Universal Pictures has emerged victorious in the highly competitive film industry, clinching the number one spot in market share at the 2023 global box office. This accomplishment disrupts Disney's continuous dominance, marking the first instance since 2016 that a studio other than Disney has led in market share.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Universal's 24 film releases achieved an estimated $4.91 billion in global ticket sales, narrowly surpassing Disney's estimated $4.83 billion from 17 titles. The competition was intense both domestically and internationally, with Universal's $1.94 billion in domestic revenue edging out Disney's $1.9 billion. On the global stage, Universal prevailed with $2.97 billion, slightly ahead of Disney's $2.92 billion.

A significant plot twist unfolded with Disney failing to secure a spot in the top three movies of the year. These coveted positions were claimed by Warner Bros.' 'Barbie' amassed $1.4 billion, accompanied by Universal's 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie' at $1.3 billion and 'Oppenheimer' at $950 million. Notably, this signifies the first instance since 2014, excluding the pandemic-impacted years of 2020 and 2021, that none of Disney's films achieved the $1 billion milestone, according to Variety.

Disney's standout performers in 2023 were Marvel Studios' 'Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3' ($846 million), Walt Disney Animation Studios' 'The Little Mermaid' ($570 million), and Pixar's 'Elemental' ($496 million).

Jim Orr, President of Domestic Distribution at Universal Pictures, shared contentment regarding the studio's diverse film slate, commenting.

Throughout 2023, Universal experienced triumphs in the box office arena, showcasing a varied array of films. Our lineup featured standout blockbusters such as Christopher Nolan's grand 'Oppenheimer' and Illumination's record-setting 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie.' Additionally, we delivered notable horror successes like Blumhouse's breakout 'M3GAN,' along with a diverse selection of comedies, dramas, and family-oriented films, courtesy of animation powerhouses Illumination and DreamWorks Animation.