Bob Iger attends the World Premiere of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures 'Avengers: Endgame' at Los Angeles Convention Center on April 22, 2019.
Jeff Kravitz | FilmMagic, Inc | Getty Images
2019 has been Disney's year at the box office.
The company had six movies surpass the $1 billion mark — has a likely seventh on the way — and has grossed more than $10 billion at the global box office.
In the U.S., Disney-produced films tallied more than $3.72 billion at the box office, beating the record it set in 2018 of $3.09 billion, the most of any studio in history.
With the total U.S. box office currently hovering around $11.26 billion, Disney-produced films account for about 33% of the total market. Combine Disney-produced films with that of 20th Century Fox, which the company acquired earlier this year, and Disney as a whole represented 38% of the U.S. movie industry's haul in 2019, according to data from Comscore.
Disney's closest competitor, Warner Bros., accounted for 13.8%
Disney has been steadily increasing its market share over the last decade. In 2008, Disney accounted for only 10.5% of the U.S. box office. A number of strategic acquisitions, including the purchase of Marvel and Lucasfilm, has made the company a powerhouse.
Last year, Disney-produced films represented 26.3% of the U.S. industry.
Disney packed 2019 with major releases as it prepared the launch of its streaming service, Disney+. Seven of the 10 films released solely under the Disney banner were in the top eight highest-grossing movies of the year.
"Spider-Man: Far From Home" was the only film in the top eight that was not distributed by Disney. However, Disney-owned Marvel Studios helped produce the film alongside Sony.
Next year, Disney will release another strong slate of blockbusters. Coming to theaters in 2020 is "Jungle Cruise," "Mulan," "Black Widow," "The Eternals," "Onward," "Soul" and "Raya and the Last Dragon," among others. The company will also have several Fox films like "Free Guy," "West Side Story" and "The King's Man."
Disclosure: Comcast, the parent company of CNBC, owns Universal.
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Absolutely, let's break down this article on Disney's dominance at the box office in 2019 and their strategies for the upcoming years.
Firstly, Disney's unparalleled success in 2019 was a culmination of strategic decisions and a robust film lineup. Their box office triumph, surpassing $10 billion globally, stemmed from a series of blockbuster hits. The evidence lies in the sheer number of films that crossed the $1 billion mark. Among these were iconic movies like "Avengers: Endgame," "The Lion King," and "Toy Story 4." These triumphs were not just incidental; they were part of Disney's calculated approach to entertainment.
The acquisition of significant entities like Marvel and Lucasfilm was a pivotal move for Disney, altering the landscape of the entertainment industry. It transformed Disney into a powerhouse, as seen from their exponential growth in market share from a mere 10.5% in 2008 to a staggering 33% in 2019, even reaching 38% when combined with the assets of 20th Century Fox.
Disney's strategic foresight extended beyond movie releases. Their preparations for the launch of Disney+ were evident in their 2019 movie schedule, strategically aligned with the streaming service launch. This aligns with Disney's overarching goal of content synergy across platforms.
Moving forward to 2020, Disney's lineup remains robust. They're set to release a range of highly anticipated films, both under the Disney banner and from the recently acquired Fox. Titles like "Mulan," "Black Widow," "The Eternals," and "Raya and the Last Dragon" demonstrate Disney's ongoing commitment to captivating storytelling and broadening their cinematic universe.
The article also touches upon Disney's dominance in comparison to its competitors. Warner Bros., a significant contender, accounted for 13.8% of the U.S. box office, significantly trailing Disney's colossal 33% share.
In summary, Disney's box office supremacy in 2019 wasn't just a stroke of luck; it was a result of meticulous planning, strategic acquisitions, and a powerful lineup of movies. Their continued success is poised to persist, evident in their strong 2020 slate and their stronghold in both the theatrical and streaming realms.
