It seems that less and less people are showing up to the theaters these days, but event films like ROGUE ONE are ensuring that those theater seats are filled! Thanks to the Lucasfilm's latest effort, 2016 has broken the record for highest domestic box-office returns at $11.17 billion, beating out 2015's $11.14 with time left to spare.
As Variety reports, the combined efforts of both ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY and SING gave 2016 the legs it needed and is projected to close the year with about $11.3 billion total. ROGUE ONE scored $340.6 million in its first 12 days alone, with SING bringing in $93 million its first week. That marks a hell of a year for Disney with hits such as FINDING DORY ($486 million), CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR ($408 million) and THE JUNGLE BOOK ($364 million) totaling almost $1.6 billion in domestic receipts alone! Illumination-Universal has also brought in $368 million thanks to THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS, while 20th Century Fox's DEADPOOL managed to add to the 2016 pile with $363 million.
While the home viewing experience becomes more and popular, the event films of 2016 have shown that theaters aren't ready to be put out to pasture just yet. As we move further into the digital age, cinema as we know it will inevitably becomes more specialized. An old-timer like myself is sad to admit to it, but there's no stopping the cultural landscape. Still, cinema chains aren't going anywhere anytime soon, so get out there and enjoy the theater experience!