Top Earning Movie Genres at the 2023 Box Office
Genres help us categorize the various narratives we share with one another. This system, originating from the days of Aristotle and Plato who classified literature into categories such as lyric, drama, and epic, has vastly expanded over time to include a myriad of genres alongside new forms of media.
Genre classification plays a pivotal role in the film industry, significantly impacting a movie's potential for success and the level of confidence that studios, producers, and distributors might place in it.
Consider the musical genre as an example: By early December 2023, only six musicals were released, in contrast to 76 documentaries. Although musicals outperformed documentaries financially six times over on average, they don't receive equal investment. Could documentaries' higher award prospects be the reason? Or is it due to their historically favorable returns on investment? Perhaps it's the lack of a perceived 'cool' factor in musicals?
To explore this genre divide further, we examined box office data from the-numbers.com to ascertain which movie types had garnered the most revenue at the box office in 2023 by December 4. Some of the findings might surprise you, like the stark revenue difference between the top-earning genre film and its closest competitor, or how much a particular film's earnings exceeded its production costs.
The leading 10 genres are ranked by their total domestic earnings, supported by additional data on ticket sales and market share to provide context. (Note: While The Numbers divides comedies into three subgenres, they've been combined into a single comedy genre here.)
Continue reading to uncover which genres thrived in 2023 and the films that propelled their success.
- #10. Musical
- #9. Documentary
- #8. Western
- #7. Concert/Performance
- #6. Thriller/Suspense
- #5. Drama
- #4. Horror
- #3. Comedy
- #2. Adventure
- #1. Action
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#10. Musical
- 2023 domestic gross: $18,213,938
- Tickets sold: 1,729,716
- Market share: 0.22%
- Movies: 6
- Average gross per movie: $3.0 million
It might astonish you to learn that a re-release claimed the title of one of the top-grossing musicals of 2023. Indeed, Tim Burton's stop-motion animation masterpiece “The Nightmare Before Christmas” returned to theaters on October 20 and soared past other musical releases by early December with a remarkable $10 million box office haul. Given its storied popularity as a Halloween staple, it's not a complete shocker. Originally released in 1993, it earned approximately $50 million domestically in the US.
On the other hand, the family-friendly live-action/animated “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile” from 2022 and the bold A24 production “D—-: The Musical” filled the middle ranks of the musical box office leaderboard with a mere $1.2 million gap separating them, with the advantage leaning towards “D—-.” This doesn't come as a surprise either, considering it stars the chart-topping Megan Thee Stallion and popular "Saturday Night Live" comedian Bowen Yang.
Even with just six films in the genre by early December, the cumulative gross of over $18 million is nothing short of impressive. (Notably, following “Wonka's” first weekend at the box office, earnings surged to nearly $62 million by December 19.)
#9. Documentary
- 2023 domestic gross: $35,487,150
- Tickets sold: 3,370,067
- Market share: 0.43%
- Movies: 76
- Average gross per movie: $467K
Among the top-grossing documentaries of 2023 was “After Death,” directed by Stephen Gray and Chris Radtke, delving into our fascination with near-death experiences. Trailing closely was “BTS: Yet to Come in Cinemas,” offering a philosophical exploration around the internationally celebrated K-pop band.
While not every documentary generated the same traction, several compelling ones emerged during the year, such as the thought-provoking biography “Joan Baez I Am a Noise” and the captivating “Lakota Nation vs. United States,” focusing on the Land Back movement.
Convincing audiences to watch documentaries in theaters isn't always easy unless they boast widespread appeal; even so, “After Death” managed an overall gross of $11.5 million.
#8. Western
- 2023 domestic gross: $67,675,894
- Tickets sold: 6,426,958
- Market share: 0.82%
- Movies: 4
- Average gross per movie: $16.9 million
Some suggest Westerns are becoming obsolete, labeled as 'neo-Western' in many film circles. Surprisingly, despite only having four films throughout the entirety of 2023 as of early December, Westerns outshined both musicals and docs in average earnings.
This can largely be attributed to the much-anticipated return of directing giant Martin Scorsese. His acclaimed movie “Killers of the Flower Moon” amassed over $66 million domestically by early December. Impressively, within the genre, “Killers of the Flower Moon” accounted for a staggering 98% of total domestic earnings.
Regrettably, films like “Outlaw Johnny Black” (the Blaxploitation sequel to “Black Dynamite”), “Go West” (a family-oriented comedy), and Pedro Almodóvar's short “Strange Way of Life” didn't captivate box office audiences. Collectively, these movies grossed a mere $1.2 million domestically.
#7. Concert/Performance
- 2023 domestic gross: $202,717,725
- Tickets sold: 19,251,441
- Market share: 2.45%
- Movies: 9
- Average gross per movie: $22.5 million
It’s hardly shocking that the concert/performance film scene in 2023 was dominated by two colossal figures: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. Their respective films, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” and “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” have jointly pulled in over $200 million domestically by early December. However, Swift alone holds the majority with more than 80% of domestic earnings for the year, outperforming Beyoncé by nearly $150 million and leaving other films in this category far behind. (Notably, “Renaissance” was released December 1 while Swift's “Eras Tour” has been running in theaters since October 13.)
Trailing behind Beyoncé was the young pop sensation Billie Eilish with “Billie Eilish Live at the O2 — Extended Cut,” along with a trio of UFC films and a filmed performance by the electronic duo ODESZA. Admirers of the iconic rock band The Talking Heads rejoiced when the celebrated concert film “Stop Making Sense” revisited theaters for a limited one-week engagement, exceeding box office prognostics during its short stint. (Later in December, movies like “Waitress: The Musical” and “Christmas with the Chosen: Holy Night” also joined the lineup.)
#6. Thriller/Suspense
- 2023 domestic gross: $422,781,186
- Tickets sold: 40,150,135
- Market share: 5.12%
- Movies: 49
- Average gross per movie: $8.6 million
Thriller and suspense fans were spoiled for choice in 2023, with plenty of nail-biting films to choose from. Leading the pack was “Sound of Freedom,” contended yet widely embraced, documenting the real-life efforts of former U.S. agent Tim Ballard (played by Jim Caviezel) in battling child trafficking. This gripping film achieved over $180 million domestically, dramatically outpacing its closest rival, the Poirot murder mystery “A Haunting in Venice,” by roughly $140 million.
Foreign thrillers often make a smaller mark domestically, while more accessible indie films occupy the middle tier, such as Paul Schrader's intense “Master Gardener” and the sensual thriller “Sanctuary.” Notably, the Bollywood sensation “Pathaan” broke into the top 10 standings, positioned just beneath releases like “65” and “Missing,” showcasing North American audiences' growing curiosity about Indian cinema, particularly after the success of 2022’s “RRR.”
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#5. Drama
- 2023 domestic gross: $829,210,044
- Tickets sold: 78,747,325
- Market share: 10.03%
- Movies: 139
- Average gross per movie: $6.0 million
There’s little contesting which drama topped the 2023 box office charts—Christopher Nolan’s much-anticipated “Oppenheimer,” chronicling the life of the atomic bomb's creator. Nolan’s films often draw robust audiences, as his movies are among the few blockbusters routinely delivering box office results; on top of that, the viral success of the "Barbenheimer" meme propelled the film to almost $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales, breaking multiple records along the way.
Domestically, “Oppenheimer” brought in $325 million, accounting for 38% of the total earnings for the drama genre as other 2023 dramas struggled to keep up. Close runner-up “Creed III” still succeeded with $156 million, albeit $200 million behind “Oppenheimer”. In contrast, the gap between “Oppenheimer” and dramas further down the list is significant: Ridley Scott’s grandiose “Napoleon,” debuted in late November, earned $54 million, while Ben Affleck’s “Air,” detailing the history of Air Jordans, garnered $52 million.
#4. Horror
- 2023 domestic gross: $896,092,279
- Tickets sold: 85,098,958
- Market share: 10.84%
- Movies: 51
- Average gross per movie: $17.6 million
The horror genre has consistently been a cash cow at the box office, and 2023 was no exception: With a cumulative domestic gross nearing $900 million, it's evident audiences flock to horror films. The standout horror success of 2023 was “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” based on the beloved video game that had languished in development since 2017. Despite mixed reviews, the film’s connection to the popular game won out, earning $137 million.
Just behind these blockbusters, the viral sensation 'M3GAN' and the latest 'Scream' entry busted a move at the box office, each amassing nearly $100 million. Sneaking into the top 10 horror flicks was the Aussie chiller 'Talk to Me,' courtesy of A24, which managed to pull in quite a figure with $48 million in the U.S. and a worldwide total of $70 million, turning its budget into a major win, as it recorded A24's best horror earnings ever. Meanwhile, 'Saw X' struck a chord with horror aficionados, raking in $53 million in North America and a global total of $108 million on a tight $13 million budget, marking the return of our spine-chilling friend Jigsaw.
#3. Comedy
- 2023 domestic gross: $1,258,998,514
- Tickets sold: 119,562,974
- Market share: 15.23%
- Movies: 62
- Average gross per movie: $20.3 million
Dominating 2023, 'Barbie' wasn't just a smash hit; it redefined comedy, raking in an astounding $636 million domestically. Alongside the equally monumental 'Oppenheimer,' the unlikely duo set a new standard for cinematic pair-ups. This year saw comedies in much better form, but 'Barbie' was leagues ahead, leaving its closest competitor, 'Haunted Mansion,' far behind as it struggled to justify its $150 million budget with a stark $68 million domestic intake and $115 million worldwide.
In a twist of fate, the delightfully oddball 'Cocaine Bear' snagged the bronze medal, a horror-comedy ride by Elizabeth Banks loosely touching on a quirky true tale from the '80s. This was followed closely by the heartwarming story of 'A Man Called Otto,' bringing Tom Hanks into an American remake of its Swedish precursor.
Of course, numbers don't always tell the whole story. Some comedies that couldn’t quite crack the box office are worth their weight in laughs and storytelling. The likes of 'Bottoms,' 'BlackBerry,' and 'You Hurt My Feelings' were lauded by both critics and fans, with 'BlackBerry' even catching awards buzz in 2024, thanks in part to Glenn Howerton's standout performance.
#2. Adventure
- 2023 domestic gross: $1,662,175,979
- Tickets sold: 157,851,458
- Market share: 20.11%
- Movies: 29
- Average gross per movie: $57.3 million
Although 'The Marvels' had a sobering time in 2023, another Marvel-connected film, 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,' shone brightly in the genre. This Sony Pictures Animation sequel followed up 2018's hit 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' by capturing a whopping $381 million, landing it the year's third best performer in the domestic box office standings.
Trailing behind 'Across the Spider-Verse' were a trio of Disney's adventure-themed endeavors: 'The Little Mermaid' live-action remake came close with around $300 million, Harrison Ford’s action-packed finale in 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' reached nearly $175 million, and Pixar’s latest, 'Elemental,' gathered nearly $155 million, though budget issues loomed over the last two.
Among the highest-grossing adventure films of 2023 were animated gems, from Studio Ghibli's 'The Boy and the Heron' to 'PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie,' 'Suzume,' and Disney's 'Wish,' all making it into the top 15 ranks.
#1. Action
- 2023 domestic gross: $2,867,018,482
- Tickets sold: 272,271,430
- Market share: 34.70%
- Movies: 53
- Average gross per movie: $54.1 million
Action films blew away the competition at the box office in 2023, led by the juggernaut 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie,' which dominated as the year’s highest-grosser domestically before 'Barbie' spoke up. The film, based on a beloved video game, amassed a staggering $575 million just in North America, almost reaching the $1.4 billion mark worldwide.
Each action title in the top 10 surpassed the $100 million mark domestically, while the top quartet sailed past $200 million each. At an average take of $54 million per movie, action dominated all other genres in 2023, bolstered by giants like 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,' 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,' 'John Wick: Chapter 4,' and 'Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.'
Interestingly, all 16 of the top action films of 2023 domestically were sequels or extensions of existing franchises. Even James Cameron's plunge back into the world of 'Avatar' with 'The Way of Water' carried its box office momentum from 2022 into a solid 2023 run, securing a podium finish as the third top earner in the action category, slipping in at fourth in 2022.
Luke Hicks provides the data reporting, Jaimie Etkin shapes the stories, and Tim Bruns refines the copy.