Critically Acclaimed 2024 Films Struggle at the Box Office

The year 2024 proved to be a mixed bag for the film industry, with several critically acclaimed movies failing to translate their artistic successes into box office revenue. Despite rave reviews, films such as Cabrini and Ordinary Angels struggled to capture the attention—and wallets—of moviegoers. While critics were enamored by these stories brought to life with skillful filmmaking, audiences remained elusive, showcasing the ever-present divide between critical acclaim and commercial viability.

One of the standout films to falter commercially was Cabrini, a biographical drama chronicling the life of Francesca Cabrini, a Catholic missionary. Praised for its visual splendor and emotional depth, the movie achieved a stellar 90% critics’ score and an even more impressive 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite these accolades, it grossed only $19.5 million at the domestic box office—a far cry from its $50 million production budget. The film, which opened in 2,850 theaters in March, seemed poised for success but ultimately left theaters as a financial disappointment. Similarly, Ordinary Angels, featuring Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank, suffered a comparable fate. This faith-based drama, inspired by true events, earned an 84% critics’ score, with many reviewers commending its heartfelt storytelling. Yet, the film managed to gross only $19.1 million domestically despite opening in more than 3,000 theaters. Andrea Thompson of the Chicago Reader encapsulated the film’s emotional impact, stating it “could wring tears from even the most godless among us.” However, this critical endorsement did little to bolster its financial performance.

The trend extended beyond biographical dramas. The First Omen, a prequel to the 1976 horror classic The Omen, garnered an 83% critics’ score but fell short at the box office, bringing in just $20 million despite being shown in 3,375 theaters. Even Saturday Night, a biographical film tracing the origins of Saturday Night Live, earned praise for its sharp performances and narrative execution, securing a 78% critics’ score. Yet, its financial returns were dire, grossing only $9.5 million on a $25 million budget.

What connects these films is their ability to resonate deeply with critics, often hailed as milestones in their respective genres. For instance, Cabrini was celebrated as “dramatically and cinematically sound” and a benchmark for faith-based storytelling. Ordinary Angels similarly earned praise for its emotional sincerity, while Saturday Night was commended for its precise execution of a niche topic. Despite their clear artistic merits, these films failed to draw significant crowds, raising questions about the factors influencing modern moviegoers.

This phenomenon of underperforming critically acclaimed films was likely exacerbated by the tumultuous backdrop of Hollywood in 2024. The industry faced significant challenges as it recovered from last year’s protracted actors’ and writers’ strikes, which paralyzed productions and led to the postponement of high-profile releases. Disney, Warner Bros., and Universal Pictures were among the studios forced to delay major projects, pushing anticipated titles like Disney’s Snow White, Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World, and Pixar’s Elio to 2025. These disruptions left 2024 with a peculiar release slate, creating a gap in blockbusters while flooding the market with mid-budget films. As the industry focused on surviving until 2025—a phrase often heard in Hollywood circles this year—audiences may have been less inclined to visit theaters, waiting instead for more prominent titles to hit screens in the following year.

While 2024 highlighted the challenges of marrying critical success with financial performance, the outlook for 2025 is brighter. With studios resuming full operations, the coming year promises to be one of the most significant for the box office since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Blockbusters such as Avatar: Fire and Ash, Jurassic World Rebirth, and Zootopia 2 are expected to dominate, with predictions suggesting each could surpass $1 billion globally. Other highly anticipated releases include Wicked: For Good, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Interestingly, while some critically acclaimed films flopped, several commercially successful movies received lukewarm or even harsh reviews. Among these were Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and Despicable Me 4, which were both among the year’s top-grossing films but achieved critics’ scores of just 54% and 56%, respectively. Similarly, Venom: The Last Dance performed well at the box office but was panned by critics, earning only a 41% Rotten Tomatoes score. The disparity between audience turnout and critical reception for these films underscores an ongoing shift in audience priorities, with spectacle-driven franchises continuing to draw large crowds despite negative reviews.

The gap between critical acclaim and box office performance remains a recurring theme in the film industry. While films like Cabrini and Ordinary Angels succeeded in delivering powerful stories and resonating with critics, their inability to draw significant audiences points to broader trends in viewer preferences. In an era increasingly defined by streaming platforms and shifting entertainment consumption habits, the fate of mid-budget, critically lauded films has become precarious. As Hollywood braces for a promising 2025, the lessons of 2024 remain a stark reminder of the delicate balance between art and commerce. Whether these critically adored but commercially overlooked films find a second life on streaming platforms or endure as cult classics remains to be seen.