movies in years, with legendary filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, and Christopher Nolan all releasing movies in short succession.

To call 2023 a strange year for the box office would be under-selling the highs and lows, as key franchises disappointed audiences while original films soared to success. From original thrillers and biopics to superhero films, the year was one of memes, viral movies, stealth hits, and shocking flops. Critics, audiences, and studios alike have all voiced their elation, concern, and shock at some of these performances, both for better and worse.

10 Killers Of The Flower Moon Missed The Mark

Killers of the Flower Moon

When oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one – until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.

Release Date

October 20, 2023

Rating

R

Runtime

3 Hours 26 Minutes

Genres

Crime , History

Production Company

Apple Studios, Imperative Entertainment, Sikelia Productions, Appian Way

Martin Scorsese’s career has produced one of the strongest track records of drama/thriller movies in modern cinema. Having worked on iconic films like Shutter Island, Goodfellas, and The Departed, all of which were commercial successes, fans have shown themselves to be receptive to whatever the latest Scorsese project is. Scorses is a director whose projects are almost always a guaranteed hit for studios.

Based on both a true story and an acclaimed novel, Killers of the Flower Moon managed to attract a great deal of hype ahead of its 2023 release. With stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and a reinvigorated Brendan Fraser, the film had promising expectations. Despite a lengthy runtime, the visuals, performances, and the story of the Osage Nation all connected with audiences. Yet, the movie underperformed at the box office, when it comes to Apple TV+ it may find a second life.

9 Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny Lost Money

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history.

Release Date

June 30, 2023

Cast

Harrison Ford , Antonio Banderas , Boyd Holbrook , Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Rating

PG-13

Runtime

2 Hours. 34 Minutes

Main Genre

Adventure

Genres

Adventure , Action , Fantasy

Production Company

Walt Disney Pictures, Lucasfilm, Paramount Pictures

Related

REVIEW: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a Fun (if Flawed) Love Letter to the Franchise

Despite some minor stumbles, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a loving, sometimes subversive, and overall fun experience. Here’s CBR’s review.

Indiana Jones’ original trilogy is widely considered to be the peak of the action/adventure genre as it followed Indy and his friends in their quests for various historical artifacts. After a divisive fourth movie in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the hero’s future was left uncertain before a finale was finally announced with James Mangold at the helm.

The expectations for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny were fairly modest, but most expected that it would make its money back. Despite being arguably better than the fourth film, Mangold’s great direction and the return of classic characters just weren’t enough to earn the movie a profit.

8 The Flash Failed To Deliver An Iconic DC Comic

The Flash

Barry Allen uses his super speed to change the past, but his attempt to save his family creates a world without super heroes, forcing him to race for his life in order to save the future.

Release Date

June 16, 2023

Director

Andy Muschietti

Cast

Ezra Miller , Sasha Calle , Ben Affleck , Michael Shannon , Michael Keaton , Temuera Morrison , Kiersey Clemons , Antje Traue

Rating

PG-13

Runtime

2 hours 24 minutes

Genres

Action , Adventure , Fantasy

Writers

Christina Hodson , John Francis Daley , Jonathan Goldstein

Production Company

DC Comics, DC Entertainment, New Zealand Film Commission, Québec Production Services Tax Credit, The South Australian Film Corporation, Warner Bros.

It’s no secret that DC Studios has been fighting an uphill battle at the box office since Man of Steel kicked off the DCEU in 2013. However, the typical movie from the studio has been mostly successful, albeit with very modest numbers compared to their MCU competition. Following the news that James Gunn would be shaking up the universe, the exact nature of the slate of DC movies in production became confusing, and The Flash was seen as a canary in the coal mine.

When it was released, The Flash’s box office future was honestly anyone’s guess, as DC hedged their bets on whether or not to stand by embattled star Ezra Miller against the movie’s success. When it earned a meager $270 million at the box office, despite adapting the pivotal DC Comics story Flashpoint, it became clear that the DCU had trouble ahead. It was the final nail in the coffin of Miller’s career as Flash and the DCEU in general.

7 Audiences Felt Misled By Napoleon

Napoleon

An epic that details the checkered rise and fall of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his wife, Josephine.

Release Date

November 22, 2023

Director

Ridley Scott

Cast

Joaquin Phoenix , Vanessa Kirby , Ben Miles , Ludivine Sagnier

Rating

R

Runtime

2 Hours 38 Minutes

Main Genre

Action

Genres

Adventure , Biography

Writers

David Scarpa

Production Company

Apple Studios, Scott Free Enterprises, Scott Free Productions

• As of December 2023, Napoleon is on track to earn below its $200 million production budget, with just $190 million at the box office as of December 18th, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 58%.

Ridley Scott’s career, when it comes to historical epics, has produced some of the greatest spectacles ever put on the big screen. Ranging from the life of Maximus in Gladiator to Balian’s journey to knighthood in Kingdom of Heaven, Scott has shown he knows how to combine alternate history with compelling stories. However, his 2023 release of Napoleon led to a shocking flop.

Despite the trailers for the movie suggesting a sublime epic devoted to Napoleon’s military career, fans were left disappointed by what they perceived as a bait-and-switch marketing campaign. Though the movie does feature the character’s military career, it takes a back seat to a questionable character study, one that has created a rift between Scott and historians criticizing the film.

6 Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quatumania Was A Mess

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne are dragged into the Quantum Realm, along with Hope’s parents and Scott’s daughter Cassie. Together they must find a way to escape, but what secrets is Hope’s mother hiding? And who is the mysterious Kang?

Release Date

February 17, 2023

Director

Peyton Reed

Cast

Paul Rudd , Evangeline Lilly , Jonathan Majors , Kathryn Newton , Michael Douglas , Michelle Pfeiffer , David Dastmalchian , Bill Murray , Corey Stoll

Rating

PG-13

Runtime

124 Minutes

Genres

Superhero , Action

Writers

jeff loveness

Studio

Marvel Studios

Franchise

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Prequel

Ant-Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp

Cinematographer

William Pope

Producer

Kevin Feige, Stephen Broussard

Production Company

Marvel Studios

Related

REVIEW: Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania is a Fun Spectacle Without a Strong Emotional Core

While there’s nothing necessarily wrong with the MCU’s new sci-fi adventure, Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania doesn’t connect on an emotional level.

2017’s Ant-Man established Scott Lang as a new fan-favorite Avenger, one that audiences hoped could help carry the MCU as the Infinity Saga drew to a close. After a fun second movie, fans were hyped for the hero’s third, which promised a chaotic yet enjoyable exploration of the Quantum Realm. Unfortunately, audiences were left with one of the MCU’s biggest narrative messes to date.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was quickly criticized for its questionable CGI, abandonment of source material in key areas, and messy plot. It marked a surprising flop for the company, its first money-loser since 2014. Many now hold it up against Iron Man 2 and Thor: The Dark World as the franchise’s worst story.

5 Wish Failed To Live Up To Its Significance

Wish

A young girl named Asha wishes on a star and gets a more direct answer than she bargained for when a trouble-making star comes down from the sky to join her.

Release Date

November 22, 2023

Director

Fawn Veerasunthorn , Chris Buck

Cast

Chris Pine , Alan Tudyk , Ariana DeBose , Evan Peters

Rating

PG

Runtime

1 Hour 35 Minutes

Genres

Adventure , Comedy

Writers

Jennifer Lee , Allison Moore , Chris Buck

Production Company

Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures

After a slew of animated movies were given a tepid reception and live-action remakes fell short of expectations, Disney tried to pursue a return to their roots in classic animation. After all, the 2010s saw the release of some pivotal and iconic Disney movies, such as Frozen. Just in time for their centennial anniversary, Disney released Wish, a movie that followed a young, hopeful magician’s apprentice discovering that her king played favorites when it came to his ability to grant wishes.

Despite having some great voice talent attached, such as Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, and Alan Tudyk, as well as such an important occasion, Wish was a flop for Disney. Audiences and critics alike saw the film as too safe and hollow while lamenting its need to effectively create a shared Disney universe origin story. While Wish did see some online pushback because of prejudice, ultimately fans felt that the story wasn’t strong enough for the monumental task it was trying to accomplish.

4 The Christmas Season Belongs To Godzilla Minus One

Godzilla Minus One

Original title: Gojira -1.0
Post war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.

Release Date

December 1, 2023

Director

Takashi Yamazaki

Cast

Ryûnosuke Kamiki , Minami Hamabe , Sakura Andō , Yûki Yamada

Rating

PG-13

Runtime

2 Hours 4 Minutes

Main Genre

Action

Writers

Takashi Yamazaki

Production Company

Robot Communications, Toho Company, Toho Studios

• As of 18th December,
  Godzilla Minus One
  has grossed $57 million against a budget of $15 million, making it one of the year’s biggest commercial success stories, and has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 98%.

Although Godzilla is a powerhouse of a franchise, his cinematic success has been mixed as American and Japanese productions alike have been known to over-spend and under-deliver, most famously in the 1998 movie. However, Godzilla Minus One found a great balance between a low budget and great cinematic success.

Godzilla Minus One’s success has been echoed between Japan and the United States, marking the continued success of Japanese media in the US. The movie’s ringing success caught many critics and fans off guard, but the quality of the film more than speaks for itself. Godzilla is the strongest he has ever been and Godzilla Minus One is the perfect contrast to Legendary’s Monsterverse.

3 The Marvels Caused Headaches For The MCU

The Marvels

Carol Danvers gets her powers entangled with those of Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau, forcing them to work together to save the universe.

Release Date

November 10, 2023

Director

Nia DaCosta

Cast

Brie Larson , Samuel L. Jackson , Iman Vellani , Zawe Ashton

Rating

PG-13

Runtime

1 Hour 45 Minutes

Main Genre

Action

Writers

Nia DaCosta , Megan McDonnell , Elissa Karasik

Production Company

Marvel Studios, The Walt Disney Company

Related

The Marvels Review: A Fun, if Flawed, Space Adventure

The latest MCU film The Marvels shines in the stellar chemistry and action between its three leads, despite exhibiting some notable pacing issues.

The MCU has been exploring ways to introduce superhero teams outside the Avengers, though to mixed effect. Where fans were receptive to the Illuminati in Doctor Strange 2, they weren’t as hyped for the Eternals in their film. This left audiences questioning the viability of The Marvels, a team-up of Captain Marvel, Miss Marvel, and Monica Rambeau.

Although few expected The Marvels to surpass Captain Marvel’sAvengers: Endgame-related billion-dollar success, most expected it to make money. After all, the MCU has become one of the safest box office successes in cinema, and, excluding 2023, the brand hasn’t had a flop on its hands since 2014. However, earning just $202 million at the box office fell short of even its harshest critics’ expectations, and became the biggest flop in MCU history. Some of this may be attributed to the ridiculous online hate against Brie Larson and some other stars, but The Marvels also seemed to capture the magic of the MCU.

2 Barbenheimer Took The World By Storm

Oppenheimer

The story of American scientist, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.

Release Date

July 21, 2023

Cast

Cillian Murphy , Emily Blunt , Matt Damon , Robert Downey Jr.

Runtime

180 Minutes

Main Genre

Biography

Genres

Drama , War , History , Biography

Very few movies are as clear-cut an example of great marketing as Barbie. Starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, the movie tells the story of the entry of the figures into the real world, where they learn about the imperfections of humanity. However, the movie was juxtaposed with Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan’s biopic about Robert Oppenheimer’s creation of the atomic bomb.

In a world that has largely been dominated by superheroes and action franchises at the box office, seeing Barbie and Oppenheimer ride to the first and second spot of 2023’s box office was a great sign. As much as nobody predicted the two films becoming a meme, they were even more surprised to see both edge out franchises like the MCU and DCU, handily beating all entries from both in the year.

1 Disney Didn’t Have A Single Billion Dollar Hit

Disney

From movies to television and beyond, the Disney franchise incorporates most of the company’s original works.

Upcoming Films

Inside Out 2

TV Show(s)

The Mickey Mouse Club , Mickey Mouse Clubhouse , The Wonderful World of Disney , DuckTales

Although the House of Mouse did have some successful films on its hands in 2023, such as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3, Disney fell short of having a billion-dollar success for the first time since 2014. As easy as it would be to blame the ongoing fallout from COVID-19, the success of films like Barbie and Oppenheimer has shown that theater attendance has mostly normalized.

2023 was a lackluster year for Disney, as the flops of films like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels have left questions of superhero fatigue. On the other hand, the underperformance of Disney’s live-action and animated projects has left many urging Disney to return to its roots of classic storytelling and to move on past its live-action remakes.