Disney (and others) at the Box Office - Current State of Affairs

[Farerb]

That's right. Only appreciated by millions of people instead of... well... millions. Totally irrelevant.

I think any celebrity at the top of their respective field probably feels absolutely fine about their individual relevancy, assuming that's even a thing that they want or need. If you listen to any of them speak, the vast majority seem to just want to do creative and rewarding work and be able to make a living from it.

Based on recent box office gross, people don't tend to go to movies because of who stars in them, they are no longer a draw, they go because of the content.

There have been many articles on this matter:

Twilight of the A-list: has the 21st century killed off the movie star?

Brad Pitt’s new film is fizzling out. Meryl Streep is doing TV. Only Tom Cruise fills cinemas – and, in the age of superheroes and streaming, his days may be numbered. So, what does the future hold for Hollywood’s big beasts?

www.theguardian.com

Why Are There No Movie Stars Anymore?

We're in a bit of a draught when it comes to bankable names.

nofilmschool.com

Hollywood Has No More Movie Stars, Says Jennifer Aniston

Aniston got her start on Friends.

screenrant.com

Why A-List Movie Stars are on the Verge of Extinction

We break down the main reasons why there are less and less A-list movie stars in modern Hollywood, and if they can make a comeback.

discussingfilm.net

We’re Out of Movie Stars. Whose Fault Is That? (Published 2022)

There are fewer films now that allow an actor to grow a persona and a Tom Cruise level of stardom. It’s a crisis, and the movies know it.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Chi84]

Based on recent box office gross, people don't tend to go to movies because of who stars in them, they are no longer a draw, they go because of the content.

There have been many articles on this matter:

Twilight of the A-list: has the 21st century killed off the movie star?

Brad Pitt’s new film is fizzling out. Meryl Streep is doing TV. Only Tom Cruise fills cinemas – and, in the age of superheroes and streaming, his days may be numbered. So, what does the future hold for Hollywood’s big beasts?

www.theguardian.com

Why Are There No Movie Stars Anymore?

We're in a bit of a draught when it comes to bankable names.

nofilmschool.com

Hollywood Has No More Movie Stars, Says Jennifer Aniston

Aniston got her start on Friends.

screenrant.com

Why A-List Movie Stars are on the Verge of Extinction

We break down the main reasons why there are less and less A-list movie stars in modern Hollywood, and if they can make a comeback.

discussingfilm.net

We’re Out of Movie Stars. Whose Fault Is That? (Published 2022)

There are fewer films now that allow an actor to grow a persona and a Tom Cruise level of stardom. It’s a crisis, and the movies know it.

www.nytimes.com

What’s the difference?

 

[brideck]

Based on recent box office gross, people don't tend to go to movies because of who stars in them, they are no longer a draw, they go because of the content.

Based on recent box office gross, people don't tend to go to the movies.

For those who actually do go with some regularity, I would imagine that there are still names that get them to come out. I know there are for me.

But for the masses? No. The draws are the franchises. Not the people or even the particular stories. The only possible exceptions that I see are action stars like The Rock or Jason Statham, and even they can't get movies to break $100m without their being part of a franchise.

 

[TP2000]

I think some of these numbers need to be put into context.....

From your same article you just posted above -

"Still, 18.1 million was enough to make the Oscars the most-watched and primetime entertainment (meaning non-sports and non-news) telecast of the 2024-2025 TV season thus far. It also had the highest rating among adults age 18-49 this season with a 3.92, up 3% from last year. And when isolated to adults 18-34, it was the highest-rated Oscars in five years with a 3.17. "

Adults in the demo of 18-49 at 3.92? The Oscars have been skewing older for years now. The context here in 2025 is that this isn't a huge gain, but merely a small gain in a very older overall demographic.

In March, 1998, when Titanic pulled in a lot of young women viewers, that year's Oscars telecast had a 18-49 rating of 24.90.

So that means that 2025's Oscars telecast of 3.92 in the same demo got only 16% of the young demographic that 1998's Oscars telecast got.

Which aligns with the fact that 2025's Oscars telecast had about 31% of the viewers as the 1998 Oscars telecast. Meanwhile, the population of America has grown since 1998 by 66 Million people, or by 23%. But the viewership declined by nearly 70%.

I wonder how much money ABC (Disney) paid to get the Academy Awards broadcast rights for crashing ratings?

 

[TP2000]

For those wondering why there's no new parade, and no new show in the Hyperion, and empty buildings in all six American theme parks....

ABC apparently pays about $100 Million per year on their current 8 year contract to broadcast the Oscars. That contract expires in 2028 and ABC has recently declined to bid for a new contract past '28, which tells me that whichever network ends up with the new Oscars contract (Is the CW still around? Maybe Hallmark? Dumont is long gone, but what about Bravo?) they are going to be paying a lot less than $100 Million per year.

ABC's decision to not bid again exclusively on the Oscars contract came before this year's viewership declined to 18 Million.

Oscars Exploring New TV Home After ABC’s Exclusive Negotiating Window Ends

Deadline has confirmed with sources that the Academy's exclusive negotiating window with the Oscars' longtime broadcaster, ABC, has lapsed.

deadline.com

 

[Disney Irish]

Adults in the demo of 18-49 at 3.92? The Oscars have been skewing older for years now. The context here in 2025 is that this isn't a huge gain, but merely a small gain in a very older overall demographic.

In March, 1998, when Titanic pulled in a lot of young women viewers, that year's Oscars telecast had a 18-49 rating of 24.90.

So that means that 2025's Oscars telecast of 3.92 in the same demo got only 16% of the young demographic that 1998's Oscars telecast got.

Which aligns with the fact that 2025's Oscars telecast had about 31% of the viewers as the 1998 Oscars telecast. Meanwhile, the population of America has grown since 1998 by 66 Million people, or by 23%. But the viewership declined by nearly 70%.

I wonder how much money ABC (Disney) paid to get the Academy Awards broadcast rights for crashing ratings?

You missed the whole point (or ignored it) as usual. The drops that are happening as coming from the over 50 crowd, and I suspect it’s largely in your generation (over 60) that dropped the most.

And while the gains in the younger crowd are small compared to the 1990s, or whatever other year you want to use, there are gains. And that is what the producers are going to look at as they make tweaks for next years show. As they look to see what the younger generations care about.

For those wondering why there's no new parade, and no new show in the Hyperion, and empty buildings in all six American theme parks....

ABC apparently pays about $100 Million per year on their current 8 year contract to broadcast the Oscars. That contract expires in 2028 and ABC has recently declined to bid for a new contract past '28, which tells me that whichever network ends up with the new Oscars contract (Is the CW still around? Maybe Hallmark? Dumont is long gone, but what about Bravo?) they are going to be paying a lot less than $100 Million per year.

ABC's decision to not bid again exclusively on the Oscars contract came before this year's viewership declined to 18 Million.

Oscars Exploring New TV Home After ABC’s Exclusive Negotiating Window Ends

Deadline has confirmed with sources that the Academy's exclusive negotiating window with the Oscars' longtime broadcaster, ABC, has lapsed.

deadline.com

Well the next 3 years are set at least, it’ll continue to be on ABC and Hulu until 2028.

 

[BrianLo]

I am not. No one expects Deadpool to win the Oscars. There's a middle ground between Deadpool and Anora.

As has been mentioned, the issue is more that they don’t make these middle ground films. A lot of that mass market prestige general entertainment rotated to the TV space.

I love wicked the musical. I was beyond impressed with how well they translated it to screen. In no iteration of the Oscar’s is Wicked a best picture winner. It’s not even a best musical Tony winner. Frankly it was lucky the nomination pool was 10.

 

[BrianLo]

As a follow up, my concerns were actually taken fairly seriously by Forbes editorial. You’ll notice someone hasn’t had articles in a few weeks.

I guess this forum matters a little, thanks for people who had to listen to my conspiracy cycle and acted directly or indirectly as a sounding board until I figured out what was going on.

 

[Architectural Guinea Pig]

2015 Oscars: 37.2 million viewers

2025 Oscars: 18 million viewers

Dropped by half in the past ten years. What will it be another ten years?

A single Mr. Beast video: 50+ million viewers

 

[MagicMouseFan]

For those wondering why there's no new parade, and no new show in the Hyperion, and empty buildings in all six American theme parks....

ABC apparently pays about $100 Million per year on their current 8 year contract to broadcast the Oscars. That contract expires in 2028 and ABC has recently declined to bid for a new contract past '28, which tells me that whichever network ends up with the new Oscars contract (Is the CW still around? Maybe Hallmark? Dumont is long gone, but what about Bravo?) they are going to be paying a lot less than $100 Million per year.

ABC's decision to not bid again exclusively on the Oscars contract came before this year's viewership declined to 18 Million.

Oscars Exploring New TV Home After ABC’s Exclusive Negotiating Window Ends

Deadline has confirmed with sources that the Academy's exclusive negotiating window with the Oscars' longtime broadcaster, ABC, has lapsed.

deadline.com

I imagine Netflix or Apple will air the Oscars in the future

 

[donaldtoo]

For those wondering why there's no new parade, and no new show in the Hyperion, and empty buildings in all six American theme parks....

ABC apparently pays about $100 Million per year on their current 8 year contract to broadcast the Oscars. That contract expires in 2028 and ABC has recently declined to bid for a new contract past '28, which tells me that whichever network ends up with the new Oscars contract (Is the CW still around? Maybe Hallmark? Dumont is long gone, but what about Bravo?) they are going to be paying a lot less than $100 Million per year.

ABC's decision to not bid again exclusively on the Oscars contract came before this year's viewership declined to 18 Million.

Oscars Exploring New TV Home After ABC’s Exclusive Negotiating Window Ends

Deadline has confirmed with sources that the Academy's exclusive negotiating window with the Oscars' longtime broadcaster, ABC, has lapsed.

deadline.com

Could they broadcast it on WACAN (Who Actually Cares Anymore Network)…?!

 

[Casper Gutman]

A single Mr. Beast video: 50+ million viewers

What a pathetic indictment of humanity.

 

[Farerb]

What a pathetic indictment of humanity.

I honestly don't understand the appeal of YouTubers or streamers. People should read more books.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Apparently does. So if it had been ABC only, even lower seems likely.

I saw an article that said while ratings were down overall, viewership for those 18-49 was up.

 

[easyrowrdw]

As a follow up, my concerns were actually taken fairly seriously by Forbes editorial. You’ll notice someone hasn’t had articles in a few weeks.

I guess this forum matters a little, thanks for people who had to listen to my conspiracy cycle and acted directly or indirectly as a sounding board until I figured out what was going on.

Interesting! Did they reply to you saying something? Is it possible she's just on vacation?

 

[Agent H]

What a pathetic indictment of humanity.

I’d rather ride superstar limo then watch one of his videos.

 

[TalkingHead]

I saw an article that said while ratings were down overall, viewership for those 18-49 was up.

I saw something about that. Maybe a combo of streaming effect and Ariana/Chalamet drawing some younger viewers?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I saw something about that. Maybe a combo of streaming effect and Ariana/Chalamet drawing some younger viewers?

I think a lot of the nominees did skew younger in appeal, Wicked, Dune, The Substance etc

 

[TP2000]

A single Mr. Beast video: 50+ million viewers

I have no idea who that is (and my 8 second Google search left me scratching my head; he's a YouTuber, but what he does I'm still unclear on), but it's an interesting point on the mass appeal of new media options.

More on that below...

What a pathetic indictment of humanity.

While entertainment is a personal choice, and I can mourn the loss of some of my favorite tonier TV evenings of yore like Upstairs, Downstairs and NOVA or even Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, or what 60 Minutes used to be, I would caution against sounding too elitist and dismissive of popular entertainment and personal choices.

Clearly tens of millions of Americans are tuning in and watching/listening to long-form podcasts and YouTube content. Just as they used to watch/listen to the 3 hour long Oscars ceremony every year.

Spotify doesn't release ratings on individual podcasts, but the Joe Rogan Podcast featuring a 3 hour long interview/discussion with President Trump last October was viewed by 56 Million people on YouTube within a few days. Plus whatever the tens of millions of Spotify downloads it had. Popular YouTube videos on a range of topics, often an hour or longer, routinely rank in the tens of millions of views.

The Oscars would love to get back up to half of that kind of viewership. Can you imagine the change in tone on this topic if the Oscars had shot back up to 28 Million viewers this year (half the Joe Rogan audience for 3 hour content), instead of dropping to 18 Million?

 

[TP2000]

The final box office tally is in from overseas through March 3rd for Captain America: Brave New World.

After it's third full weekend globally, it looks fairly certain it won't get to Ant-Man Quantumania territory. It still could reach $400 Million globally by the end of its box office run though. That would be a loss of around $50 Million for Marvel's latest.

Captain America: Brave New World (2025) - Financial Information

Financial analysis of Captain America: Brave New World (2025) including budget, domestic and international box office gross, DVD and Blu-ray sales reports, total earnings and profitability.

www.the-numbers.com