This is a first since 2015: Universal Studios has overtaken Disney Studios in the box office rankings. Super Mario Bros, Oppenheimer and M3GAN are among the biggest successes of the most profitable firm in 2023. Universal has indeed collected 4.9 billion dollars in revenue (around 4.5 billion euros) worldwide.
The three films dominating the podium this year are Barbie (Warner Bros.), Super Mario Bros and Oppenheimer (Universal). The Mario Bros phenomenon ended the year as the highest-grossing animated film after achieving the best global debut with $377 million (ahead of Barbie’s $356 million) and the biggest debut in history of the animated film after overtaking Minions and Despicable Me in comparable opening markets. As for Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, it ranks as the highest-grossing biopic of all time at the global box office with $952 million.
Disney’s difficulties this year can be explained by poor starts and the results of particularly disappointing Marvel films (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, The Marvels, etc.). This is the first time since 2014 that no Disney film has exceeded the billion-dollar mark in global revenue. Another reason would be the number of films released by the two franchises this year: 24 from Universal, and “only” 17 from Disney. Nevertheless, the firm came away with $1.9 billion in North America, $2.9 billion internationally, or $4.8 billion in total, thanks to productions such as Guardians of the Earth. Galaxy vol. 3, Indiana Jones and the Clock of Destiny, or the live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid.
Behind Disney, third place goes to Warner Bros. notably thanks to Barbie, Wonka and The Nun II which combined revenues of 3.84 billion. Sony and Paramount bring up the rear with respectively 2.09 and 2.03 billion in revenue.
