According to Comscore, the domestic box office in 2021 will be $4.55 billion, up 100% from last year's $2.28 billion and down 60% from 2019's $11.4 billion. While it's unrealistic to expect a return to 2019 levels, it's arguable that the domestic box office recovery isn't as strong as many predicted.

AMC's No. 1 Exhibitor Boss Adam Aron anticipated a $5.2 billion year in 2021. But, to be fair, his prediction was made in August, when Paramount's Top Gun Maverick was still on the calendar and more optimistic estimates were expected for Disney/Eternals Marvel's and MGM/Daniel UAR's Craig 007 farewell No Time to Die.

One of those big movies that helped usher us into 2022 was Sony/Spider-Man: Marvel's No Way Home, which has a US/Canada running total of $609.89 million, making it the 10th-highest grossing film ever at the domestic box office, surpassing Disney/Incredibles Pixar's 2 and coming within $8 million of beating the 2017 Christmas hit Star Wars: The Last Jedi (which currently sits at $620.1 million).

Until now, B.O. No Way Home has been seen by 50 million people, according to EntTelligence, while Sing 2 has been seen by 9 million people. West Side Story has been seen by 2.9 million people, Matrix Resurrections has been seen by 2.6 million people, The King's Man has been seen by 1.9 million people, and American Underdog has been seen by 1.5 million people.

Gower Analytics anticipates a $9.2 billion box office in 2022, based on a theatrical schedule that includes Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Top Gun Maverick, The Batman, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and so much more.

On New Year's Day, all movies did well, with wide releases (those with 1,000 or more theaters) experiencing a near 42 percent increase over Friday. Spider-Man: No Way Home took in $52.7 million over the Christmas weekend, down 38% from the previous weekend.

Title/theaters/Fri-Sat-Sun/3-day (% chg)/Total/Weekend no.

1.) Spider-Man: No Way Home (Sony) 4,206 (-130) theaters, Fri $15.4M /Sat $23M/ Sun $14.3M/3-day $52.7M (-38%)/ Total: $610M/Wk 3

2.) Sing 2 (Uni/Ill) 3,892 theaters, Fri $6.4M/Sat $7.75M/Sun $5.4M/3-day $19.6M (-12%)/Total: $89.68M/Wk 2

3.) The King’s Man (20th/Dis) 3,180 theaters Fri $1.25M/Sat $1.95M/Sun $1.3M/3-day $4.5M (-24%)/Total $19.5M/Wk 2

4.) American Underdog (LG) 2,813 theaters, Fri $1.35M/Sat $1.6M/Sun $1.08M/3-day: $4.075M (-31%)/Total: $15M/Wk 2

5.) Matrix Resurrections (WB) 3,552 theaters, Fri $1.05M /Sat $1.635M/Sun $1.14M/3-day $3.825M (-64%)/Total: $30.9M/Wk 2

6.) West Side Story (20th/Dis) 2,690 (-130) theaters, Fri $700K/Sat $850K/Sun $550K/3-day $2.1M (-25%)/Total $29.56M/Wk 4

7.) Ghostbusters: Afterlife (Sony) 1,645 (-83) theaters Fri $435K/Sat $620K/Sun $380K/3-day $1.435M (+17%)/Total: $123.4M/ Wk 7

8.) Licorice Pizza (UAR) 786 (+781) theaters, Fri $356K (+5k%)/Sat $541K/Sun $352K/3-day $1.249M (-35%)/Total $6.3M/Wk 6

9.) A Journal for Jordan (Sony) 2,500 theaters, Fri $335K/Sat $525K/Sun $380K/3-day: $1.175M (-47%)/Total: $4.74M/Wk 2

10.) Encanto (Dis) 2,425 (-375) theaters, Fri $340K/Sat $425K/Sun $285K/3-day $1.05M (-42%)/Total $91.3M/Wk 6

11.) Nightmare Alley (Sea) 1,910 (-225)Fri $275K /Sat $425K/Sun $272K/3-day: $972K (-17%)/Total $7.6M/Wk 3