Despite the good weather and a seventh wave of COVID-19 that no one saw coming, dark rooms were popular this summer in Quebec. The abandonment of health measures and the strong comeback of Hollywood productions have notably enabled cinemas to reconnect with attendance levels comparable to those before the pandemic. Here are the tops and flops of the summer at the global box office.
Top Gun : Maverick
It is without a doubt the big success of the summer at the box office. Since its theatrical release at the end of May, the sequel to the 1986 cult film has rewritten the box office record books. In the USA, Top Gun : Maverick has just risen to 7th place among the most lucrative titles in North American box office history, just behind Titanic. In Quebec, the new Top Gun became the first film to cross the $10 million mark at the box office since The Lion Kingin 2019. Globally, the Tom Cruise-starring film has grossed more than $1.4 billion to date and doesn’t seem to be slowing down nearly three months after its release.
Jurassic World: Domination
Photo courtesy, Universal Pictures
Despite very mixed (if not disastrous) reviews, Dinosaurs once again had crowds racing into theaters this summer. Still showing in several major markets, the third part of the saga jurassic world is expected to soon pass the billion-dollar milestone in worldwide revenue, a feat that only two films (Top Gun : Maverick et Spider-Man: No Return) have accomplished since the start of the pandemic.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
The second part of the adventures of Doctor Strange hit hard as soon as it arrived on screens, raising no less than $450 million at the worldwide box office – including $185 million in North America – during its first days in theaters. The superhero film starring Benedict Cumberbatch was also a hit in theaters in the province, recording the best start of the pandemic at the Quebec box office with receipts of $ 2.1 million during its first three days in theaters.
Minions 2: Once Upon a Time Gru
Photo courtesy, Universal Pictures
And Top Gun : Maverick was the most popular film with young (and old) adults this summer, the new minion adventures installment was the most popular with children and young families. Launching on screens on the first day of July, Les Minions 2: Once Upon a Time Gru has to date grossed nearly $800 million at the global box office, making it the 4th most popular film of 2022, ahead of superheroes like Batman and Thor.
Elvis
Forty-five years after his death, Elvis Presley still exerts a great fascination on the general public, as evidenced by the success of this flamboyant biographical drama directed by the renowned filmmaker Baz Luhrmann (red Mill). Even if he had to compete against several big Hollywood productions with budgets twice his own, Elvis raised more than $263 million at the box-
world office this summer. The film about the King is also doing very well in Quebec with revenues of $1.8 million raised to date in theaters in the province.
Thor: love and thunder
Like his Marvel colleague Doctor Strange, Thor has also made superhero movie fans happy this summer. With its explosive mix of action and comedy, Thor: love and thunder earned more than $723 million at the worldwide box office (including $5 million in Quebec) in just six weeks.
High-speed train
Little train goes a long way… With revenues of more than $120 million raised in just two weeks, this action comedy starring Brad Pitt got off to a flying start at the global box office. High-speed train (Bullet Train) has also been the most popular film in Quebec theaters for the past two weeks.
Well not
Photo courtesy, Universal Studios
American filmmaker Jordan Peele caused quite a surprise in 2017 with the thriller Get Out, his first feature film shot on a very modest budget (approximately $4.5 million) which had collected more than $255 million at the worldwide box office. Even if it was made with much more means, his third film, Well Not (Nope), is unlikely to be as successful. But receipts of $116 million for a horror film remain a very respectable result.
Downton Abbey: A New Era
Photo courtesy, FOCUS FEATURES
Released in 2019, the first film derived from the popular British series had achieved great success at the box office, accumulating revenues of nearly $200 million worldwide. Its sequel, launched at the end of May, did not generate the same enthusiasm, collecting only $92 million at the worldwide box office.
Bob’s Burgers: The Movie
Apart for Minions 2 et DC Krypto Super-Dog, it’s been a pretty tough summer for animated family movies at the box office. Launched in theaters at the start of the summer season, the film derived from the hit animated series Bob’s Burger was a hit at the box office.
Lightyear
For most movies, a $225 million worldwide box office would be seen as a big hit. But for a Studio Pixar animated film derived from the lucrative saga toy story, it is rather a disappointment. Remember that the 4th film toy story raised more than $1 billion at box office in 2019.
Confessionsthe Quebec champion
Despite strong competition from Hollywood, several Quebec films managed to do well in theaters across the province during the summer season. This is especially the case with suspense. Confessions, Quebec’s biggest hit of the summer, which to date has grossed close to $1.2 million at the box office. The Thriller Arsenault & Fils also did well with a collection of $438,000, while the political comedy Arlette continues its strong momentum with earnings of $427,000 after only two weeks in theaters. The comedy Vanishing lines follows with receipts of $312,000.