Broadway Box Office Booms as Hamilton Smashes Records with $4.9 Million Week
Broadway delivered one of its strongest weeks of the year over Thanksgiving, with multiple productions setting new records and industry-wide grosses soaring. Leading the charge was Hamilton, which hit an unprecedented $4.9 million across eight performances, marking the highest weekly total in the musical’s nearly decade-long run.
The surge coincided with the return of original cast star Leslie Odom Jr., whose limited engagement ended November 26. His presence has driven sustained demand since September, culminating in an extraordinary average ticket price of $454.81 last week. While Hamilton now holds its personal best, Wicked still retains the all-time Broadway record, having surpassed $5 million during a nine-performance holiday week last year.
Plays and Musicals Alike Break Records
Not far behind was Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which brought in a striking $3.1 million. The play shattered the Lyric Theatre’s box office record and continues to receive a boost from film franchise alum Tom Felton’s casting. Its average ticket price climbed to $242.95, underscoring demand for the one-part reimagined production.
Wicked followed with $3 million, with The Lion King close behind at $2.8 million, both maintaining their status as perennial holiday powerhouses.
A notable standout was the new revival of Chess. Starring Lea Michele, Aaron Tveit and Nicholas Christopher, the musical grossed $2 million and set a new record at the Imperial Theatre.
Other productions celebrating milestones included Mamma Mia! at $2 million and Ragtime, which earned nearly $1.5 million, marking Lincoln Center Theater’s strongest week since the pandemic. Long-running favourite Chicago posted its highest Thanksgiving performance ever, one of the few shows to play on the holiday itself, with a single-performance gross of $151,362.45.
A Strong Industry Surge
Across Broadway, total grosses climbed 19 percent over the previous week. Average paid admission rose by $22.41 and overall attendance increased by 2.6 percent, a promising sign as the industry enters its most profitable stretch of the year.
With major star power, holiday tourism and a packed slate of acclaimed productions, Broadway appears poised for one of its most lucrative seasons in years.
