Small films, big wins: an Oscar winner and horror hits among the professors in Deadline 2022’s most valuable box office tournament

Deadline’s Most Valuable Blockbuster tournament took a break during the pandemic, when theaters were closed for most of 2020-2021 and theatrical titles became more common on both the big screen and studios’ respective streaming platforms. Returning from that side, studios have largely returned to their theatrical release models and the downstream monetization they can bring. Not to mention their strength in launching IPs around the world with huge global marketing campaigns. When it comes to evaluating the financial performance of top films, it’s not about how much a film costs at the box office. The true story is told as production budgets, P&A, talent royalties and other costs collide with box office and ancillary revenue from VOD to DVD and TV. To get closer to that mysterious end of the equation, Deadline is recapping our Most Valuable Blockbuster tournament for 2022, using data from experienced and trusted sources.

As we near the end of Deadline’s movie winning tournament (and god knows you can guess what #1 and #2 might be), we’re turning the spotlight on the low-budget films that raked in big green margins in 2022.

When major film studios began to realize in the wake of the pandemic last year that theatrical day-and-date was not the best way to make money, one thing was clear: horror films were worth every ounce of blood. the cash register. But the same still can’t be said for comedy and romantic comedy, which largely satisfied in-house streaming debuts.

THE MOVIE

M3GAN
Universal/Atomic Monster/Blumhouse
Total profit: $78.8 million

Although M3GAN The PG-13 movie, which opened on the first weekend of this year, technically closes out 2022 as it opened in Mexico, Belgium and France at the end of December. Atomic Monster boss James Wan, who made his name for gory puppet films (re: Annabel), was looking for a Chucky for a new generation of girls. The photo was taken on the cheap in Auckland, New Zealand for $12 million from a 40% tax credit after Covid moved production from its original Montreal location. The whole idea of ​​a high-tech doll going to great lengths to protect its owner was manna from heaven for Universal’s marketing department, which generated a lot of interest in the film on TikTok thanks to M3GAN’s spooky dance. In addition, there was a group of M3GAN dancers who took on nightly television, the world premiere of the picture and national landmarks such as the Empire State Building. You’ve seen it at a post-Christmas market Avatar: The Way of Water once too often M3GAN seduced, and she did it with a net profit of $78.8 million.

THE BOX SCORE

THE MOVIE

Where the crayfish sing
Sony/3000 images
Net income: $74.7 million

While other studios struggled, Sony saw, and that was especially true for this budget-priced ($24 million production cost) installment of Delia Owen’s novel, which sold 12 million copies. Hello Sunshine, from 3000 Pictures, Sony and Reese Witherspoon, tells the story of a young woman from the deep south who becomes a suspect after a man she once romanced is found murdered. In a summer when there wasn’t much for female moviegoers to return to theaters after the pandemic, Where the crayfish sing fit the bill, overcame poor reviews (34% on Rotten Tomatoes) and captured its core audience with an A-CinemaScore. After a $17.2 million domestic premiere, the film has grossed over $90 million in the United States and over $140 million worldwide. Major TV deals around the world for Sony and a Netflix output deal take the film’s worldwide TV/streaming earnings to $95 million. Hi Sonskyn is interested in the holdings. Sony blasted female moviegoers before the pandemic with the highly-acclaimed Greta Gerwig Award little woman which earned $56 million.

THE BOX SCORE

THE MOVIE

The black phone
Universal/Blumhouse
Net income: $67.8 million

Good reviews (83% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and very good finishes (almost 90% on PostTrak by Comscore/Screen Engine) always make for a good box office when it comes to a Blumhouse release. As a sequel to Doctor Strange and his departure from that sequel, Scott Derrickson’s return to his horror roots with producer Jason Blum and protagonist Ethan Hawke in this 1978 R-rated horror story about a hooded, creepy neighborhood man who rounds up kids and locks them in his basement (until they die). A young boy becomes the downfall of “The Grabber”. The movie started in the middle of June in the episode Top Gun: Maverick and the same weekend as the older Baz Luhrmann biopic elvis The public followed the call black phone with a domestic opening of $23.6 million and a 3.8x leg-out factor to more than $90 million in the United States in a summer of delayed tentpoles due to the pandemic. The $100 million worldwide TV and streaming revenue includes what Peacock Universal is paying internally for the film, as well as a joint Pay One window running on Amazon Prime. As usual with Blumhouse titles, they’re kept low so everyone wins in the end, with entries here for the cast and Derrickson standing at $35 million.

THE BOX SCORE

THE MOVIE

Shout
Paramount / Binoculars
Net income: $56.7 million

Spyglass took over the Dimension library and revived their stellar horror franchise Shout. In 2011, the fourth film in the Kevin Williamson-created franchise flat-out grossed $38 million at the domestic box office and less than $100 million worldwide. Paramount is going with Spyglass on the new 50-50 ShoutWith a production cost of 24 million dollars, the fifth film shook things up Ready or not Filmmakers Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin cast a new cast that appeals to a diverse audience, including rising stars Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega (this film debuted before it exploded on Netflix) Wednesday series) and recurring leads Courteney Cox, Neve Campbell and David Arquette. These moviegoers on their way to the moviesSpider-Man: No Way Home and at a time when there were Omicron fears, they liked what they saw and made a $33.8 million, four-day MLK launch Shout and to reinvigorate audiences new and old for the next generation of the franchise. Paramount and Spyglass immediately scrapped it scream VI in production, and this picture hit a record $44.4 million in March and currently grosses $162.5 million; The new sequel brings the storyline to New York City for the first time and featured Ortega’s Wednesday appear younger.

THE BOX SCORE

THE MOVIE

Everything, everywhere, all at once
A24
Net income: $32 million

When it comes to original voice acting on the big screen, A24 knows where to find the writers. Originally in business with Daniel Kwan and Daniel Schneinert for their simmering corpse film swiss army man, acquired by the Sundance retailer in 2016, smoothly entered their fantasy martial arts multiverse film Everything, everywhere, all at once. The casting of Michelle Yeoh was key; The film was a great tribute to her. An added bonus was the cast of the former Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom And crazy child star (now adult) Key Huy Quan; The picture revived his acting career. A24 knew it had something – not just a fun ride, but something to make the moms in the audience cry, given the photo’s poignant story of the ups and downs of mothers and daughters. A24 made the film during SXSW’s first post-Covid return to Persona from a Cannon and found the film on stage at the Dolby Theater a year later, winning seven Oscars from 11 nominations, including Best Picture. A24 oversaw the international sale of the picture, co-financed by Ley Line Entertainment. After the film was screened extensively to create a buzz ahead of its release, in addition to special Imax screenings, Everything, everywhere, all at once is A24’s highest grossing film of all time at the domestic and global box office. It was also a ray of hope for the struggling indie box office industry, realizing that dynamic original material for audiences aged 18 to 34 is what keeps art houses thriving. The Daniels signed a first-look deal with Universal following the film’s success.

THE BOX SCORE