The film industry has come a long way from the projector cinemas of the 1900s.
From state-of-the-art CGI effects to Oscar-worthy actors, it’s safe to say we’re currently enjoying the peak of cinematic history.
That said, as fellow movie enthusiasts, we’re here to refresh your knowledge on the latest updates in the film industry.
From the highest-grossing films to the highest-paid actors of the year, learn what this year has in store for history to look back into.
Below are seven of the most fascinating movie statistics and facts for 2024 you should know about!
1. Box Office Revenue Expected to Reach $38.99B
With COVID-19 hitting every sector of the economy, 2019 to 2020 marked a severe dip in box office revenue worldwide, earning an all-time low of $221 million.
As the pandemic forced moviegoers to stay home, the industry earned far less than the previous year’s $1.22 billion. That’s a huge 199% difference in earnings!
But we’re slowly moving up from the last few years’ revenue flops. In 2023, we’re already seeing a significant uptick, with the box office hitting $8.91 billion.
Compared to last year’s, the 2024 box office revenue is expected to experience a massive increase, with a projected earning of $38.99 billion.
This number is also predicted to double in the next few years, with a projected market volume of $53.67 billion in 2029.
2. Inside Out 2 Tops 2024 Worldwide Box Office
Credit: ©Disney
Speaking of revenue growth, Inside Out 2 became the first movie to hit $1 billion in box office sales worldwide, earning over $469 million domestically and $545 million internationally.
For reference, the animated film’s prequel earned over $858 million globally in 2015.
With this momentous achievement, Disney’s sequel story, which premiered in June, just became one of the 11 rare animated movies to hit the billion mark in history.
It’s also the fastest animated release to do so, earning the spot in just one month.
Inside Out 2 outsold movies like Dune: Part 2 ($711 million), Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire ($567 million), and Kung Fu Panda 4 ($534 million).
But what can we say? We all adore Riley and her fun spectrum of emotions!
3. Avatar (2009) Remains the Highest-Grossing Film
Every few years, a blockbuster movie will come by and join the ranks of legendary films.
By now, you’d think cinema giants like Marvel or Cristopher Nolan would have already dethroned James Cameron’s Avatar in producing the highest-grossing movie of all time.
Between the Avengers: End Game and Oppenheimer, some of us genuinely thought, “This could be the one to unseat the Na’vis from their long-held record.”
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However, 15 years after Cameron’s technical masterpiece, it remained the highest-grossing film in history, with $2.92 billion in ticket sales.
Following close is Avengers: End Game’s (2018) $2.8 billion, while Nolan’s Oppenheimer hovered around the billion mark.
4. Adam Sandler Becomes Highest Paid Actor
Credit: Elena Ternovaja, CC-BY-SA-3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Adam Sandler, an American actor known for his comedic film roles, has had recent phenomenal success. Garnering over $73 million, Sandler became the highest-paid actor in Hollywood between 2023 and 2024.
Most of the comedian’s success is due to his Netflix contract signed in 2014. According to reports, Sandler amassed a massive amount of $250 million from the agreement, which he later renewed in 2020.
Sandler’s recent movies, Murder Mystery 2 and You’re So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, also enjoyed remarkable successes at the box office.
Among the actors that Sandler outearned are Margot Robie ($59 million), the main actress of Barbie (2023), and Tom Cruise ($45 million) with his recent Mission: Impossible installment.
5. 2018 Was a Crucial Year In North American Cinema
Credit: Nordwood Themes
Everyone would agree that 1939 was the greatest year for the Hollywood film industry. Marking the “Golden Age” of movies, 1939 released some of the best motion picture films, most of which are still heralded as timeless classics.
Nevertheless, 2018 has been among the most transformative years in North American cinema. With some of the greatest technological leaps in cinematic production, we’ve witnessed several blockbuster masterpieces breaking records.
From Avengers: Infinity War ($2 billion) to Jurrasic World: Fallen Kingdom ($1.3 billion) and Aquaman ($1.1 billion), 2018 was a feast of billion-dollar cinematic production hits.
With inclusivity becoming a recurring theme, we’ve also seen 2018 become a crucial year for radical changes behind the big screen.
Disney kicked off the year with Black Panther, the first MCU film where the main actor was an African-American. Frances McDormand’s “inclusion riders,” demanding inclusivity in film casting, also marked a historical shift in the industry.
6. India’s Bollywood Sells More Tickets Than Hollywood
Credit: Keith Lobo
Most of us think of Hollywood as synonymous with films. But while America does hold the title of the oldest film industry, it’s not the only movie capital people look up to anymore.
Hollywood remains the biggest industry in terms of revenue. However, Bollywood, India’s version of Hollywood, known for its festively colorful movies full of lively songs and dances, beats the US and China by sheer number of sold seats.
India’s multi-billion industry produces an enormous number of movies annually, averaging around 1,500 to 2,000. So, when it comes to selling seats, Bollywood has Hollywood and Chinawood trumped by 800 million and 200 million sold tickets respectively.
7. Nolan’s Oppenheimer Won the Most Oscars
While it didn’t hit the billion mark in ticket sales, Nolan’s Oppenheimer (2023) absolutely nuked the film industry. It was one of the greatest masterpieces of Christopher Nolan’s career, earning the acclaimed director his first Oscar win.
With over 13 nominations and 7 wins, Oppenheimer goes up in ranks with some of the best movies in history, such as Gone With the Wind (1939), Schindler’s List (1993), and Going My Way (1944).
Final Thoughts
There you have it! Those are seven of the most fascinating movie statistics you can share with friends and family over dinner.
You learned about some of our time’s greatest films, the film industry’s current revenue prospects, the highest-paid actors, and crucial moments marking our cinematic history.
