2014 Box Office Reaches $2 Billion
As of Sunday, total domestic box office earnings have surpassed $2 billion in 2014. To date, the box office is up around eight percent from last year.

If that pattern continues, 2014 would come close to being the first $12 billion year. That isn't guaranteed, though: 2014 is lagging behind 2012, 2010 and 2009, none of which even came close to $11 billion.

Two animated hits are leading the way so far this year. The LEGO Movie is number one so far with $236.9 million (as of Sunday), which accounts for nearly 12 percent of year-to-date box office. The movie ranks second all-time among February releases behind The Passion of the Christ, and is on its way to being one of the highest-grossing original animated movies ever.

Frozen is in second place so far with over $133 million. Despite opening in November, the Disney Animation blockbuster has been in the Top 10 on all 11 weekends so far this year. That makes 16 straight, which is the longest streak since Chicago in early 2003.

Ride Along is the highest-grossing live-action movie this year with an incredible $132 million. A sequel is already set for January 2016. Unfortunately, star Kevin Hart's second 2014 movie, About Last Night wasn't nearly as successful: the R-rated romantic comedy is on pace to close below $50 million.

Afghanistan war drama Lone Survivor ranks fourth with $124 million. That makes it the highest-grossing modern warfare movie ever ahead of Black Hawk Down ($108 million). American Hustle rounds out the Top Five with $81.8 million in 2014.

Through the same point last year, the top of the chart was decidedly less impressive. As of March 16th, the number one movie was Oz The Great and Powerful, which had earned $132 million since opening nine days prior. Comedy hit Identity Thief was second with $123 million, while Oscar-nominated movies Silver Linings Playbook ($95.5 million), Zero Dark Thirty ($94 million) and Django Unchained ($93 million) completed the Top Five.

On a worldwide basis, The LEGO Movie leads 2014 releases with $379 million (over 62 percent from the U.S.)*. 300: Rise of An Empire was a fast hit overseas, and ranks second for the year with $238 million. Thanks to huge numbers in China, the Robocop remake is currently in third with $234 million. Mr. Peabody & Sherman ($149 million) and Ride Along ($142 million, most of which is from the U.S.) rank fourth and fifth, respectively.

Domestically, Warner Bros. is the highest-grossing studio in 2014 with $442 million (22 percent). Second place belongs to Universal ($364 million, 18 percent), which has held the top spot on five of the 11 weekends so far this year. Among the six major studios, 20th Century Fox trails the pack with just $172 million so far.

Note: The 2014 worldwide data excludes movies released in 2013 like Frozen and The Hobbit.

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Related Charts

2014 Domestic Grosses

• 2014 Worldwide Grosses (2014 releases only)

Year-to-Date Comparison