The worldwide entertainment business has continued going from strength to strength in 2024, with everything from the movie industry to the gaming market posting bigger and better numbers. While the entertainment sector in general took a hit over the past few years, things are bouncing back. In fact, many areas are now doing better than they were in 2019, illustrating the resilience and determination shown by entertainment professionals looking to get back on track.
The desire for entertainment has also never been bigger, especially with new technology making music, film, gaming and various other aspects so much more accessible. All these factors have combined to make 2024 an extremely good year for the entertainment business – but don’t just take our word for it. Keep reading for a comprehensive, statistics-powered breakdown compared to other years and what we can expect for the future.
How did the entertainment industry compare to previous years?
Getting a solid idea of how the entertainment business performed in 2024 compared to previous years is impossible without doing targeted research. We’ve done the hard work here, exploring the revenue for the year compared to previous ones, and looking forward to the future. Get the lowdown below:
Movie industry
The movie sector was badly hit by social distancing rules and regulations during the early 2020s, but has bounced back in recent years with a steady stream of box office smash hit motion pictures.
The statistics speak for themselves, with the box office taking $38.99 billion in 2024 compared to $34.27 billion the previous year. 2024 still hasn’t quite beaten the 2019 year, though, which came in at $39.56 billion. It’s a very narrow gap, and most forecasters expect 2025 to set a new record.
Casino and gambling industry
One of the best-performing entertainment niches over the past decade is the online casino and gambling markets, with sports betting and online slots being two particularly pertinent areas. This sector has seen 2024 record $138 billion in revenue, up from $131.42 billion in 2023, exemplifying the solid growth over the past decade.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. With software developers consistently creating various brand-new games and mechanics, the gambling industry is set to skyrocket. Playing online casino options is filled with notable positives, with everything from mobile compatibility to next-gen, provably fair games attracting players.
Gaming industry
The video gaming industry is another top performing area, bringing in $475.05 billion in 2024, up from $428.32 billion the year before. The difference compared to 2019’s $285.19 billion is a profound example of the video gaming sector’s extraordinary performance over the past decade.
Video gaming revenue is forecast to hit a staggering $691.31 billion in 2039, which puts into perspective the strength of the modern video gaming market.
Music industry
The music world has long been a global entertainment mainstay, with digital music revenue alone accounting for $31.2 billion throughout 2024, an 8.1% increase over the past decade.
Add the revenue generated by live concerts, festivals, commercial sponsorship deals and various other revenue channels, and there’s absolutely no denying the healthy state of the 2024 music industry.
Landmark 2024 entertainment moments
It’s all very well examining the statistics related to the 2024 entertainment business, but it can be hard to experience a tangible example of success with numbers alone. On this topic, let’s break down some of the most significant entertainment moments from the past year:
Wicked movie adaptation
The Wicked movie generated a crazy amount of anticipation early in 2024 when it was first slated as an upcoming blockbuster, and its November release confirmed everyone’s excitement. Ariana Grande’s pivot into acting is a particularly exciting development, and fans will be excited to see her in the sequel scheduled for next year.
Charli XCX’s Brat summer
Charli XCX’s “Brat” album was a cultural force across the world, with the iconic neon green artwork and unapologetic lyrical content celebrating free expression and the right to be yourself without worrying about what anybody else thinks. Sold out global tours, appearances everywhere from Glastonbury to SNL, and numerous celebrity endorsements propelled the British singer to a new level of fame.
Gladiator 2
When Ridley Scott announced there would be a Gladiator sequel, many diehard fans of the original ancient Roman epic featuring Russell Crowe couldn’t believe their luck. Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington all blew away the critics, making sure the movie retained the excitement and nail-biting action of the legendary original.