Over the last decade, Thanksgiving has become one of Hollywood’s biggest box office holidays, with dollars nearly double what they were ten years ago. On a year-by-year basis, here’s a look at how Hollywood has sliced its Thanksgiving box office pie.
2003: $209.5 million*
The Haunted Mansion is first with $35 million, followed closely by The Cat in the Hat with $34 million. Elf took third place with $31.8 million. Gothika, came in fourth with $18.2 million, and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World rounded out the Top Five with $17.5 million.
2002 : $192.9 million
MGM and United Artists’ PG-13 rated action adventure thriller Die Another Day, the 20th of the studio’s Bond epics, led the five-day box office with $46 million, and Warner Bros.’ PG rated sequel Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets came in second with $45.7 million. Buena Vista/Disney’s G rated comedy sequel Santa Clause 2 came in third place with $16.8 million. Buena Vista/Disney’s PG rated animated sci-fi adventure Treasure Planet followed in fourth with $16.5 million. Columbia’s PG-13 rated animated musical Adam Sandler’s Eight Crazy Nights came in fifth place with $14 million.
2001: $207.2 million
Warner Bros. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was first with $82.4 million. Buena Vista/Disney and Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. was second with $32.5 million. Universal and Beacon Pictures’ Spy Game opened in third place with $30.6 million. 20th Century Fox’s Black Knight opened in fourth place to $15.4 million, ,and Fox’s Shallow Hal was fifth with $12.1 million.
2000: $238.7 million
Universal’s Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas was first with $73.5 million. Buena Vista’s opening of Unbreakable was second with $46.0 million. Buena Vista’s 102 Dalmatians opened in third place with $26.2 million. Paramount’s Rugrats in Paris: The Movie was fourth with $22.5 million. Columbia’s Charlie’s Angels finished fifth with $13.5 million.
1999: $218.9 million
Buena Vista/Disney and Pixar’s animated sequel Toy Story 2 led the pack with $80.1 million. MGM/UA’s James Bond sequel The World Is Not Enough was second with $34 million. Universal’s Arnold Schwarzenegger epic End of Days opened in third place to $31.5 million. Paramount’s Sleepy Hollow from director Tim Burton was fourth with $26.9 million. Warner Bros.’ animated Pokemon rounded out the Top Five with $9.1 million.
1998: $176.9 million
Buena Vista’s A Bug’s Life topped the box office with $45.7 million.
1997: $147.2 million
Buena Vista’s Flubber took top honors with $35.9 million.
1996: $146.5 million
Buena Vista’s 101 Dalmatians barked up the right tree and earned $45.1 million.
1995: $154.3 million
Buena Vista takes the top spot again with Toy Story‘s $39.1 million.
1994: $134.8 million
Buena Vista begins the holiday winning streak that won’t end until Universal’s Grinch steals Christmas–and the Thanksgiving weekend top spot–in 2000. In 1994, The Santa Clause started the Mouse House off with $27.4 million.
1993: $106.8 million
20th Century Fox’s Mrs. Doubtfire takes the top spot with $27.6 million.
*Based on key films–those grossing $500,000 or more for five days.
