Christmas movies have become a significant genre with a considerable impact on box office earnings, with two franchises, The Grinch and Home Alone, vying for the top positions. In terms of overall box office revenue, the highest-grossing Christmas movie is 2018’s The Grinch, an Illumination adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s timeless story. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the iconic character, The Grinch grossed over $538 million worldwide, demonstrating its widespread appeal. Notably, the film doesn’t rank among the top half of all Illumination movies, showcasing the studio’s consistent success since its debut feature, 2010’s Despicable Me.
However, when adjusting for inflation, the top spot shifts to the 1990 original film Home Alone, a creation of writer John Hughes. Home Alone’s impressive global earnings of almost $476.6 million on an $18 million budget make it a standout success story. In 2023 dollars, this amounts to nearly $1.1 billion, highlighting the film’s enduring popularity. Home Alone spent 12 weeks as the number one film at the box office upon its release, a remarkable feat that places it fifth for the most weeks at number one. The film’s budget, while reasonable compared to contemporary Hollywood standards, was almost twice the initial $10 million pitch to Warner Bros., leading to the studio temporarily shelving the project. However, 20th Century Fox, having received a copy of the screenplay covertly from Hughes, stepped in and reaped the rewards of Home Alone’s immense success.
The Home Alone franchise continues to hold a prominent position in Christmas movie history, with its second installment, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, securing the third spot in highest-grossing Christmas movies. Jim Carrey’s 2000 adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas claims the fourth position, showcasing the enduring appeal of well-known franchises during the holiday season. Another Jim Carrey film, the 2009 CGI A Christmas Carol based on Charles Dickens’s classic, rounds out the top five. Carrey’s involvement in two of the highest-grossing Christmas movies emphasizes his impact on the genre.
While the success of these established franchises is noteworthy, it’s essential to recognize the changing landscape of Christmas movies. Streaming services have become significant platforms for holiday releases, with fewer films opting for traditional theatrical releases. Despite this shift, the record-breaking summer box office in 2023 indicates that theatrical releases still have the potential to draw significant audiences, ensuring the continued popularity of Christmas mega-blockbusters in the post-pandemic era. As audiences eagerly await more cinematic holiday offerings, the enduring appeal of these classic Christmas movies remains a testament to their timeless charm and universal appeal, particularly during the festive season.
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