The Mouse Saved 2016's Box Office

Disney Saved 2016's Box Office

2016's box office ended with a huge surge as the year-end slate of movies couldn't have been of better quality or diversity.

'Rogue One' was the real box office bruiser, as the eighth segment in the 'Star Wars' saga, is currently inching toward $1b worldwide. 'Sing', the animated children's musical, although a distant second to 'Rogue', hit it big as well.

Disney dominated 2016 with six of the top 10 grossing films and literally saved this year's box office pushing it to a new record high of over $11.5b domestically, and still counting. The Mouse-house set the record in being the first studio to reach $7b in gross box office globally.

The holiday season came as a big relief for both the studios and exhibitors as this summer's grosses were anything but stellar.  But, even with a very crowded marquee most of the holiday movies did well. Besides 'Rogue' and 'Sing' there were a number of good performers: 'Passengers', 'Muana', 'Why Him', 'Assassin's Creed', and 'La La Land' all grossed very well, as did early holiday releases 'Fantastic Beasts', 'Office Christmas Party', 'Collateral Beauty, and 'Trolls' all of which grossed over $150m.  'Doctor Strange' broke the $230m mark and critics favorite  'Hacksaw Ridge' has grossed over $70m and still has legs.

In the end, 2016 finished big and salvaged what would have otherwise been a down and lack-luster year. Disney was 2016's box office hero, with: 'Finding Dory', 'Captain America', 'The Jungle Book', 'Rogue One', 'Zootopia', and 'Dr. Strange' all ending in the top 10 for the year, with all except 'Strange' grossing over the $340m mark.

We all look forward to another record breaking year in 2017!