Introduction
Welcome to Luminate’s second annual Film & TV Year-End Report. Like all good sequels, we’ve focused on incorporating what was loved most about the original while taking the story in new directions.
Once again, we’re delivering the most comprehensive numbers available on the volume of TV and film content being produced in the U.S., as well as relevant measurement data and trend insights. This time around, though, we’re not just tapping Luminate’s industry-leading film and TV metadata but providing transparency on streaming consumption with our Streaming Viewership (M) tool and sharing exclusive insights into consumer behavior from our quarterly Luminate Insights Entertainment 365 survey.
We know how critical accurate data is to helping you do business. Consider this report just one of the many ways Luminate can help. Contact us here to learn more.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
A PDF OF THIS REPORT
About Luminate
Luminate is the preeminent entertainment data and insights company, unleashing access to the most essential, objective, and trustworthy information across music, film, television, gaming, short-form video and more. Luminate’s databases house information compiled from over 500 verified sources, managing more than 20 trillion data points.
Contact us at www.luminatedata.com to learn more.
IN THIS
REPORT
This report focuses on three key topics:
COUNTING CONTENT: HOW MUCH DID THE STRIKES IMPACT U.S. TV PRODUCTION VOLUME?
While YOY series volume shows moderating decrease, episode decline deepened
How streaming, cable, unscripted and select genres are hurting while broadcast rebounded
The pros and cons of keeping limited series and long-running shows on the air
STREAMING PERFORMANCE: WHAT VIEWING BEHAVIORS SHAPED U.S. SVOD IN 2024?
Most-watched 2024 TV series revealed across streaming, linear
Data on which services get the most mileage out of originals and genres
Franchise analysis: Weighing familiarity vs. fatigue in well-known IP
FILM TRENDS: WHAT DEFINES CURRENT MARKET DYNAMICS IN U.S. THEATERS?
Films flood back into theaters…but ebb in streaming
2024 cinema’s most underestimated phenomena: legacy sequels
Why horror movies are Hollywood’s most economically prudent genre
Counting content
TV Series Production Count Drops Second Consecutive Year, but Not as Steeply as in 2023
The 2023 Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes reverberated into 2024, as the months-long production stoppage resulted in series output falling even further from its peak TV heights, albeit at a slower rate. Last year saw a 7% drop in U.S.-produced TV premieres from 2023 (versus the prior year’s 17% drop from 2022). Contractions at cable networks and SVOD platforms drove the decline, even though broadcast made a surprising comeback.
Fallout
U.S.-Produced TV Premieres by Platform
Broadcast
Cable
SVOD
Free streaming
1,555
1,432
1,384
1,288
1,267
1,199
1,170
190
582
540
256
449
344
434
992
697
790
673
812
668
569
194
196
152
182
162
145
181
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
SOURCE:LUMINATE FILM & TV
NOTE: “FREE STREAMING” INCLUDES CRACKLE, FREEVEE, TUBI
U.S.-Produced TV Premieres on Major SVOD Platforms
Paramount+
Prime Video
Apple TV+
Peacock
Disney+
Netflix
Hulu
Max
Squid Game
2018
132
12
5
26
2019
166
7
19
5
28
8
U.S. Streaming Production Plummets as
Overseas Picks Up Slack
A major factor behind the post-peak TV series contraction is the reduction in U.S.-produced shows at Netflix, which remained down 22% last year from 2022 levels. Still, Netflix production remains far ahead of the seven other major SVODs, all of which — except for Amazon Prime Video — have reduced output from their respective peaks.
2020
181
22
26
25
11
6
26
23
2021
171
31
28
49
21
35
29
31
2022
190
22
48
51
36
46
40
47
2023
140
25
56
44
39
25
39
46
2024
146
9
46
32
33
36
42
36
SOURCE:LUMINATE FILM & TV
U.S.-Produced Cable Original Premieres, by Media Company
Warner Bros. Discovery
NBCUniversal
Paramount
A+E Networks
Disney
AMC Networks
YELLOWSTONE
35
66
800
83
33
31
62
112
Cable Content Bottoms Out As Its Business Suffers
Original series on cable reached new post-peak TV lows in 2024, plunging 15% year over year. This was not merely strike-related, of course; cable networks’ content has cratered along with their audiences, with some channels either shuttering their original slates or shutting down altogether.
28
600
29
22
53
54
68
53
66
95
66
49
49
40
25
43
75
60
53
104
72
23
400
47
61
89
95
110
80
200
491
331
395
328
251
78
382
358
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
SOURCE:LUMINATE FILM & TV
Unscripted TV Didn't Emerge Unscathed
While unscripted TV production was allowed to continue during the strikes, the format still saw a steep drop-off in output in 2024. U.S.-produced unscripted premieres dropped more than 8% YoY, versus a mere 2% dip for scripted series (across broadcast, cable and SVOD). This was largely fueled by the ongoing cable contraction: unscripted cable premieres fell 15% versus 2023. Unscripted output was down at broadcast networks, too, with an 8% decline, though the format saw a 9% increase on SVOD platforms.
love is blind
U.S.-Produced TV Premieres by Platform
Broadcast Scripted
Broadcast Unscripted
Cable Scripted
Cable Unscripted
SVOD Scripted
SVOD Unscripted
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
SOURCE:LUMINATE FILM & TV
Broadcast Bounces Back From Strikes
U.S. broadcast TV recovered from the Hollywood walkouts relatively quickly, with the networks’ well-oiled infrastructure allowing established scripted series to get back up and running almost as soon as writers and actors returned to work. As such, broadcast output actually increased nearly 25% YoY from 2023, though this was also due to the strikes pushing season premieres from fall 2023 to early 2024.
abbott elementary
U.S.-Produced TV Premieres by Broadcast Network
ABC
CBS
NBC
Fox
The CW
PBS
34
31
31
35
20
28
150
26
23
20
24
28
26
35
14
25
34
28
19
100
24
33
32
27
27
26
27
32
26
32
34
21
35
50
40
26
28
16
45
47
34
33
28
28
30
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Source:Luminate Film & TV
Too Many Series Are Gone Too Soon
Luminate tracks planned endings, an increasing trend in which networks and streamers will announce a renewal for a show’s final season in advance to give the writers an opportunity to wrap up the series arcs. One TV format with a planned ending by definition is a limited series. As the chart below indicates, the percentage of series in both categories has been steadily increasing since 2021 and made its most robust year-over-year increase in the past 12 months.
TV’s financial DNA is built on long-running series—shorter runs and limited series present challenges for studios and producers.
% of Drama Series Not Renewed/Planned Ending
% NR
% PE
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Release Year
SOURCE: LUMINATE FILM & TV
Drama Season Number Distribution by Release Year
% Total
S6+
Release
Year
% Total
S1
% Total
S3
% Total
S5
% Total
S2
% Total
S4
2018
40%
22%
15%
7%
6%
11%
2019
40%
22%
13%
7%
5%
13%
51%
2020
18%
10%
6%
5%
10%
2021
49%
17%
10%
9%
5%
9%
2022
56%
18%
9%
6%
4%
9%
46%
2023
25%
12%
5%
5%
7%
2024
46%
17%
12%
8%
3%
14%
Average
47%
20%
12%
7%
5%
10%
grey’s anatomy
Long-Running Series Are Increasingly Valuable
The benefit of limited series is they appeal to talent who might otherwise not be interested in or available to work in television — for example, Apple TV+’s Disclaimer, which stars Cate Blanchett and was directed by Alfonso Cuarón — given that the business model has always been dependent upon series becoming long-term assets. This chart shows how in 2024, the percentage of series in season 6 or higher has doubled from the previous year. This is likely due to shows such as Grey’s Anatomy being benched during the 2023 strikes.
SOURCE:LUMINATE FILM & TV
But tallying series premieres is just one way to count TV content. A different data picture emerges when measuring the number of episodes produced in 2024...
Total Series vs. Episodes vs. Hours
shogun
Total
Series
RELEASE
YEAR
% YoY
Change
TOTAL
EPISODES
% YoY
Change
TOTAL
HOURS
% YoY
Change
2018
1,482
N/A
16,439
N/A
15,492
N/A
2019
1,371
-8%
14,934
-9%
13,940
-10%
2020
1,325
-3%
13,476
-10%
12,584
-10%
2021
1,564
18%
14,868
10%
13,799
10%
2022
1,716
10%
16,012
8%
14,958
8%
2023
1,421
-17%
13,300
-17%
12,424
-17%
2024
1,339
11,069
-18%
10,405
-18%
-6%
Averages:
1,460
-1%
14,192
-6%
13,018
-6%
Recovering Series Count Obscures Continued Tumble of Total Episode Tally
The overall decline in year-over-year total series orders between 2022 and 2024 definitely shows that peak TV is over. But while that rate of decline seems to be moderating (-7% vs. -17%), the drop in total episodes and total hours of programming between 2023 and 2024 has escalated from -17% to - 20%. This is especially stark when considering the widely held expectation of a bump in production coming out of the 2023 strikes. The next four slides give a more granular sense of the individual dynamics reshaping demand for each TV genre that drove this trend in aggregate. The scope of this analysis includes projects originating from US networks that were produced in the U.S., UK or Canada.
Source: Luminate Film & TV
Drama Series Decline Masks Deeper Cuts in Total Episodes
Despite its more global appeal, the chart below tracks a 6% decline from the 304 drama series ordered in 2019 to the 285 ordered in 2024. This difference may not seem impactful until a deeper look reveals a 27% decline in the number of episodes ordered from the 2019 peak of 3,393 to 2024’s 2,492.
YoY Drama Series Orders Averages
Drama Episode and Series Orders 2018-2024
No. Episodes
No. Series
RELEASE YEAR
NO. SERIES
yoy % change
2018
273
N/A
2019
304
11%
2020
232
-24%
2021
258
11%
2022
336
30%
2023
261
-22%
2024
285
9%
Average
278
3%
4,000.00
3,000.00
2,000.00
1,000.00
0.00
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Release Year
Source: Luminate Film & TV
Average Drama Episode Order By Release Year
2018
9
2019
House of the Dragon
9
2020
10
Drama Season Episode Order Averages Higher Despite Dip From Strikes
While the average total volume of drama series and episode production has declined, the average number of drama episodes ordered in individual seasons has increased by about 2.5 episodes between 2018 and 2024. This suggests that networks and streamers are taking advantage of the economy of scale in ordering slightly longer seasons of shows they believe already have an audience.
Release Year
2021
10
2022
11
2023
12
2024
11
2
4
6
8
10
12
0
Average Episode Order
SOURCE:LUMINATE FILM & TV
Animated Series Orders Were Listless in 2024
The struggles of drama series are nothing compared with comedy and animation series, which have been pummeled over the past few years to an all-time low. Animated series had a spike in 2021 due to COVID-related delays, along with the production benefits of voiceover work. Unfortunately, the volume of 2024 series is down 31% from the prior year. Animation series had a 2020-21 pandemic-fueled uptick; however, the headwinds for animation are made clear by the year-over-year downturn in 2023-24.
Animation Series and Episodes Orders 2018-2024
Animation Year-Over-Year Series Orders 2018-2024
No. Series
No.Episodes
RELEASE YEAR
NO. SERIES
yoy % change
2018
27
N/A
2019
26
-4%
2020
40
54%
2021
63
58%
2022
54
-14%
2023
59
9%
2024
43
-27%
Average
44
-17%
1000
750
500
250
0
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Release Year
Source: Luminate Film & TV
Source: Luminate Film & TV
Comedy Series and Episode Orders 2018-2024
No. Series
No. Episodes
2000
hacks
1500
Comedy Series Suffer From Globalized Content
Comedy also has suffered from a decline in total series and episodes, due to more globalization of content. The genre is perceived to be more local in its appeal, but broader comedies, such as Friends and The Big Bang Theory, can bridge cultural divides.
After a promising uptick in 2022, comedies have had two consecutive downturns year over year. The magnitude of the collapse in comedy production is illustrated by comparing 2019 to 2024. In those five years, the number of total series has declined by 39%, while the number of episodes/hours is down by 47%.
1000
500
0
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Release Year
Source: Luminate Film & TV
Reality Series No Longer Filling Scripted Gaps
One surprising finding is the overall decline in alternative series orders from 2022 to 2024. The expectation was that the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes would have increased demand for unscripted projects. While the overall volume of unscripted programming remains high, the number of new formats and multiseason franchises is in a lull. Between 2022 and 2024 total unscripted episodes produced are down by 33%, which is an even steeper decline than drama series (at 20%).
Alternative Series and Episode Orders 2018-2024
Alternative Year-Over-Year for Comparison
No. Series
No. Episodes
RELEASE YEAR
NO. SERIES
yoy % change
2018
1,053
N/A
2019
889
-18%
2020
936
5%
2021
1,121
20%
2022
1,182
5%
2023
985
-17%
2024
918
-7%
Average
1,012
-2%
10000
7500
5000
2500
0.00
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Release Year
Source: Luminate Film & TV
Source: Luminate Film & TV
2025 New Series Awaiting Release
PLATFORM
DRAMA
COMEDY
ANIMATION
ALTERNATIVE
TOTAL
SERIES
ORDER
Netflix
50
10
10
27
97
All Basic Cable
(excl. FX)
6
2
5
78
91
Prime Video
40
6
5
17
68
Misc. SVOD/
OTT/FAST
14
2
1
10
27
Apple TV+
17
1
0
5
23
Broadcast
(incl. PBS)
11
1
0
10
22
Paramount+
incl. Showtime
13
1
0
5
19
Max
6
0
2
9
17
Hulu
11
2
2
2
17
Disney+
4
0
2
10
16
HBO
(excl. MAX)
8
3
0
4
15
Peacock
9
2
0
3
14
FX
5
1
0
1
7
Starz
3
0
0
0
3
Grand Totals
197
31
27
181
436
Stranger Things
2025 TV Development Slate Has a Cable-Size Hole
There are already over 400 new series orders in various stages of production and awaiting premiere dates. The question is who’s making the investments so far. No surprise that Netflix is dominant, but the numbers show the extent to which cable channels have given up on scripted programming. There are only 13 scripted orders in the pipeline across all basic channels, excluding FX. As FX functions as a branch within Hulu, HBO runs parallel to Max with its slate.
Source: Luminate Film & TV
STREAMING
PERFORMANCE
Minutes Watched for Marvel series and Lord of the Rings (First 12 Weeks of Activity)
The Rings of Power Season 1 (2022)
Agatha all along
The Rings of Power Season 2 (2024)
Streaming Franchises Struggle to Regain Momentum
While franchises continue to be key drivers of engagement on streaming, 2024 saw diminishing returns for some of the biggest properties on television. Both 2024 live-action Marvel TV series, Echo and Agatha All Along, underperformed 2023 Marvel series Loki Season 2 and Secret Invasion. And the second season of Prime Video’s Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power saw a 60% decrease in total minutes watched from the show’s first season.
Loki Season 2 (2023)
Secret Invasion (2023)
Agatha All Along (2024)
Echo (2024)
2000
4000
6000
8000
0
Minutes Watched (Millions)
SOURCE: Luminate Streaming Viewership (M)
The Force Is Not With the Star Wars Franchise
Despite a promising start, Star Wars series, Star Wars series The Acolyte was canceled by Disney and Lucasfilm shortly after its first-season finale. While mixed fan reactions were likely a factor, viewership for the show had waned, with significant decreases after the first two episodes and into the finale. And Star Wars: Skeleton Crew hasn’t fared much better. With only one live-action Star Wars series set for 2025 (Andor Season 2), Disney should consider retooling its strategy to address the franchise's diminishing returns.
the acolyte
The Acolyte Episodic Views (6/5/24-7/31/24)
S1.E1: Lost/Found
S1.E2: Revenge/Justice
S1.E3: Destiny
S1.E4: Day
S1.E5: Night
E1.S6: Teach/Corrupt
S1.E7:Choice
S1.E8:The Acolyte
3,000,000
2,500,000
Views
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
6/5/2024
6/6/2024
6/7/2024
6/8/2024
6/9/2024
7/1/2024
7/2/2024
7/3/2024
7/4/2024
7/5/2024
7/6/2024
7/7/2024
7/8/2024
7/9/2024
6/10/2024
6/11/2024
6/12/2024
6/13/2024
6/14/2024
6/15/2024
6/16/2024
6/17/2024
6/18/2024
6/19/2024
6/20/2024
6/21/2024
6/22/2024
6/23/2024
6/24/2024
6/25/2024
6/26/2024
6/27/2024
6/28/2024
6/29/2024
6/30/2024
7/10/2024
7/11/2024
7/12/2024
7/13/2024
7/14/2024
7/15/2024
7/16/2024
7/17/2024
7/18/2024
7/19/2024
7/20/2024
7/21/2024
7/22/2024
7/23/2024
7/24/2024
7/25/2024
7/26/2024
7/27/2024
7/28/2024
7/29/2024
7/30/2024
7/31/2024
DAY
Source: Luminate Streaming Viewership (M)
Star Wars series Viewership (First 5 Weeks)
Ahsoka
The Acolyte
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
1,000
800
Minutes Watched (Millions)
400
200
0
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week
Source: Luminate Streaming Viewership (M)
Disney+ Top 10 TV Shows 2024 (Dec 29, 2023-Dec 31, 2024)
RANK
TITLE NAME
SEASON
MINUTES
WATCHED
(MILLIONS)
RELEASE
DATE
1
Percy Jackson and
the Olympians
1
3,070
12/20/23
2
The Acolyte
1
2,673
6/4/24
3
Agatha All Along
1
2,284
9/18/24
4
Echo
1
1,537
1/9/24
5
X-Men ‘97
1
1,437
3/20/24
6
Star Wars: The Bad Batch
3
923
2/21/24
7
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
1
914
12/2/24
8
Ahsoka
1
841
8/23/23
9
The Mandalorian
3
811
3/1/23
10
The Mandalorian
1
693
11/12/19
Percy jackson
IP Familiarity Breeds Franchise Strength
Intellectual property that can bring in a fan base from other media doesn’t hurt. Percy Jackson and the Olympians, a late-2023 release, had the most minutes watched for a streaming original on Disney+ in 2024. It’s a known IP based on beloved novels, but the only screen adaptations are two films from 2010 and 2013, and the franchise had never been given an author-approved faithful adaptation. Outside of Disney+, dystopian video game adaptation Fallout was a big hit for Prime Video, whereas the streamer’s Reacher and Cross delivered a different kind of familiar format: literary-adaptation detective-mystery dramas.
SOURCE: Luminate Streaming Viewership (M)
2024 Streaming Platform Share of U.S. Original Content Viewing Time
Max
Other
bridgerton
1.5%
0.8%
Peacock
3.1%
Disney+
4.4%
Hulu
Market Share for Streaming Originals Indicates A Clear Leader
Luminate's Streaming Viewership (M) allows for market share for be examined through the lens of original content consumption alone, and unsurprisingly, Netflix has little competition. The distant pecking order behind the leader shows which players get the most value from their spend on series.
5.1%
Apple TV+
5.3%
Paramount+
7.8%
Prime Video
8.5%
Netflix
63.5%
Source:Luminate Streaming Viewership (M)
Note: Data spans Dec. 29, 2023-Jan. 2, 2025; “other” slice includes AMC+ (0.4%), Tubi (0.3%), Discovery+ (0.1%)
2024 Most-Streamed Original Series Genres by Service
Service
Top Original Series Genres
Share
24%
Drama
Netflix
13%
Crime
9%
Action & Adventure
29%
Drama
Prime Video
based on a true story
20%
Action & Adventure
13%
Crime
36%
Drama
Paramount+
14%
Crime
13%
Action & Adventure
Streaming Services’ Genre Differentiation Presents Branding Challenge
What may be most notable about the differences between genre compositions at the leading streaming services is there isn’t much difference at all: they all lead with drama, have identical levels of crime-themed programming and are somewhat underrepresented on comedy. If there’s one streamer that stands out from the pack, it might be Disney+, the only market entrant to register in double digits with science fiction. Perhaps competitors in this space would be better served leaning harder into one particular genre or demographic for better brand definition in a cluttered category.
27%
Drama
Hulu
14%
Comedy
Crime
13%
Drama
20%
Disney+
Action & Adventure
19%
Science Fiction
18%
39%
Drama
Apple TV+
17%
Comedy
10%
Crime
31%
Drama
Peacock
14%
Reality
10%
Action & Adventure
30%
Drama
Max
14%
Comedy
11%
Crime
SOURCE: Luminate Streaming Viewership (M)
Top 2024 TV Series Led by Netflix, Taylor Sheridan
- As expected, Netflix dominates with 7 of the top 10 titles.
- Fool Me Once might not be the most talked about show of the year in the press, but it is hands down the biggest show of 2024. The British series based on a Harlan Coben mystery novel opened huge at the start of the year and ran well through February. It continues to have strong viewership, logging 24 million-58 million minutes watched per week in the last two months.
- Never underestimate Yellowstone franchise creator Taylor Sheridan. Landman is the third-biggest show of 2024, and that’s only with the eight episodes released in 2024 (two more episodes released in 2025, but no 2025 data is counted toward this ranking.)
- Another Sheridan hit, Tulsa King Season 2, is actually slightly below the tracking for its first season. But it is still posting fantastic viewership, also impressive for its inclusion on this list with a fall release.
- Fallout is Prime Video’s hit of the year, which is a bit of a surprise, as The Rings of Power would have been expected to make a year-end top 10. But viewership for the Lord of the Rings prequel didn’t live up to the expectations set by the first season.
- Squid Game Season 2 is already trending to be a huge title, with similar viewership to the first two weeks of Fool Me Once. But its December 26 release positions it too late to make this year-end list.
2024 TOP 10 TV ORIGINALS
RANK
TITLE NAME
MINUTES
WATCHED
(BILLIONS)
SEASON
PLATFORM
RELEASE
DATE
1
Fool Me Once
12.11
1
Netflix
1/1/24
2
Bridgerton
11.07
3
Netflix
5/16/24
3
Landman
9.90
1
Paramount+
11/17/24
4
The Perfect
Couple
8.83
1
Netflix
9/5/24
5
Tulsa King
8.47
2
Paramount+
9/15/24
6
Monsters: The
Lyle and Eric Menendez Story
8.16
1
Netflix
9/19/24
7
The Gentlemen
8.06
1
Netflix
3/7/24
8
Fallout
7.95
1
Prime Video
4/10/24
9
Griselda
7.59
1
Netflix
1/25/24
10
Love is Blind
7.38
6
Netflix
2/14/24
SOURCE: Luminate Streaming Viewership (M)
Broadcast Resilience Bolstered Linear TV Ratings
While cable has experienced the biggest disruption from streaming, broadcast has remained surprisingly resilient, especially in the realm of scripted programming. Drama held an overwhelming majority of viewership share in 2024, bolstered by familiar procedural crime titles. Comedy looked weaker this year, with only three titles making it into the Top 25 chart; two of those belonged to The Big Bang Theory franchise.
RANK
TITLE
NETWORK
GENRE
RATING
HH LIVE+7
1
FBI
CBS
Drama
6.26
9,037,274
2
Chicago Med
NBC
Drama
6.25
8,974,896
3
Chicago Fire
NBC
Drama
6.25
8,944,487
4
NCIS
CBS
Drama
5.42
8,813,535
5
The Voice
NBC
Alternative
5.97
8,742,323
6
Matlock
CBS
Drama
6.10
8,661,695
7
Young Sheldon
CBS
Comedy
6.01
8,390,297
8
Chicago P.D.
CBS
Drama
5.41
8,377,962
9
Blue Bloods
NBC
Drama
5.21
8,348,813
10
The Equalizer
CBS
Drama
4.34
7,969,640
11
American Idol
ABC
Alternative
5.65
7,817,323
12
Deal or No Deal Island
NBC
Alternative
4.23
7,654,133
13
Law & Order: Special
Victims Unit
NBC
Drama
4.86
7,638,478
14
9-1-1
FOX
Drama
4.93
7,620,833
15
Georgie & Mandy’s First
Marriage
CBS
Comedy
5.92
7,598,165
16
America’s Got Talent
NBC
Alternative
5.72
7,442,382
17
FBI: Most Wanted
CBS
Drama
4.85
7,407,729
18
Will Trent
ABC
Drama
4.14
7,340,513
19
NCIS: Hawai’i
CBS
Drama
5.00
7,331,246
20
The Golden Bachelor
ABC
Alternative
6.37
7,325,927
21
Dancing With The Stars
ABC
Alternative
5.59
7,060,999
22
FBI: Internacional
CBS
Drama
5.19
7,049,454
23
Law & Order
NBC
Drama
4.74
7,031,230
24
Fire Country
CBS
Drama
4.67
7,000,479
25
Ghosts
CBS
Comedy
4.68
6,742,609
2024 Network Viewership by Genre
Drama
Alternative
Comedy
100,000,000
75,000,000
50,000,000
25,000,000
0
ABC
CBS
FOX
NBC
Source:comscore
Source:comscore
FILM
TRENDS
Films Flood Back Into Theaters and Ebb in Streaming
The number of theatrical titles fully rebounded to pre-COVID totals, likely due to a bumper crop caused by the pandemic and strike delays, though that amounts to only a slight increase in studio titles. Streaming releases, on the other hand, have shown a noticeable decline. As Netflix, AppleTV+ and others have pulled back spending on original films, the studios have largely shifted away from the pandemic-era direct-to-streaming model back to theatrical.
dune: part two
Number of theatrical releases
from studio distributors
Number of total theatrical releases
Percentage of Theatrical Releases From Studio Distributors
Number of Streaming Releases From Major Streamers
7%
2018
106
1,363
123
7%
2019
103
1,328
118
5%
2020
40
722*
254
8%
2021
89
991*
325
8%
2022
94
1,133
339
10%
2023
113
1,125
296
9%
2024
121
1,230
264
Source: Luminate Film & TV
Note: These numbers include virtual releases, a pandemic-era distribution method in which titles were made available on proprietary websites for a brief duration.
2024 TOP 10 ORIGINAL AND ACQUIRED FILMS
Rank
Title Name
MINUTES WATCHED (BILLIONS)
pRIMARY svod PlATFORM
Release
date
1
Moana
Disney+
11/16/16
9.36
Peacock / Prime Video
2
Oppenheimer
6.85
7/19/23
Trolls Band
Together
Netflix
3
6.16
10/12/23
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Peacock /
Netflix
4
5.36
4/5/23
Netflix
5
Carry-On
5.14
12/13/24
6
The Equalizer 3
4.78
Netflix
8/30/23
Minions
7
4.63
Netflix
1/1/15
8
Cars
4.54
Disney+
6/8/06
Inside Out 2
4.51
9
Disney+
6/12/24
10
Encanto
Disney+
12/24/21
4.45
moana 2
Streaming Services’ Genre Differentiation Presents Branding Challenge
- Moana absolutely dominated on streaming, so it’s no surprise its sequel overperformed at the box office in November. Moana was significantly higher than Oppenheimer, which brings the advantage of its three-hour runtime to the minutes-watched metric.
- That said, Oppenheimer’s performance is still significant. Unlike Moana, this isn’t a title that engenders multiple rewatches in a day or viewing multiple days in a row. While the Best Picture winner had solid viewership when it moved to Prime Video over the summer, its biggest days of streaming viewership were right after the title was made available on Peacock in February.
- This indicates Oppenheimer drove some significant subscription revenue for Peacock in that period, as well as holding onto viewers who might have added a Peacock subscription when it exclusively aired an NFL Wild Card game a month prior.
- Carry-On is the only streaming original title on this list, which is impressive considering its December release. This shows Netflix can dominate with both streaming original titles and licensed films.
- Prime Video’s Road House just missed the mark, sitting at #11.
Source: Luminate Streaming Viewership (M)
totAL NUMBER OF WIDE-RELEASE
SEQUEL/ PREQUELS
Number of Sequels/Prequels Released 7+ Years After Last Installment
Number of Sequels/Prequels Released 10+ Years After Last Installment
2014
24
3
1
2019
26
5
4
2024
26
10
5
Gladiator II
Legacy Sequels Releasing in 2025
Legacy Sequels Flex Their Power in Theaters
Several top spots at the 2024 box office belong to sequels that arrived many years or even decades after their prior installments, including Twisters, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and Gladiator II. Data indicates that while the overall number of sequels/prequels has remained consistent, legacy sequels are on the rise. Ten years ago, they were a relatively rare phenomenon, with an observable increase by 2019 and another jump by 2024. The trend might be a short-term result of development disruptions caused by the pandemic and the strikes. Alternatively, it could be due to increasing risk aversion that causes execs to mine further and further into past IP. The trend seems to be holding steady into 2025, as there are several legacy sequels already on deck.
9 YEARS
since last film
15 YEARS
since last film
Zootopia 2
Tron: Ares
9 YEARS
since last film
15 YEARS
since last film
The Accountant 2
Karate Kid: Legends
9 YEARS
since last film
18 YEARS
since last film
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
28 Years Later
Untitled I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel
9 YEARS
since last film
19 YEARS
since last film
Now You See Me 3
14 YEARS
since last film
22 YEARS
since last film
Final Destination: Bloodlines
Freakier Friday
Source: Luminate Film & TV
Luminate Consumer Insight: Legacy Sequels
What do consumers want from legacy sequels? The current preference is for them to pick back up with the same characters and/or story, with remakes being the least preferable option. Of note, 20% of movie viewers say a franchise should not be continued at all after a hiatus of 10+ years.
alien romulus
When a franchise returns from an extended hiatus (10+ years), what type of movie would you prefer for the next installment?
Movie viewers
Sequel or prequel follows the same characters or story arcs
40%
Sequel or prequel focuses on new characters and story arcs
28%
Remake/re-creation of original movie
12%
I don’t believe a franchise should be continued after a 10+ year hiatus
20%
Movie viewers are
+21% more likely
to prefer new characters/story
arcs if an original trilogy of movies has already been released instead of just one film
Source: Luminate Insights: Entertainment 365 (Q3 2024)
TOP 10 HIGHEST-GROSSING HORROR FILMS of 2024 vs. THEIR BUDGETS
budget or budget range
GLOBAL BO CUME
Alien: Romulus
$80,000,000
$350,865,351
A Quiet Place: Day One
$67,000,000
$261,786,327
Smile 2
$28,000,000
$138,083,289
Longlegs
Under $10,000,000
$126,942,395
Terrifier 3
$2,000,000
$89,257,411
The Substance
$17,500,000
$77,807,877
Speak No Evil
$15,000,000
$76,756,117
Night Swim
$15,000,000
$54,744,770
The First Omen
$30,000,000
$53,845,889
Nosferatu
$50,000,000
$51,234,026
terrifier 3
Horror Movies Slash Budgets Like No Other Genre
Horror is not only a popular genre, but it tends to be a reliably profitable one. These films typically carry low budgets — usually under $10 million — which makes it easy for them to turn a profit. Even horror releases with high price tags can be smart bets, provided they are distinctive enough to attract discerning consumers. The pricey but high-performing Alien: Romulus was originally intended as a Hulu release, so pivoting to theatrical was the right call.
Terrifier 3, Longlegs and The Substance were major box office successes despite small budgets, particularly since they were made outside of major studios. While the genre is not immune to misfires and box office struggles (The Watchers being one of the higher-profile examples this year), most horror films tend to at least make back their production cost, and often many times over.
Source: Luminate Film & TV
Distributors Can't Afford Not to Be in the Horror Biz
The horror genre is a lucrative way to have films stand out between the bigger studio releases; Universal, for instance, is buoyed by Blumhouse and Focus Features. But horror titles are often a boon for smaller distributors. Newer distributor Neon had Longlegs quickly rise to become its top-grossing film ever. Horror viewers themselves are a key driver of moviegoing, which might explain the genre’s theatrical footprint. Over half of all horror viewers (54%), identify as "die-hard" movie fans, a +21% increase when compared to the average movie watcher.
longlegs
Wide-Release Horror Films in 2024, by Studio
5
4
5
3
3
General movie watchers identifying as a die-hard movie fan: 44%
44%
2
2
2
2
1
Horror movie watchers identifying as a die-hard movie fan: 54%
54%
Universal
A24
Lionsgate
Neon
Disney
Sony
Paramount
Warner Bros.
Amazon MGM
SOURCE: LUMINATE FILM & TV; CHART VARIETY INTELLIGENCE PLATFORM
NOTE: INCLUDES FILMS FROM SUBSIDIARY LABELS, EXCLUDES FRANCHISE SUPERHERO/ FAMILY FILMS WITH HORROR ELEMENTS
Source: Luminate Insights: Entertainment 365 (Q3 2024)
Methodology
English Language Only
Original Language column includes English. Arenas column excludes Foreign Language. English-language content that originates outside the U.S. (U.K. and Canada) but is distributed by a U.S. platform is being counted (Acorn, PBS, etc.).
U.S. Distributors Only
Network Type column includes U.S. Broadcast, U.S. Cable, U.S. Digital only.
Adult Live Action and Animated Content Only
Children's Animation arena excluded.
Release Year
Premiered in the calendar years of 2018-2024.
Series Counting
If multiple seasons of the same show premiere in same calendar year, they are counted as distinct series (Survivor).
Episode Counting/Programming Hours
The episode count for series is the number of episodes that constitute the full season, whether the release cadence was weekly, all at once or a split season. For purposes of this report, Drama and Alternative series have an assumed runtime of 60 minutes and Comedy and Animation series have an assumed runtime of 30 minutes.
Episodic Only
Included genres are Comedy, Drama, Alternative, Animation; no non-episodic content such as Special or Longform (TV movies).
Full-Length Content Only
This report does not include Shortform content (Quibi, Go90, Roku).
Daypart
For Linear TV, the only included Daypart is Primetime. Primetime is defined as content scheduled to air between 8 and 11 p.m. Monday-Saturday and between 7 and 11 p.m. Sunday. Late night (SNL, The Tonight Show) and daytime syndicated series (Kelly Clarkson) are excluded. Daypart is not applicable to streaming content.
Film Releases
Studio Releases are defined as being an original title from Paramount Pictures, The Walt Disney Company, 20th Century Studios, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Amazon MGM Studios and Lionsgate. "Digital Releases" are defined as being an original title from Netflix, Paramount+, Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, Max and Prime Video. Release years are based off of US releases from 2018-Present.
Source: Luminate streaming viewership (m)
Source:Luminate Film & TV
Data Sources
This 2024 Film & TV Year-End Report is powered by Luminate’s industry-leading data, all of which are commercially available:
- Streaming Viewership (M) measures streaming viewership consumption
- Film & TV delivers verified information on people, projects and companies
- U.S. Entertainment 365 measures consumer behaviors and preferences related to entertainment and how consumers spend their leisure time across all available entertainment channels
To learn more about how to access the data and products, please contact us HERE
Dig even deeper into the issues raised in this report with Variety Intelligence Platform's "Production Pipelines: TV & Film in Flux" (Coming February 3).