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Warner Bros. Faces Longest Box Office Slump Since 2001
10 Sep
Summary
- Warner Bros. has not had a $100 million domestic grosser since 2001.
- "Practical Magic 2" is projected for a $30-40 million opening weekend.
- The studio hopes "Practical Magic 2" and "The Cat in the Hat" boost revenue.
As of September 10, 2026, Warner Bros. has not released a single film that has grossed more than $100 million domestically, a drought not seen since 2001. That year, the studio eventually achieved success with "Ocean's Eleven" and "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" in December.
This year, the studio is looking to "Practical Magic 2," a legacy sequel to the 1998 supernatural dramedy, to provide a much-needed box office boost. It is projected to open with $30-40 million from a $75 million production budget.
Further potential relief is anticipated in November with the animated film "The Cat in the Hat." However, recent releases like "The End of Oak Street" have underperformed, grossing only $51.7 million domestically against an $80 million budget.
"Practical Magic 2" faces critical reviews but relies on the original's cult following and the chemistry of its stars. Its success will depend on attracting both legacy fans and new audiences to end the studio's prolonged box office slump.
