Title: The Decline of Hollywood Blockbusters: What Went Wrong?
The Decline of Hollywood Blockbusters: What Went Wrong?
The Box Office Woes of “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”
While “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” bombed, its performance is a symptom of a larger problem in Hollywood. It’s been a rough year at the box office in general; no 2024 release has made more than $800 million worldwide in ticket sales, with “Dune: Part Two” blowing everyone away at the box office with nearly $712 million. The numbers dwindle down the list, with “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” reaching slightly above $657 million. Only 13 movies have crossed the $100 million plateau so far. “Furiosa” isn’t the only well-reviewed blockbuster to wildly underperform, as “The Fall Guy” also bombed at the box office, earning under $150 million against a budget estimated in the $130-150 million range.
The Impact of Streaming on Box Office Returns
Of course, the cost of movie tickets and the fact most films go to streaming soon after release don’t help matters. Additionally, “Mad Max: Fury Road,” while profitable, was only a modest box office hit to begin with. Unfortunately, the reality of today’s movie industry is even with a big IP or great reviews, there’s no guarantee anything will perform well financially. It’s a shame, because “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” is made to be seen on the biggest screen possible. But, that doesn’t seem to be a selling point for most audiences, as they appear more than comfortable waiting to watch it at home. That means “The Wasteland” is a longshot to get made.