As anniversary screenings brought Coraline back to theaters, the dark fantasy stop-motion animated feature achieved a new record with its global box office takings. The Nightmare Before Christmas director Henry Selick helmed the adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s 2002 novella, which tells the story of a young girl who discovers a doorway to a fantastical parallel reality. Despite being charmed by the idealistic world, Coraline (Dakota Fanning) soon learns that something sinister has lured her into this realm, and that she is in grave danger.
Collider reports that Coraline was able to hit an impressive milestone with its international box office takings. While it had already become one of the top ten most successful stop-motion features at the United States box office, Coraline managed to raise its international earnings to surpass $50 million, making it one of the highest-performing stop-motion movies released internationally. Altogether, as of its 2024 rerelease, Coraline has a total gross of $228 million, just falling short of earning over four times its $60 million budget by roughly $48 million.
Coraline’s Legacy Goes Beyond Box Office Records
Coraline Is A Unique Entity Among Animated Movies
With audiences returning to theaters to celebrate Coraline‘s anniversary, it is clear that the movie has continued to have an impact even over a decade since its release. Upon release in 2009, the movie managed to strike a positive note with critics and audiences alike, earning favorable reviews while grossing a healthy $124 million worldwide despite humble expectations by media analysts. While this success alone is enough to celebrate, Coraline has also earned another impressive status in pop culture.
Coraline is a perfect entry-level horror movie for young audiences, striking a balance between a family feature and a dark thriller. From its haunted house-esque setting to its suspenseful build-up, Coraline takes its time to lure audiences into a false sense of security before the true nature of the Other Mother (Teri Hatcher) is revealed. As such, the animated feature’s mature handling of its tone without going too dark can give young viewers their first taste of what theatrical scary stories can offer.
Coraline’s box office takings prove that few can resist revisiting the movie at any opportunity.
With its enduring legacy, it is unsurprising that audiences are still eager to see the remastered Coraline in theaters fifteen years later. Not only is there a generation of fans who may want to revisit an influential childhood classic, but newcomers who have only watched the movie at home may want to see Laika’s still impressive animation on the big screen. Coraline‘s box office takings prove that few can resist revisiting the movie at any opportunity.
Source: Collider
