Broadway's box office is on a thrilling ride, and it's all thanks to the holiday season! The magic of Stranger Things has cast a spell on Broadway, with its prequel play reaching new heights and setting records. But here's where it gets controversial: is it the show's quality or the holiday crowds that are driving these impressive numbers?
Let's dive into the details. Last week, Broadway experienced a 3% increase in grosses compared to the previous week, and this surge in revenue is largely attributed to the holiday traffic. The average paid ticket price saw a slight dip, but the real story is in the attendance figures - houses were fuller across the board, with an impressive 91.28% average capacity for the 35 running shows.
The biggest winner of the week was Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which brought in a whopping $1.6 million, almost a quarter of a million dollars more than its second-highest gross during Thanksgiving week. This prequel play has consistently performed well since its debut last March, and producers are now aiming to maintain this higher benchmark post-holidays.
But Stranger Things isn't the only show raking in the dough. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child topped the list of top grossers with nearly $3 million, and Hamilton followed closely with its standing room-only performances, averaging $263 per ticket. Just In Time and Harry Potter also made it to the top five, with Art and The Lion King rounding out the list.
However, not all shows are experiencing this holiday magic. The upcoming month of January is traditionally Broadway's lowest-grossing period, and with the early closures of The Queen of Versailles and Little Bear Ridge Road on December 21, many shows may face challenges. Additionally, top grossers Art and Waiting for Godot are scheduled to close by the first Sunday of 2026.
But there's a silver lining! All Out, a spiritual follow-up to last season's hit All In, made over $400,000 in just its first two performances last week. This comedy show, featuring a rotating cast of comedy stars reading short stories by Simon Rich, is a producer's dream. If All Out can maintain this momentum as we head into 2026, Broadway may have another blockbuster on its hands.
Here's a look at the full report, including the shows that earned $1 million or more at the box office and those that played to 90% or higher of their seats filled over the entire week.
The $1 Million Club:
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ($2.99 million)
- Hamilton ($2.8 million)
- Wicked ($2.76 million)
- The Lion King ($2.37 million)
- Mamma Mia!
- Chess
- Stranger Things: The First Shadow
- Art
- Just In Time
- MJ The Musical
- Death Becomes Her
- Ragtime
- Aladdin
- The Great Gatsby
- Waiting for Godot
- Maybe Happy Ending
- Oh, Mary!
- The Outsiders
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical
- The Book of Mormon
- Buena Vista Social Club
- Hell's Kitchen
The 90s Club:
- Just In Time (103.28%)
- Hamilton (100.68%)
- All Out: Comedy About Ambition (100%)
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (100%)
- Oh, Mary! (100%)
- Ragtime (100%)
- Wicked (100%)
- Art
- Waiting for Godot
- Hadestown
- Stranger Things: The First Shadow
- Maybe Happy Ending
- Mamma Mia!
- The Book of Mormon
- The Lion King
- Chess
- The Outsiders
- The Great Gatsby
- Death Becomes Her
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical
- Aladdin
- Buena Vista Social Club
- & Juliet
(23 of 35 currently running productions)
And there you have it! Broadway's box office is a fascinating world, and these numbers showcase the impact of holiday tourism and the power of popular shows. What do you think? Are these shows worth the hype, or is it just the holiday season boosting their numbers? Let's discuss in the comments!
