Next year's box office will be the biggest since the pandemic, says Comscore's Paul Dergarabedian

Core Insights - The domestic box office is projected to reach approximately $9 billion by the end of the year, showing improvement compared to last year but still below pre-pandemic levels [1][3][4] - The holiday season is expected to be strong, with several major releases including "Avatar: Fire and Ash," "The Housemaid," and "Marty Supreme" contributing to box office performance [2][4] - Next year is anticipated to be significant for the box office, with expectations of reaching levels close to $11 billion, driven by a robust slate of upcoming films [4][6] Box Office Performance - The current domestic box office stands at $8.5 billion, with a potential to generate an additional $480 to $500 million during the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve [1][3] - Historical data indicates that the box office can perform strongly during the holiday period, suggesting a positive outlook for the final week of the year [3] Upcoming Releases - Major upcoming films include "Disclosure Day," "Digger," "Avengers: Doomsday," "Toy Story 5," and "Minions 3," which are expected to attract audiences to theaters [5][6] - The success of films like "Marty Supreme," which performed well in limited release, highlights the importance of star involvement and marketing in driving box office success [8][9] Audience Engagement - The communal experience of watching movies in theaters is emphasized as a key factor in attracting audiences, particularly among Gen Z moviegoers [12] - The combination of theatrical releases and streaming options is seen as essential for studios to maximize their reach and engagement with audiences [11][12]