'Strange World' Disney's 2022 Animated Film

[TP2000]

This bizarre schadenfreude you have to bait and troll these Disney content threads to dump on it all is disgusting, pathetic, and sociopathic. And almost always full of false information or cherry-picked data to create a false narrative.

Do you see a movie theater reservation website where tonight's Strange World theaters are full?

Because I don't.

Hard data and facts may be inconvenient, but they are still hard data and facts.

Shame on you. Shame.

Like calling someone "racist" to try and shut them up, that threat doesn't work any more with people.

The Walt Disney Company is in a state of internal turmoil and financial hardship it hasn't seen in decades. Much of that is due to the financial underperformance and box office failures of its flagship movie studios, especially Animation and Pixar. The box office performance of Strange World this holiday season is very important for Burbank; they spent at least $120 Million on its production budget.

It's a valid topic of conversation, and one I find particularly fascinating to watch play out. So I will continue to do that here on this conversation board, until I find it not entertaining and interesting to do so. I am not ashamed of that in the least.

 

[TP2000]

I’m probably going to regret joining this conversation but...

Oh, come on in! The water is fine and the sharks don't actually bite.

...in anticipation of Strange World I turned the parental controls on my sons Disney + profile to Rated G and below so it would hide the movie from him. Unfortunately it hides other PG movies like Up and Incredibles but oh well. He turns 7 this week. The scene that has been described does not seem appropriate for a PG movie geared towards 7 and 8 year olds. If Disney wants to be progressive a scene like that would be much more appropriate in a PG 13 movie with an older target demo of pre teens and above.

Thank you for that! It's a concern I've also had with recent Disney or Pixar movies that are all suddenly rated PG. I talked about it a bit in the Lightyear thread. Apparently, PG is the new G and Burbank doesn't even try to make a G Rated family movie any longer.

I find that bizarre, and concerning from both a cultural and financial perspective.

It’s a very odd choice and I expect this movie to bomb. I suspect they have been getting a lot of internal pressure to be more inclusive in their movies but they need to be smarter about how they go about it. Going back to back with this stuff on two PG movies is puzzling. You’d think they have money to burn.

That's just it. They don't have money to burn any longer. The Burbank campus is in crisis mode now. So why are they trying to appease social justice warriors in their own cubicle ranks with movies that inevitably flop, instead of trying to make family movies that will do huge box office a thousand miles from Burbank?

The movie studio divisions of The Walt Disney Company are not social service agencies. They need to sell tickets to movies and put butts in seats. G rated butts.

 

[TP2000]

The movie will bomb, but having a gay character doesn't make a movie inappropriate for children. As someone who was once a gay child, I would have loved to see representation at a young age!

I agree with your sentiment to an extent. And God only knows why I care as an old gay bachelor who couldn't even begin to conquer a child's runny nose, let alone a dirty diaper. But...

In 2022 I feel it's appropriate to show a gay teenager of about 15 or older if the movie is rated PG-13 and thus aimed at teens instead of 3rd graders. And the "representation" there in a teen movie should not include sexual acts of any kind beyond hand holding or an arm around the shoulder. But it also has to be important to the plot and story, not just added by an HR committee to look hip.

But if the movie is rated G (or apparently now PG, see post above), I don't feel it's appropriate to include young gay characters in that movie that is trying to sell tickets to 3rd graders. An 8 year old is radically different from a 15 year old, even though both of them have to be driven to the theater by their parents.

I marvel at how quickly the world changed in regards to gay acceptance over the past 20 years.

And yet, I do not blame parents of young children one bit from hesitating to take their 8 year old to a movie with gay characters in it. That is a conversation that must be left up to the parent and child to discuss together at the age deemed appropriate by the parent. It should not be forced into a Disney movie just to appease adult hipsters who weren't going to see the movie anyway.

Disney needs to leave the parenting of young children up to the parents, and just make G rated animation that a family can enjoy together without having to discuss sex on the car ride home.

 

[TP2000]

I honestly have no idea. I cried when David brought Patrick to the cottage in Schitt's Creek, but I'm very certain I will never see Bros.

Schitt's Creek was truly Canada's gift to the world. One of the best TV comedies of all time!

I mean I do think there's an evolutionary biology lizard-brain component to everything in that heterosexual romance is rooted in reproduction and family formation. The only reason we exist is because every single one of our ancestors was either a man who had sex with a woman or a woman who had sex with a man. Echoes of that evolutionary process live on in all of our DNA, regardless of sexual orientation or explicit desire to reproduce or have a family. It's the same reason, I imagine, that many gay couples have a desire to raise children even if they have no desire to do the thing that creates children.

It's fascinating, isn't it? I will say, the gay parenting thing didn't come along until the 1990's. I have friends that were among that first round of gay parents 30 years ago. It was revolutionary, and they had HUGE obstacles to overcome when it came to schools and hospitals and stuff like Cub Scouts or soccer practice.

Prior to the 1990's, it was really just a situation where we were so thrilled to not have our bars and bistros raided by the police on a weekly basis that we just wanted to dance and date openly. Parenting came later. At least for some who weren't afraid of runny noses and diapers, like me.

 

[TP2000]

All this gay talk.... I really don't think it's going to be a factor in Strange World's box office. At all.

I didn't even realize there was a gay angle to Strange World's characters until 48 hours ago via this thread. And since almost no one is talking about Strange World in the media, I doubt potential ticket buyers this holiday week know either.

Strange World will likely struggle to make back it's $120 Million production budget, let alone eke out a profit for Burbank in the next 60 days by making at least $250 Million globally.

But having a teenage gay crush story arc isn't the reason why.

 

[Disney Irish]

Do you see a movie theater reservation website where tonight's Strange World theaters are full?

Because I don't.

Hard data and facts may be inconvenient, but they are still hard data and facts.

You looked at one theater, that isn't hard data, that's cherry picking. Also do parents "reserve" tickets ahead of time for pre-opening night and opening night for an animated movie during a holiday week? Not likely, especially not during Thanksgiving Week. More likely they wait until the Friday after Thanksgiving and drop the kids off.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I truly don't think this film will bomb due to a gay character, which I feel has barely been discussed in the mainstream, apart from the circuits of those very much against anything LGBT being included in a family film.

This movie will likely not succeed at the box office due to a horrid marketing campaign, and the way animation by Disney has been treated due to, during, and since the pandemic.

I fully suspect this will be some Iger will be looking at moving forward, but these films are simply not being treated as or seen as blockbusters worth paying to get a ticket for.

This is the first Disney animated feature I've gotten a ticket to since Frozen 2, granted many of them between then and now didn't have or barely had a theatrical run here in Canada.

And with Disney+ I feel far less incentivized to go see these films in a theatre, when I can watch them from the comfort of my home.

 

[Disney Irish]

I'd like to remind some posters here that Disney doesn't decide what rating to give their movies, the MPAA does. The MPAA changed their rating system usage of G ratings, not Disney. So its the MPAA that is rating Disney films as PG as that is the new "General Audience" rating not Disney. I'm pretty sure that Disney would prefer their movies to be rated G if that rating still existed in its original intended form like it was in the 60s and 70s.

Edited for clarity.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I agree with your sentiment to an extent. And God only knows why I care as an old gay bachelor who couldn't even begin to conquer a child's runny nose, let alone a dirty diaper. But...

In 2022 I feel it's appropriate to show a gay teenager of about 15 or older if the movie is rated PG-13 and thus aimed at teens instead of 3rd graders. And the "representation" there in a teen movie should not include sexual acts of any kind beyond hand holding or an arm around the shoulder. But it also has to be important to the plot and story, not just added by an HR committee to look hip.

But if the movie is rated G (or apparently now PG, see post above), I don't feel it's appropriate to include young gay characters in that movie that is trying to sell tickets to 3rd graders. An 8 year old is radically different from a 15 year old, even though both of them have to be driven to the theater by their parents.

I marvel at how quickly the world changed in regards to gay acceptance over the past 20 years.

And yet, I do not blame parents of young children one bit from hesitating to take their 8 year old to a movie with gay characters in it. That is a conversation that must be left up to the parent and child to discuss together at the age deemed appropriate by the parent. It should not be forced into a Disney movie just to appease adult hipsters who weren't going to see the movie anyway.

Disney needs to leave the parenting of young children up to the parents, and just make G rated animation that a family can enjoy together without having to discuss sex on the car ride home.

I think it all depends on what the characters are doing, I wouldn’t want a movie geared for 8 year olds to show anyone (straight or gay) being intimate beyond a hug or a welcome home kiss, up to that point though I don’t see the harm in it whether it’s a straight or gay couple.

I had a gay roommate in college and the first time he asked if we’d like to double date I said as long as you don’t make out in front of us because it makes me uncomfortable, his response was “deal, as long as you don’t make out in front of us because it makes me uncomfortable”. I’d never even considered that but it made me laugh and we went on many double dates after that, him snuggling his bf while I was snuggling my gf, none of us uncomfortable because the displays of affection never went beyond that.

If Disney was showing intimate scenes I’d agree that it’s not appropriate for kids but I’ve never seen a gay character in a Disney movie do anything more than have a crush on someone, hug someone, or maybe share a single kiss. Not exactly xxx.

I’m a fairly conservative person but I think the gay character thing has been blown out of proportion, I haven’t seen anything in a Disney movie or show that I’d call controversial, maybe overdone because it feels like they check the boxes (gay character , black character , Asian character , etc) on every single show or movie they do now but is that really such a bad thing?

 

[TP2000]

I'd like to remind some posters here that Disney doesn't decide what rating to give their movies, the MPAA does. The MPAA got rid of the G rating in their rating system, not Disney. So its the MPAA that is rating Disney films as PG not Disney. I'm pretty sure that Disney would prefer their movies to be rated G if that rating still existed.

Um... what are you talking about?

The MPAA most certainly does still have the G Rating available to any American film that qualifies.

Film Ratings

Established in 1968, the film rating system provides parents with the information needed to determine if a film is appropriate for their children.

www.motionpictures.org

As the MPAA states, the G Rating is "All Ages Admitted" and they go on to state that the film has "Nothing that would offend parents for viewing by children."

It's the movie studios that have mostly stopped making movies that qualify as G Rated, not the MPAA who merely evaluates and rates the movies made. Disney knows how to make a G Rated movie in the 2020's, they just stopped doing that for some reason.

Heck, even Paramount knows how to make a G Rated movie and get Kim Kardashian to star in it.

Everything You Need to Know About PAW Patrol: The Movie (2021): Dec. 31, 2022 - added the US Blu-ray release date of January 4, 2022 - Movie Insider

PAW Patrol: The Movie on DVD January 4, 2022 starring Kim Kardashian, Dax Shepard, Jimmy Kimmel, Tyler Perry. Ryder and the pups are called to Adventure City to stop Mayor Humdinger from turning the bustling metropolis into a state of chaos. Get read

www.movieinsider.com

 

[TP2000]

I’m a fairly conservative person but I think the gay character thing has been blown out of proportion, I haven’t seen anything in a Disney movie or show that I’d call controversial, maybe overdone because it feels like they check the boxes (gay character , black character , Asian character , etc) on every single show or movie they do now but is that really such a bad thing?

I think that's the part that bothers me the most too. It just feels as though they are checking boxes off a list that HR mandated they check off. For the most part, it doesn't feel natural or organic from Disney lately. It feels very forced and very formulaic.

It's as if they start the story process by checking off this list with at least five of these seven things before they get HR approval to proceed with production:

-Black
-Asian
-Latinx (don't you dare say it with vowels at the end!)
-2SLGBTQQIA+
-Old
-Physical disability and/or mobility device that can be seen in promotional materials
-Traditionally male role fulfilled by strong female; Ship Captain, Military General, President, Warrior, etc.

Are any of those things bad? No, of course not. But when it's forced and processed, you know it instinctively.

As the kids say, it instantly reads as cringey to many people.

 

[Disney Irish]

Um... what are you talking about?

The MPAA most certainly does still have the G Rating available to any American film that qualifies.

Film Ratings

Established in 1968, the film rating system provides parents with the information needed to determine if a film is appropriate for their children.

www.motionpictures.org

As the MPAA states, the G Rating is "All Ages Admitted" and they go on to state that the film has "Nothing that would offend parents for viewing by children."

It's the movie studios that have mostly stopped making movies that qualify as G Rated, not the MPAA who merely evaluates and rates the movies made. Disney knows how to make a G Rated movie in the 2020's, they just stopped doing that for some reason.

Heck, even Paramount knows how to make a G Rated movie and get Kim Kardashian to star in it.

Everything You Need to Know About PAW Patrol: The Movie (2021): Dec. 31, 2022 - added the US Blu-ray release date of January 4, 2022 - Movie Insider

PAW Patrol: The Movie on DVD January 4, 2022 starring Kim Kardashian, Dax Shepard, Jimmy Kimmel, Tyler Perry. Ryder and the pups are called to Adventure City to stop Mayor Humdinger from turning the bustling metropolis into a state of chaos. Get read

www.movieinsider.com

Its actually pretty easy.

The MPAA while still technically having the classification has basically stopped issuing it in favor of the PG rating for general audience films. The reason, image. The general population over the last few decades have seen the G rating as a "little kids only" rating, rather than its original General Audience definition.

So unless its a movie meant for 3-5 year olds based on preschool cartoons like the Paw Patrol, its going to get a PG rating. Its the MPAA that set this not Disney. Sure I guess if Disney wants to only put out Mickey Mouse Clubhouse movies just to get the G rating they can do so. But I'm sure they want to appeal to a more broad audience than 3-5 year old movie goers.

 

[Rich Brownn]

I'd like to remind some posters here that Disney doesn't decide what rating to give their movies, the MPAA does. The MPAA got rid of the G rating in their rating system, not Disney. So its the MPAA that is rating Disney films as PG not Disney. I'm pretty sure that Disney would prefer their movies to be rated G if that rating still existed.

The G rating still exists. Several Pixar films have gotten it. It's just rare because the MPAA has decided sooooo many things set off parents nowdays that PG became the standard (It does mean Parental Guidance Suggested so it is up to parents). At one time they were more lenient - Andromed Strain featured a women (deceased) naked from the waist up, and got a G because it was considered non-sexual)). (And for some reason once italicized the darn thing wont turn off here)

 

[Disney Analyst]

Why is Strange World rated PG? "The MPA rated Strange World PG for action/peril and some thematic elements."

 

[Disney Irish]

The G rating still exists. Several Pixar films have gotten it. It's just rare because the MPAA has decided sooooo many things set off parents nowdays that PG became the standard (It does mean Parental Guidance Suggested so it is up to parents). At one time they were more lenient - Andromed Strain featured a women (deceased) naked from the waist up, and got a G because it was considered non-sexual)). (And for some reason once italicized the darn thing wont turn off here)

Yes if you actually read my follow-up post you'd see that I basically said the same thing.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Why is Strange World rated PG? "The MPA rated Strange World PG for action/peril and some thematic elements."

Frozen II was PG for the exact same reason.

 

[MisterPenguin]

The G rating still exists. Several Pixar films have gotten it. It's just rare because the MPAA has decided sooooo many things set off parents nowdays that PG became the standard (It does mean Parental Guidance Suggested so it is up to parents). At one time they were more lenient - Andromed Strain featured a women (deceased) naked from the waist up, and got a G because it was considered non-sexual)). (And for some reason once italicized the darn thing wont turn off here)

Toggle this to find the culprit...

 

[Tiggerish]

42 years later, 2022's "Jurassic Park/World/Whatever" with some random black woman playing the strong, confident, hardened, crafty, military cargo plane pilot. Uh......yeah, not so much. Paaaaaaaainful and a complete distraction to the "story".

Are you serious?? Or just seriously bigoted??

In the past 42 years, there have been many female pilots hardened in the military. I went to high school with the first woman to become a general of the US Army (granted, no flying involved there, but still)

That character in Jurassic Park Whatever was a total badass, not because she was a black woman, but because she was a total badass. The fact that she was a gorgeous black woman was beside the point (and not even the point). Geez.

I found Lando Calrissian rather smarmy.

Crawl back under your rock, please.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Are you serious?? Or just seriously bigoted??

What’s amazing about these thread is how some just love to spam them with bigoted comments.

 

[Tiggerish]

What’s amazing about these thread is how some just love to spam them with bigoted comments.

I know. I should just find my inner Elsa and let it go, but day-um.