The Decline of $100M Box Office Openers

For the first time in over a decade, no movie has opened to $100 million in the first half of the year, excluding the COVID-19 crisis period. This trend is concerning for the summer box office, traditionally a crucial season for moviegoing. Factors include production delays from labor strikes and the pandemic, and a shift in industry focus from short-term gains to long-term playability. Upcoming releases like Pixar's Inside Out 2 and Marvel's Deadpool & Wolverine are being closely watched to potentially break the $100 million opener drought.