As of Monday, The Walt Disney Studios is securely on track to become the first studio ever to reach $7 billion at the global box office, setting a new industry record. With the force-ful $290 million worldwide debut of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the studios’ year-to-date gross adds up to $6,988.3 million for Jan. 1 through Dec. 18, 2016, including $2,700.4 million domestically (also an industry record) and $4,287.9 million internationally (a Disney record).
These unprecedented results are fueled by hit films from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm, with 2016 marking the first time all five brands have released films in the same calendar year.
“This historic achievement is possible because all of our film studios are bringing their absolute best to the table, telling great stories of all kinds that resonate with audiences across borders, gender, and generations,” said Alan Horn, Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios. “These films work because each one has not only something for everyone, but everything for someone. It’s our honor to be able to create these experiences for audiences, and we’re thankful to them for continuing to come out to the theater with us.”
Currently, Disney holds five of the top 10 films of the year globally, domestically, and internationally, including the top four global, with three topping $1 billion and a fourth over $960 million, as well as the top three international and the top two domestic. Four releases opened above $100 million, more than any other studio in a single calendar year. With Captain America: Civil War‘s $179.1 million debut, Disney now holds five of the top six domestic openings in industry history; four are Marvel Cinematic Universe films. With Finding Dory and Zootopia, Disney holds four of the top five animated films of all time.
Disney’s big money-makers this year include:
Captain America: Civil War (Marvel, May 6): #1 global and international and #2 domestic film of the year. #5 opening of all time ($179.1 million). $408.1 million domestic and $745.1 million international. Global total: $1.15 billion, all-time #12.
Finding Dory (Pixar, June 17): #1 domestic and #2 global release of 2016. #1 all-time animated debut ($135 million). #7 all-time domestic release with $486.3 million, plus $541.3 million international. Global total: $1.028 billion).
Zootopia (Disney Animation, March 4): #3 global and #2 international release of the year. $341.3 million domestic and $682.5 million international, including $235 million in China where it is the #1 animated release of all time (admissions). Global total: $1.024 billion.
The Jungle Book (Disney, April 15): #3 international and #4 global and domestic release of 2016. $364 million domestically, $602.6 million internationally, and $966.6 million globally. It is the biggest Western release of all time in India.
Doctor Strange (Marvel, Nov. 4): #9 film of the year domestically and internationally and #10 film of the year globally. $226.2 million domestic and $426.6 million international. Still in release and not yet opened in Japan. Global total: $652.8 million to date.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Lucasfilm, Dec. 14 int’l/16 dom.): Opened domestically with $155.1 million and a global day-and-date debut of $290 million in five days of release. The film is yet to open in South Korea (Dec. 28) and China (Jan. 6).
Disney’s 2016 grosses have also been bolstered by Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which debuted in December 2015 and earned $736.6 million of its $2 billion global total during the 2016 calendar year, as well as new release Moana, the second Disney Animation release of the year, which opened domestically on Nov. 23, becoming the #2 Thanksgiving debut ever with $82 million and earning $162.9 million to date in the US/Canada. Internationally, it has only opened in approximately 53% of territories, with debuts in Germany, Italy, and Australia over the next week and Brazil, South Korea, and Japan in 2017.
