As 2024 concludes Hollywood shifts towards reflection evaluating both commercial accomplishments and artistic impact that defines film. Accountants measure box office earnings and movie critics create top ten lists highlighting the intersection of commerce and creative value. The National Association of Theatre Owners observes a drop in total domestic box office revenue from nine billion dollars in 2023 down to about eight billion in 2024.
Movie Attendance Resurgence Despite Limited Releases and Distracting Audience Behaviors Across Theatres
Despite the decline in box office results, there are indications for renewed movie going. Movie going appears to have returned as an entertainment option as confirmed by recent data even though product shortages occurred because of labor strikes from studio workers. These issues did not negatively affect the overall feeling of movie attendance numbers as many returned after long Covid period which made the ability to attend theatres enjoyable. Moviegoers' behaviors involving phones become increasingly noticeable as people actively text talk and even record movies.
Sequels and Remakes Dominate 2024 Box Office; Cinematic Universe Fails To Expand Beyond Marvel's Deadpool
Pre sold franchises continue dominance during the 2024 box office run as all the top ten box office films were sequels remakes or even prequels. Many of these film titles featured the numeric digits or roman numerals without additional sub titles like Moana 2 and Kung Fu Panda 4 or Gladiator II indicating little effort towards naming processes from production studios and other industry players. Notably Marvel DC and Star Wars films saw a significant lack of franchise growth. Deadpool & Wolverine was one exception as no other massive successes emerged from comic book franchise or those based from science fiction in space.
Declining Moviegoer Etiquette Sparks Discontent and Concern over the State of Theatre Experience
Moviegoers in 2024 use their hand held devices disrupting big screens and this becomes a pressing issue. Moviegoers often use movie screen as a background as many look at lit screens while texting talking and even recording movies. Distractions and a lack of decorum have become growing concern despite nickelodeon warnings from times past that were intended to remind movie goers of theatre behavior rules. In the past filmgoers understood movie etiquette from code of conduct similar to that of Jane Austen novels creating a very enjoyable theatrical environment that has been greatly diluted in modern theatre culture.
Historically Collective Audience Expressions During Theatrical Performances Highlight Change From Prior Traditions
Older crowds frequently enjoyed hissing cheering and shouting which were common place behaviors in movie houses . Those behaviors were inspired by on screen events instead of disrupting the shows with private actions by certain audience members as frequently happens today. "Better Theatres" the Motion Picture Herald published methods for theater owners to create good experience as well as rules for ushers which included preventing intoxication managing unruly children and reporting degenerates also while prohibiting flirtation. In the 1950's movie fans and teens would even help theatre managers maintain respectful atmospheres at the shows which are no longer a common occurrence. One example given in a 1952 high school editorial requested people not make excessive noise at movie houses and another from Photoplay advised that whispering during show is also poor etiquette.
Limited Solutions and Humorous Efforts to Maintain Decorum as Movie Houses Are Challenged
The ubiquity of devices plus public manner breakdown create very limited theatre solutions while some theatres create polite PSA's to have moviegoers silence phones as those policies lack true enforcement mechanisms. The issue was highlighted during an official Deadpool & Wolverine “Silence Your Cell Phone” public service announcement which showed what could potentially happen to rule violators. Despite those humorous attempts at control of audiences the violations continue to be problematic as audience members are regularly engaging with devices rather than the big screens .
The Historical Origin of The Top Ten Movie Lists Highlights Influence in Film Industry
The National Board of Review made efforts during 1920 to highlight film productions with an official list for exceptional pictures that highlighted Reginald Barker’s Godless Men. The Film Daily also made attempts to create official best picture lists in 1921 which collected various critics’ responses showing various tastes. The New York Times film critic Mordaunt Hall picked top ten list in 1923 which included movies like Charles Chaplin’s A Woman of Paris demonstrating high level and influential critics engaging in the top ten lists creating early media for movies and the arts as a whole.
Top Movie Lists as a Means to Boost Media Traffic and Box Office Potential Through Critic Input
George Gerhard highlighted in 1930 the student nature of critics of cinema that would start selecting top pictures around Thanksgiving time to get ahead of end of year celebrations. David O. Selznick also acknowledged this trend in 1935 when expressing desire to produce both successful commercial art as well as critical favorites also noted in 1938 by MGM that they have the most winner on critics lists. Currently critics website and film society promote their picks to create more internet traffic and potential bump to box office revenue. David O. Selznick's idea to create a film for both " best list " and massive audience participation is still viewed as platonic standard as seen during success of Saving Private Ryan from 1998 and Oppenheimer in 2023 plus Wicked and A Complete Unknown who did very well in 2024.
2024 Films Showcase Divides Between Critic Favorites and Mass Audience Preferences
Critics tended to appreciate films such as Emilia Pérez, Conclave Anora and The Substance with transgender related themes and flesh based provocations whereas a large section of mainstream film goers tended to watch those titles that also held broader fan bases like teen targeted horrors. The year also saw big films from young female lead actresses in performances like Hunter Schafer in Cuckoo or Naomi Scott in Smile 2 also including Maika Monroe in Longlegs also finally with Mia Goth and her trilogy of intergenerational horror with Maxxxine . Documentaries did very poorly with notable exception of Matt Walsh’s Am I Racist which performed successfully with mass audience numbers with little or no acclaim from major critic sources.
Movie Success Contrasts and 2025 Predictions Regarding Cultural Impact
A notable divide was identified between elitist and mainstream movie fan bases in which elite critics often push back but also at the same time find those productions to have the strongest cultural ties and influence of a certain type or category. Commercial hits were criticized as Ghostbusters Frozen Empire and Despicable Me 4 received relatively poor reviews. As we approach 2025 all of the biggest upcoming releases seem positioned to gain high commercial and also high critical approval showing possible new trend for studios. "Cabrini," a biopic based on a real life story was praised greatly by both critics and audiences earning a 90% critics score and 98% audience score but only grossed 19.5 million despite a wide theatre showing. Ordinary Angels similar to the success of Cabrini grossed a disappointing 19.1 million which showcased strong potential in some movies but for different reason. Many studios seek to improve connections with popular audiences which will impact both art and commerce through better connections that Hollywood can seek and build to its movie bases and the moviegoing fans.