[IMG:L]The total North American box office grosses for 2007 are estimated at approximately $9 billion and change–up 5.6 percent from 2006’s $8.5 billion. And while that signifies major progress, the 2007 box office still suffered from some ebb and flow.
The flow was in the summer: Spider-Man 3 started things off with its $336 million haul, the biggest of the year, followed by a bevy of successful threequels including Shrek the Third ($320 mil), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End ($309 mil), and The Bourne Ultimatum ($227 mil). There was also Transformers, which grossed $319 million, and the fifth Harry Potter installment, The Order of the Phoenix, which grossed $292 million.
The ebb, however, came in the fall: Seemingly heavy hitters such as The Golden Compass, The Heartbreak Kid, American Gangster, and Beowulf didn’t generate the big dollars they were expected to, while the rash of socio-political movies, such as Lions for Lambs, Rendition and The Kingdom simply fizzled. Jerry Seinfeld’s Bee Movie ($122 mil) and Disney’s Enchanted ($91.8 mil) improved things–a bit.
Steam has been gained, however, heading into the Christmas holidays. Will Smith’s I Am Legend has grossed $150 million so far, while Alvin and the Chipmunks has earned $88.1 million. And the sequel National Treasure: Book of Secrets opened well over the past weekend with $45 million and has taken in $65 million through Christmas.
As we’ve done each year, we took a gander at each big studio’s successes and failures to find out which reigned supreme in 2007. From lowest to highest, here’s how they scored.
[IMG:R]10. MGM (approx. 23 feature releases; $349.4 million total)
As part of Paramount’s family, MGM was non-existent on last year’s list, but in ’07, they had a big year on their own, with a rather large slate of releases.
Giveth the Coin: A large slate yes, but not too many out-and-out hits. Some of their moderate successes included 1408 ($71.9 mil) and Halloween ($58.2 mil). MGM also released a few critically acclaimed films (and possible Oscar contenders) including Rescue Dawn, Lars and the Real Girl and most recently, The Great Debaters.
And Taketh Away: Despite their best efforts, MGM failed to connect on many levels. Duds included: Arthur and the Invisibles; The Ex; The Nanny Diaries; Death at a Funeral; and their biggest disappointment, Lions for Lambs.
[IMG:L]9. Lionsgate (approx. 15 feature releases; $368.9 million total)
Although they slip to ninth place this year, Lionsgate should be thanking Tyler Perry right about now. Don’t let go of this cash cow!
Giveth the Coin: Although Perry’s first movie of ’07, Daddy’s Little Girls, only brought in a modest $31.3 million, his second, Why Did I Get Married?, grossed a respectable $55.1 million. Of course, Lionsgate’s preference for horror films didn’t hurt either, with Saw IV bringing in $63.2 million. Oh, and the Western 3:10 to Yuma ($53.5 mil) helped, too.
And Taketh Away: Then again Lionsgate also released Good Luck Chuck, Happily N’Ever After, Slow Burn and Bratz. Got to take the good with the bad and ugly, I suppose.
[IMG:R]8. New Line Cinema (approx. 13 feature releases; $452.8 million total)
They tried to start another fantasy franchise with The Golden Compass, but New Line didn’t quite hit Lord of the Rings status. The small studio may never see that kind of great success again.
Giveth the Coin: Golden Compass, however, did manage to bring in a cool $48.4 million since opening early December. Other New Line hits included: the delightful musical Hairspray ($118 mil); Jackie Chan/Chris Tucker threequel Rush Hour 3 ($140 mil) and the legal thriller Fracture ($39 mil).
And Taketh Away: Disappointments? How about Code Name: The Cleaner, The Number 23, Rendition and Love in the Time of Cholera? Ugh.
[IMG:L]7. Paramount Pictures (approx. 16 feature releases; $612 million total)
On their own, Paramount Pictures drops from fifth place last year to seventh in 2007. But thank goodness there were some Transformers around to make the slip a little easier.
Giveth the Coin: As the third highest grosser of 2007, the summer blockbuster Transformers raked in $319 million and proved to the world you’re never too old to play with robots. Paramount’s other successes included: Shooter ($46.7 mil) and Beowulf ($79.2 mil). Their indie arm, Paramount Vantage, also released a slate of impressive Oscar baiters, including A Mighty Heart, Into the Wild and There Will Be Blood.
And Taketh Away: But you can’t win them all–hence Hot Rod, Stardust and the dreadful Next.
[IMG:R]6. DreamWorks (approx. eight feature releases; $860 million total)
A third Shrek and some animated bees help DreamWorks rise from eighth last year to sixth place.
Giveth the Coin: Considering they had the great green cash ogre on their side, it isn’t at all surprising DreamWorks did so well in ’07. As the No. 2 grosser of the year, Shrek the Third’s $320.7 million haul was notable, as was Bee Movie’s $122 million draw. And let’s not forget the teen thriller Disturbia, with an $80 million payday; the Will Ferrell comedy Blades of Glory with $118 million; and Eddie Murphy’s Norbit with $95 million.
And Taketh Away: DreamWorks really only had one semi-dud: the Ben Stiller/Farrelly Bros. misstep The Heartbreak Kid. Oh well.
[IMG:L]5. 20th Century Fox (approx. 20 feature releases; $1.02 million total)
Dropping from third last year to fifth place, Fox still managed to release some heavy hitters in 2007…
Giveth the Coin: …including their biggest success, The Simpsons Movie, which brought in a hefty $183 million and finally proved the long-running animated TV series has a place on the big screen. Other Fox hits included: Live Free or Die Hard ($134.5 mil); Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer ($131.9 million); and oddly enough, a trio of singing chipmunks–Alvin and the Chipmunks ($88.1 million).
And Taketh Away: Then there was Fox’s Firehouse Dog, Death Sentence, Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium and Hitman. Not too good.
[IMG:R]4. Universal Pictures (approx. 27 feature releases; $1.18 billion total)
With the most feature releases in 2007, Universal proudly moves up from sixth place last year to fourth, thanks to a Knocked Up single gal and another Bourne adventure.
Giveth the Coin: With hit comedy Knocked Up’s $148 million and third installment The Bourne Ultimatum’s $227.4 million, Universal had a banner year. They also released: I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry ($119.6 mil); Evan Almighty ($100 mil) and American Gangster ($127 mil). Universal’s indie arm, Focus Features, also put out some high-quality films including Eastern Promises and Atonement.
And Taketh Away: Taketh away, indeed: Because I Said So, Dead Silence, Georgia Rule, Illegal Tender and Sydney White, that’s enough to drain anyone’s wallet.
[IMG:L]3. Sony Pictures (approx. 23 feature releases; $1.25 billion total)
You’d think with the highest grossing film of 2007 in your corner, you could have at least made second place. But alas, last year’s reigning champ slips to third place.
Giveth the Coin: Yes, Spider-Man 3 was indeed THE summer movie everyone looked forward to, thus making it the top grosser with $336.5 million. Sony also had the distinction of releasing the hilarious comedy Superbad, which grossed $121 million, and comic-book adaptation Ghost Rider, which took in $115 million.
And Taketh Away: But Sony also put out a lot of stinkers, making the Spider-Man 3 win not as sweet as it could have been. Exhibit A: Premonition, I Know Who Killed Me, Daddy Day Camp, Brothers Solomon, Feel the Noise, Resident Evil: Extinction. Need we go on?
[IMG:R]2. Warner Bros. (approx. 26 feature releases; $1.29 billion total)
Neck and neck with Sony this year, Warner Bros. jumps from fourth place last year to second, with a little help from the boy wizard.
Giveth the Coin: WB’s biggest grosser was indeed Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix with $292 million. But also contributing to their box office power were: 300 ($210 mil); Ocean’s 13 ($117 mil) and the latest, I Am Legend, which has taken in $150 million so far.
And Taketh Away: It didn’t all gel, however. WB also released In the Land of Women, Lucky You, No Reservations and The Invasion.
First place goes to…
[IMG:L]1. Buena Vista (approx. 20 feature releases; $1.37 billion total)
Stepping into the top spot this year from second place in ‘06, Disney once again kept things fairly low-key, except for a bunch of rousing pirates. With the help of Miramax’s art-house sensibilities (Gone Baby Gone, No Country for Old Men and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), the Mouse House released a relatively truncated–but prevailing–list of films.
Giveth the Coin: Whatever will we do without a Pirates of the Caribbean next summer? Although it didn’t break as many records as the second installment Dead Man’s Chest, POTC: At World’s End still managed to gross $309.4 million. But that’s not all Disney did this year. They also released: Wild Hogs ($168.2 mil); Ratatouille ($206.4 mil); Enchanted ($91.8 mil) and the increasingly profitable National Treasure: Book of Secrets ($65 mil and counting).
And Taketh Away: Even if Disney is on top, they still had a few missteps: Primeval, for one. Underdog, for another.
Estimates reported as of Dec. 26
