Domestic Box Office Sets New Yearly Record in 2012
by Ray Subers -- December 28, 2012
On Thursday, December 27, yearly domestic box office passed $10.6 billion, making it the highest-grossing year ever ahead of 2009 ($10.59 billion). With four more days left in 2012, it's likely that the box office ultimately ends the year with around $10.8 billion.
The top contributor was The Avengers with $623.4 million, followed by The Dark Knight Rises with $448.1 million. The next two were a bit more surprising: The Hunger Games wound up being a box office sensation with $408 million, while Skyfall's $285 million and counting is over $115 million higher than any previous Bond movie. Rounding out the Top Five was The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2, which kept pace with its predecessors ($283.7 million and counting).
The Amazing Spider-Man performed solidly with $262 million, though that was noticeably off from the three Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies. Brave was the highest-grossing animated movie of 2012 with $237.2 million, while Ted was by-far the top comedy with an incredible $218.7 million. Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted surprisingly outgrossed its predecessors with $216.4 million, while Dr. Seuss' The Lorax was also a major animated hit with $214 million.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey delivered a big assist in the final stretch of the year with $189.8 million through its first 14 days: it's just outside the Top 10 for now, though it should crack that list by the end of the weekend.
A full analysis of 2012 box office should be on its way late next week.
