The recent thriller “Carry On,” directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and featuring actors Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman, has gained significant attention on Netflix. It achieved the remarkable feat of ranking as the top film for three consecutive weeks during a peak holiday viewing period. This is notable as it is uncommon for a Netflix original film to maintain the number one position for such an extended time, with the last occurrence of a third week at number one being over two years ago.
In comparison, “The Glass Onion,” the sequel to “Knives Out,” only held the top position for two weeks and is currently listed among the top ten English-language films on Netflix’s all-time rankings. Netflix is set to provide global streaming statistics soon, which could further highlight “Carry On” as one of its biggest successes to date.
Meanwhile, the film “Gladiator II,” directed by Ridley Scott and released by Paramount, also made waves by topping the Premium Video on Demand (PVOD) charts shortly after its theatrical debut. After five weeks of theatrical release, “Gladiator II” continues to perform well in theaters while generating significant rental income, showcasing the profitability of such platforms. Its rental price of $19.99, along with an impressive share of the revenue, makes it a lucrative option for distributors looking to maximize profits during the holiday season.The film “Wicked” has been a significant success at the box office, currently standing as the fourth highest-grossing film for the weekend, with nearly $20 million in earnings. To date, it has accumulated approximately $424 million in revenues across the U.S. and Canada. With its release on Premium Video on Demand (PVOD) scheduled for next week, expectations are high for sustained interest, especially during the holiday season and following the upcoming Oscar nominations.
As Christmas has passed, many older holiday films, including various adaptations of “The Grinch” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” have fallen off the charts, making room for newer releases. Recently, the animated feature “The Lord of the Rings: Battle of the Rohirrim” struggled after its debut, leading to an early transition to PVOD, where it has seen limited success.
Among newer releases, films that premiered on December 6th have not performed well, only collectively earning less than $5 million. Among these, “The Order,” a crime thriller, has performed relatively better, ranking second on iTunes and fourth on Fandango. Other adaptations from that release date include “The Return,” featuring notable actors Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, which also managed to make it on the lists.
In the realm of recent releases, “Venom: The Last Dance” has emerged as a leading choice among audiences, with “Heretic” and “The Wild Robots” also achieving notable rankings. Additionally, discounted rental prices have helped titles like “The Substance” and “Saturday Night” regain attention on iTunes. Overall, the current cinematic landscape is shifting as “Wicked” prepares to dominate the PVOD scene.Netflix’s original movie lineup continues to impress viewers, with Tyler Perry’s World War II drama, “The Six Triple Eight,” ranking second for two consecutive weeks. The film stands out alongside “Carry On,” which holds the number one spot. Other notable mentions in the rankings include “Godzilla x Kong: New Empire” and “The Forge,” occupying third and fourth positions, respectively. These titles represent some of the most popular theatrical releases now available on the streaming platform.
The current rankings of movie popularity are derived from daily transaction metrics on platforms like iTunes and revenue data from Fandango at Home. The iTunes chart for December 23rd features “Gladiator II” as the top title, followed by “The Order” and “Venom: The Last Dance,” each priced at $19.99. These films indicate a trend of consumers opting for newer releases during this period.
Fandango at Home mirrors this trend, with “Gladiator II” leading the chart as well, alongside “Venom: The Last Dance” and “Werewolf,” all reflecting a consistent pricing strategy.
Overall, Netflix continues to capture the audience’s attention with its original content, while platforms like iTunes and Fandango showcase the popularity of various films across the digital rental landscape.