Alan Bergman Celebrates Disney’s Historic Year at the Box Office
After a difficult 2023 at the box office, The Walt Disney Studios came roaring back this year, dominating movie theaters and reconnecting with fans.
The year began on a strong note when 20th Century Studios’ Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes exceeded expectations and breathed new life into the classic franchise.
Photo: 20th Century Studio
Next was Pixar’s Inside Out 2, which had a historic run at the box office and eventually became the highest-grossing animated film of all time.
Disney followed up on that success with Deadpool & Wolverine, which not only proved to be a return to form for Marvel but also became the highest-grossing R-rated film ever.
Photo: Marvel
Over Thanksgiving, it was Walt Disney Animation’s turn to shine with the release of Moana 2. The film delivered the best five-day opening of all time and currently sits at $713 million at the global box office.
A Banner Year For Disney
When the dust had settled, Disney became the only studio to cross the $2 billion threshold at the domestic box office this year. That feat had only been accomplished once before — by Disney in 2019.
Looking at the company’s numerous successes in 2024, Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman believes that quality and storytelling won out.
Photo: NY Times
“We remain focused on quality while making sure we have the right volume across theatrical and streaming, and the results speak for themselves. We had a great year in 2024 and will lead the industry once again at the box office thanks to the exceptional performance of ‘Inside Out 2,’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ and ‘Moana 2,’ and other big releases like ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ and ‘Alien: Romulus,'” he said.
Photo: Disney
“We finish off the year with two fantastic yet completely different films, ‘Mufasa’ and ‘A Complete Unknown.’ We also had a strong streaming slate from ‘Echo’ and ‘Agatha All Along’ to ‘Skeleton Crew’ and ‘Dream Productions,’ which just came out. It shows the power of our brands which can deliver compelling storytelling to our audiences all around the world.”
Animation Reigns Supreme
Looking at the diversity of Disney’s successes in 2024, it is clear that no studio can expand in as many directions as Disney. Still, at the core of Disney is animation. This year, the studio was led by Inside Out 2 and Moana 2.
Photo: Billboard
“Animation is obviously a cornerstone of the Walt Disney Studios and the company, and something that audiences closely associate with us. The success of ‘Inside Out 2’ and ‘Moana 2’ shows without a doubt that animation remains a huge draw for viewers. Our animation studios continue to have a unique ability to create compelling franchises like these, which were both introduced to audiences less than a decade ago,” Bergman explains.
Image: Pixar
“Whether it’s an original or a sequel, it ultimately it comes down to having a great story to tell. That is what keeps them in the zeitgeist and is why ‘Moana,’ for example, was the most viewed movie across all streaming platforms last year. We are fortunate to have incredibly talented teams at both Disney Animation and Pixar that bring these wonderful films to life.”
Here Comes ‘Mufasa’
Looking ahead, Disney still has one more blockbuster up its sleeve — Mufasa: The Lion King. Bergman is excited for fans to finally get the chance to see the film.
Photo: Disney
“The story is so surprising and full of heart — a fresh perspective on one of Disney’s most iconic tales. We have a phenomenally talented director in Barry Jenkins and wonderful music from Lin-Manuel Miranda. It’s a visual masterpiece. I am excited for people to finally have the chance to experience it this holiday season.”
Looking Ahead to 2025
While 2024 was a historic year for Disney, Bergman and his team are already looking ahead to next year.
Marvel
Unlike the lighter release schedule this year, Disney looks primed to flood theaters in 2025.
“We have a highly anticipated slate of films and series ahead. On the film side, Marvel Studios’ has ‘Captain America: Brave New World,’ ‘Thunderbolts*,’ and ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps.’ We have ‘Snow White’ from Disney Live Action in March, ‘Lilo & Stitch’ in May, plus ‘Freakier Friday’ and ‘Tron: Ares’ later in the year. Disney Animation has ‘Zootopia 2’ and Pixar has a new original called ‘Elio,'” Bergman teased.
Photo: Disney
“We have the third Avatar film, ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ in December, and 20th will also put out ‘The Amateur’ and ‘Predator: Badlands,’ and I’m really excited about ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere,’ our Bruce Springsteen biopic. We also have some great Disney+ series from our brands including Marvel’s ‘Daredevil’ and the second season of our highly rated Star Wars series, ‘Andor.’ So those are just a few of the projects we have coming in the next year.”
Photo: Disney
After spending a few years lost in the COVID abyss, it looks like smooth sailing for Disney moving forward. Fans have every reason to be excited.
