It's been an eventful journey at the box office over the past few years. The 2020 lockdowns dealt a severe blow to theaters and Hollywood, and the recovery has been slower than anticipated. However, 2023 brought hope as the domestic box office reached $9 billion, bringing us closer to pre-pandemic levels. But then the SAG and WGA strikes occurred, completely disrupting the release calendar for the first half of 2024. As a result, theaters faced another challenging period.

Uncovering the Films That Saved Theatres in 2024

The Beekeeper

In a typical year, January is a tough month for big movies. Occasionally, there might be a surprise hit like Liam Neeson's "Taken." But this year, expectations were particularly low due to the recent strikes and the lack of major releases. Enter director David Ayer's "The Beekeeper," a ridiculously fun action movie starring Jason Statham. The combination of Statham's action-packed scenes and the lack of direct competition worked in the movie's favor. Audiences also connected with the silly concept of a retired super secret agent becoming a beekeeper and being called back into action. "The Beekeeper" pulled in an astonishing $152.7 million worldwide, carrying a modest budget of $40 million. It was a home run for Amazon and MGM, proving that having multiple mid-sized hits can make a significant difference.

Paramount also had the "Mean Girls" musical in theaters around the same time, and it did extremely well, making $104.7 million worldwide. This shows that having different types of movies can help keep the box office afloat.

Inside Out 2

Highlighting the highest-grossing movie of the year on this list might seem odd, but "Inside Out 2" deserves special mention. In the past, a Pixar sequel making over $1 billion worldwide would have been common. But the pandemic changed the landscape, and there was uncertainty about the future of Pixar movies. "Inside Out 2" built on the success of "Elemental" last year and shattered all expectations with a record-breaking opening. It became the biggest animated movie of all time, overtaking "Frozen II" and "The Lion King." Without this film's success, the 2024 box office would have been much worse. With $1.69 billion in earnings, "Inside Out 2" gave the box office a much-needed boost and renewed our hope for Pixar's future.

Pixar has always been a pillar of animated cinema, and "Inside Out 2" shows that they can still deliver on the big screen.

It Ends With Us

There will always be monster blockbusters like "Deadpool & Wolverine," but it's important for the industry to have a diverse range of movies. "It Ends With Us" starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni was a film aimed at women, adapting a popular book. Sony Pictures hit a home run with this movie, which briefly topped the box office after "Deadpool & Wolverine." It resonated with its intended audience and served as a late summer surprise, ending the season on a high note. With a $25 million budget and a $350 million global total, it was one of the most profitable mainstream movies of the year.

This shows that a well-made movie aimed at a specific audience can be a huge success.

Terrifier 3

Horror movies have been a savior of the box office during the pandemic era. "Terrifier 3" is on a whole other level. Set at Christmas and unrated with ultra-gory scenes, it became one of the biggest horror movies of 2024 and helped carry October. In 2022, "Terrifier 2" made $15 million worldwide and became a surprise hit. But the audience for "Art the Clown" grew significantly, and "Terrifier 3" topped the domestic box office in its first weekend. With $89 million worldwide and an upcoming re-release, it may reach $100 million. This was a much-needed and unexpected hit during a slow start to the fall season.

Horror movies continue to attract audiences and provide a reliable source of revenue for theaters.

Red One

At first glance, "Red One" might seem like an odd choice as a savior. It's a relic of the streaming wars, with Amazon spending a lot of money on The Rock's Christmas action movie. It won't make a profit from its theatrical run, but it was a godsend for theaters. It filled a crucial gap on the calendar before "Wicked" and "Gladiator II" delivered big box office numbers. The release boosted the movie's profile and helped theaters get through a slow period. While it may not be a traditional hit, it played an important role in keeping theaters afloat.

Amazon's decision to give "Red One" a theatrical release shows that even expensive movies can have an impact on the box office.