By Movieguide® Contributor
Hollywood’s studios are still playing catch-up when it comes to recovering from last year’s strikes. Who’s making money and who’s still struggling to turn a profit?
“The global box office dropped 10 percent to $30.5 billion last year,” The Hollywood Reporter wrote in a new report. “But it wasn’t bad news for everyone.”
Take NBCUniversal, for example. The studio boasts 2024 hits like WICKED, DESPICABLE ME 4, TWISTERS and THE WILD ROBOT, which caused their overall profits to jump 10.7% to $1.4 billion. NBCUniversal is also looking ahead to a profitable 2025.
“We are excited about the 2025 slate, which includes HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH, and WICKED: FOR GOOD, just to name a few,” Comcast president Mike Cavanagh said during a Jan. 30 earnings call.
Disney also had a great 2024, with blockbusters like INSIDE OUT 2 and DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE being the only two movies that year to cross the $1 billion mark at the box office.
“A successful Disney movie today drives more value than it ever has in the past, with our increased number of consumer touchpoints extending the reach and impact of our world-class storytelling, from streaming to parks and resorts, cruise ships, consumer products, and games. This multiplier effect means that the system economics of our movie business has never been stronger,” CEO Bob Iger said on an earnings call in February.
Netflix also reported massive earnings for 2024. THR wrote that the company’s revenue “grew 16 percent to $39 billion and operating income jumped 50 percent to $10.4 billion, exceeding $10 billion for the first time in the company’s history.”
While some studios soared, others faltered at the box office in 2024.
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Warner Bros. Discovery had major movies like DUNE: PART TWO and BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE but “posted a 4% drop in theatrical revenue,” THR wrote, adding that the studio’s gaming revenue saw a shocking 53% decrease.
“Given consumers’ sustained demand — and willingness to pay a premium — for great content, Studios remain one of our primary growth levers,” WBD said in a letter sent to shareholders. “Delivering more consistency and profitability is a top priority. In 2025, industry leader WBTV will play a key role in helping to secure that momentum, with support from improved expected results from our Motion Pictures Group and Games businesses. While results from these divisions were disappointing in 2024, we have taken action to improve performance and are optimistic about their long-term outlook.”
Sony also reported revenue declines, with a 25% decline in its television department and a 13% decline for its movies.
“There is still some impact of the strikes, such as postponement to the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027 of the theatrical releases of the next SPIDER-MAN and JUMANJI movies,” the studio noted in an earnings report. “However, production activity is recovering. In television productions, the production of new shows, which was impacted by the strikes, has almost stabilized.”
Read Next: Why Did SPIDER-MAN 4’s Premiere Date Get Pushed?
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