{"id":216180,"date":"2024-12-10T10:45:11","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T15:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ibkrcampus.com\/campus\/?p=216180"},"modified":"2025-01-23T12:42:52","modified_gmt":"2025-01-23T17:42:52","slug":"a-blockbuster-thanksgiving-at-the-box-office-grab-your-popcorn-for-upcoming-movie-release-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.interactivebrokers.com\/campus\/traders-insight\/securities\/stocks\/a-blockbuster-thanksgiving-at-the-box-office-grab-your-popcorn-for-upcoming-movie-release-data\/","title":{"rendered":"A Blockbuster Thanksgiving at the Box Office: Grab Your Popcorn for Upcoming Movie Release Data"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Record TSA travel, a Black Friday spending boom, and monster movie debuts set an upbeat tone ahead of the winter holidays
\u201cMoana 2\u201d gross box office revenue impressed analysts, though industry-wide YTD ticket sales remain down YoY
Drama continues to unfold for the entertainment companies with all-time highs for some stocks and high uncertainty among others
The consumer just kept doing their thing over the Thanksgiving weekend. Retail sales on Turkey Day were record-setting while Black Friday shoppers were out and about with enthusiasm.1<\/sup>\u00a0Cyber Monday was also strong along with high volume at silver screens across North America over the holiday weekend.\u00a0
According to Comscore data, box office sales across the US and Canada summed to $420 million over the five-day stretch.2<\/sup>\u00a0It was the highest-ever total, even surpassing pre-pandemic figures when going to the movies was a common thing.\u00a0
Year to date through December 4, gross box office sales are now $7.665 billion, but that\u2019s down from $8.258 billion YTD through the same day in 2023, according to data from Box Office Mojo by IMDbPro.3<\/sup>\u00a0Go back to 2019, and movie-goers had doled out more than $10 billion through early December \u2013 and that\u2019s not adjusted for inflation.
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This Year Trails 2023\u2019s Box Office Gross Sales Total<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"This<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Source: Box Office Mojo<\/em>
Along with tracking the usual corporate event happenings like earnings dates and changes, industry conferences, and dividend announcements, the Wall Street Horizon team pays particular attention to Hollywood trends. OK, it\u2019s not the most serious topic, but we like to have fun with our data coverage too. Some of our team members came back from the holiday with favorable reviews for the biggest Thanksgiving weekend hit, \u201cMoana 2.\u201d
The Disney (DIS) film took in $221 million in domestic ticket revenue from Wednesday through Sunday of the holiday period, good enough to make it the biggest domestic sales Thanksgiving blockbuster of all time. \u201cWicked\u201d and \u201cGladiator II\u201d continued to attract the public, with sales of $117.5 million and $44 million, respectively.4<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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High-Profile Showtimes in Store<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While escaping to the big screen is almost therapeutic in today\u2019s world of being connected 24\/7 to work, it\u2019s also big business. Last year\u2019s Hollywood writers\u2019 strike and disappointing box office sales (outside of a few big hits) before late November were significant headwinds even with an aggressive consumer. Optimism now builds for a star-studded end to 2024.\u00a0
On the docket for the balance of December are \u201cThe Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,\u201d \u201cMufasa: The Lion King,\u201d \u201cThe Count of Monte-Cristo,\u201d and \u201cSonic the Hedgehog 3.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next Year\u2019s Coming Attractions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some of the most anticipated blockbusters of 2025 include \u201cMission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning\u201d, \u201cAvatar: Fire and Ash\u201d, \u201cJurassic World: Rebirth\u201d, and \u201cKnives Out 3.\u201d A rising trend is that it\u2019s all about the kids these days. \u201cBarbie,\u201d released in tandem with \u201cOppenheimer\u201d in the summer of 2023 was followed by \u201cTaylor Swift: The Eras Tour\u201d that autumn. Next year, expect your daughters and sons to beg you to take them to see \u201cSnow White,\u201d \u201cElio,\u201d and \u201cHow to Train Your Dragon.\u201d
So, there\u2019s something for everyone with a slew of horror films on tap and plenty of nostalgia vibes to be had with both family-friendly and edgier remakes and sequels.
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And the Oscar Goes To…<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Digging into the data, Netflix (NFLX) remains a dominant player in the movie business. The $386 billion market cap Communications Services sector company has been on a roll since the middle of 2022. After falling below $200 per share from a peak above $700 in late 2021, NFLX hit all-time highs this month, now up more than 100% in 2024.
The move to tack on an ad-supported tier has worked well. Over the past 12 months, it has generated $16.51 of FCF per share, even after the remarkable YTD rally.5<\/sup>
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Most Motion Pictures? Netflix.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Most<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Source: Wall Street Horizon<\/em>
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