Bold claim: Broadway’s box office is roaring back, with Hamilton setting a new all-time high at $4.9 million in a single week.
But here’s where it gets controversial: this peak came during Thanksgiving week and while Leslie Odom Jr., an original cast member, was back in the lineup. Audiences have been flocking to see Hamilton again since his return on September 9, contributing to the record-breaking numbers. The show also posted an extraordinary average ticket price of $454.81, helping push the weekly total toward the $5 million mark across eight performances.
For context, Wicked still holds the all-time weekly gross record for a Broadway show, surpassing $5 million across nine performances late last year.
The next top earner was Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which pulled in $3.1 million—an impressive figure for a play and a record box-office night at the Lyric Theatre. The boost was helped by Tom Felton, known for his role as Draco Malfoy in the film series, joining the cast. The average ticket price rose slightly to $242.95.
Coming in after, Wicked earned about $3 million, followed by The Lion King at $2.8 million. Chess, featuring Lea Michele, Aaron Tveit, and Nicholas Christopher, grossed $2 million and set a new house record at the Imperial Theatre.
Mamma Mia! and Ragtime each enjoyed their strongest weeks since the pandemic—Mamma Mia! at $2 million and Ragtime near $1.5 million. Lincoln Center Theater noted its best week since the pandemic as well. Chicago reported its highest Thanksgiving gross to date, with a Thursday performance included among the few that played that day, bringing in $151,362.45.
On the whole, the Broadway industry saw a 19 percent week-over-week increase in gross, with average paid admission up by $22.41 and attendance up by 2.6 percent. These gains arrive as the industry enters its most lucrative stretch of the year.
If you’re curious about what these numbers mean for future Broadway trends—such as pricing strategies, star-driven boosts, or midweek versus weekend performance dynamics—comment below with your thoughts. Do you think ticket prices will continue to rise, or will demand stabilize as the season progresses? And which show do you think will capitalize on this momentum next?
