Canada, U.S.: Box Office Revenue, by year
YearBox office gross,
in billion USD
20238.91
20227.37
20214.48
20202.10
201911.32
201811.89
201711.07
201611.38
201511.13
201410.36
201310.92
201210.82
201110.17
201010.57
200910.60
20089.63
20079.66
20069.21
20058.84
20049.37
20039.21
20029.17
20018.11
20007.51
19997.38
19986.73
19976.16
19965.65
19955.20
19945.10
19934.86
19924.56
19914.37
19904.36
19894.11
19883.55
19873.40
19863.10
19853.04
19843.10
19832.75
19823.01
19810.92
19801.66
  • Region: Canada, United States
  • Time period: 1980 to 2023
  • Published: Jan 2024

Data Analysis and Insights

Updated: Apr 13, 2024 | Published by: Statistico | About Us | Data sources

Peak Revenue Years

The highest box office gross in the U.S. and Canada was recorded in 2018 with 11.89 billion USD, closely followed by years 2016 and 2019, showcasing 11.38 billion USD and 11.32 billion USD, respectively. These years represent the peak of the cinema industry's revenue before experiencing significant disruptions.

Impact of 2020

The year 2020 marked the most drastic decline in box office revenues, plummeting to just 2.10 billion USD. This represents a decline of approximately 69% from the previous year, illustrating the devastating impact of the global events that year on the cinema industry.

Recovery Trajectory

Post-2020, a recovery trajectory is evident, with revenues increasing annually from 2.10 billion USD in 2020 to 8.91 billion USD by 2023. This steady climb indicates resilience and gradual recovery of the cinema industry, though not yet reaching pre-2020 levels.

Long-term Growth Perspective

From the early 1980s to the present, the box office in the U.S. and Canada has seen a substantial long-term growth, from 1.66 billion USD in 1980 to 8.91 billion USD in 2023, reflecting broader industry growth and increased consumer spending in entertainment.

Volatility and Recovery Rates

The average year-on-year percentage change in box office gross across the dataset is 5.02%, with a standard deviation of 70.56%, highlighting significant volatility. The drastic drop in 2020 followed by a sharp recovery illustrates the industry's susceptibility to external shocks and its capability for rebound.

Decadal View

A decadal view reveals significant growth, with revenues more than doubling from the early 1980s to the 2000s. However, the highest growth rates are observed in the transition from the late 1990s to the early 2000s, indicating a pivotal era for cinema driven by technological advancements and global expansion.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the highest box office gross in the U.S. and Canada recorded?

The highest box office gross in the U.S. and Canada was recorded in 2018, with revenues at 11.89 billion USD.

Terms and Definitions

Box office refers to the place where cinema tickets are sold. In the context of the film industry, however, box office also refers to the commercial aspect of a movie in terms of the revenue or ticket sales it generates.

This term refers to the money collected by a company, organization, or industry for the services/products it provides. In the context of this article, revenue refers to the money earned by the U.S. and Canada from movie ticket sales.

This is a term used to describe a movie that performs poorly in terms of revenue, failing to earn an amount equivalent to or more than its production budget.

A term used to describe a movie that is a big commercial success, usually one that generates a significant amount of revenue at the box office.

In the film industry, the break-even point refers to the point at which revenues from a movie's ticket sales match the cost of producing and marketing the film.

Gross box office revenue refers to the total revenue generated by ticket sales before expenses such as production, marketing, and distribution are subtracted. Net box office revenue is the remaining amount after these costs have been accounted for.
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Movie revenue refers to the total earnings generated from the distribution and screening of feature films, which encompasses box office sales, DVD and Blu-Ray sales, digital downloads, TV broadcasting licensing fees, and merchandise. Read more »