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

[Agent H]

Wait, which ones are those? Ooooh, the ones after the election?! Sorry. I think gotcha now.

Those are the ones I thought we were talking about.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

The blue collar workers are presumably the people who did things like craft the sets and such. I’ve heard no major complaints about that. I don’t think they will have a problem getting hired for future films.

How will Snow White bombing affect the blue collar workers who have all likely moved on to their next project already? These workers are constantly moving from one project to another, they aren't like actors where their career may or may not be affected by their last project bombing. These are workers that studios use for ALL projects from small to huge budget projects. They will be fine no matter what happens with Snow White.

Disney adjusted their future release schedule after the disastrous 2022 box office, that’s how it hurts workers, if Disney pushes back another project or 2 as a result of losses in 2025 that results in thousands of lost jobs.

Hollywood is already struggling as more movies move to Vancouver, Georgia, England, even here in Vegas… the last thing they need is for studios to delay a couple more projects as a result of struggling box office results.

 

[Farerb]

With 5,700 Movie Screens Shut Down and the Box Office in a Slump, Theaters Are Still Waiting for a Post-Pandemic Comeback

Movie theaters are considering discount pricing and investing in Imax and 4DX to attract audiences, but the 2025 box office is in a slump.

variety.com

 

[Disney Irish]

So in her world, money just grows on magic trees that are planted in the backyards of Hollywood producers? And when a stupid producer who they all hate wants to make a $250 Million movie the producer just goes to the backyard and picks money from the magic trees and then gives it to all the blue-collar workers and lesser paid cubicle drones at the studio to make a movie?

There's no need for studio companies to take out loans from banks, show a history of business success, raise money from investors, then re-invest the profits from previous success to allow your studio to grow with changing technology and times? Much less cover depreciation, payroll taxes, paid benefits, real estate and physical plant expansion, etc.

Fascinating. Who knew funding $250 Million movies was so simple! When I lived in SoCal, my backyard only had a lemon tree.

You really don't understand how Hollywood financing works, and it shows.

Studios don't go to banks to get a loan for a movie, especially not a Studio the size of Disney. They may use a finance company like 20th Century Studios uses TSG so they don't have to pay it out themselves. But that is standard Hollywood.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Disney adjusted their future release schedule after the disastrous 2022 box office, that’s how it hurts workers, if Disney pushes back another project or 2 as a result of losses in 2025 that results in thousands of lost jobs.

Hollywood is already struggling as more movies move to Vancouver, Georgia, England, even here in Vegas… the last thing they need is for studios to delay a couple more projects as a result of struggling box office results.

You’re really, really reaching.

There are a vast array of economic, cultural, and social forces buffeting Hollywood right now. We’ve talked about them a lot in this thread. A single film failing isn’t a blip.

 

[Disney Irish]

Disney adjusted their future release schedule after the disastrous 2022 box office, that’s how it hurts workers, if Disney pushes back another project or 2 as a result of losses in 2025 that results in thousands of lost jobs.

Hollywood is already struggling as more movies move to Vancouver, Georgia, England, even here in Vegas… the last thing they need is for studios to delay a couple more projects as a result of struggling box office results.

So Disney just stops all production on all movies and tv shows they are doing when they adjust schedules? No of course they don't. And so when a production gets delayed those crews tied to it move onto the next project that is currently under production. New production spins up and old productions shutdown constantly. This is Hollywood, the town that never sleeps, where a movie or tv show is being shot all the time.

And since Disney just like the rest of Hollywood uses the trade unions these workers just move onto the next studio who has a production going if Disney has no work for them.

 

[TP2000]

Disney adjusted their future release schedule after the disastrous 2022 box office, that’s how it hurts workers, if Disney pushes back another project or 2 as a result of losses in 2025 that results in thousands of lost jobs.

Hollywood is already struggling as more movies move to Vancouver, Georgia, England, even here in Vegas… the last thing they need is for studios to delay a couple more projects as a result of struggling box office results.

The California economy in general is one of the weakest ones in the nation, and the Los Angeles economy specifically is one of the weakest in an already weak California. The loss of Hollywood production and business is really hurting things in and around LA.

As Hollywood Struggles, the Region’s Economy Feels the Pain

Film production has failed to bounce back after major strikes last year, and competition from other locales has gotten stiffer.

www.nytimes.com

Los Angeles' entertainment industry suffers continued losses over past three years, report says

The film and television industry in Los Angeles, widely heralded as the entertainment capital of the world, suffered substantial economic losses over the past three years, according to an industry report released Wednesday.

www.cbsnews.com

There are parts of LA that were once vibrant and successful owing to their proximity to the Hollywood money machine, but they are now slipping into decay and abandonment. Not all of that is due to Hollywood's financial straits, but is also due to years of catastrophic government policy at the state and local level on drug abuse, crime, homelessness, etc.

But large swaths of LA that were once "Tinsel Town!" now look more like an abandoned steel mill town in Ohio.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

So Disney just stops all production on all movies and tv shows they are doing when they adjust schedules? No of course they don't. And so when a production gets delayed those crews tied to it move onto the next project that is currently under production. New production spins up and old productions shutdown constantly. This is Hollywood, the town that never sleeps, where a movie or tv show is being shot all the time.

And since Disney just like the rest of Hollywood uses the trade unions these workers just move onto the next studio who has a production going if Disney has no work for them.

I’m sorry but this ignores reality, all the studios are in the same position, Disney cutting a movie from their schedule does not mean Universal adds one, Universal is unfortunately in the same position as Disney.

Worldwide Box Office peaked at $39 billion in 2019, it clawed its way back to $28 billion in 2023 and then fell to $25 billion last year, why the fall despite being far more profitable? Because fewer movies were released!

If they’re making fewer movies that means fewer people working on movies, this isn’t rocket science.

One of our beverage managers is a former actor from the LA area, he moved here because he could no longer find work as a background actor, there’s simply not enough work to go around anymore, that’s reality.

 

[Disney Irish]

The California economy in general is one of the weakest ones in the nation, and the Los Angeles economy specifically is one of the weakest in an already weak California. The loss of Hollywood production and business is really hurting things in and around LA.

Hollywood is suffering an economic slowdown with writing and production jobs far and few between

Today on AirTalk, we check-in on Hollywood and how it has found itself in an economic slowdown with few job openings. Also on the show, a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) looks at how retailers aren’t stocking shelves with sustainable products; we recap Governor Gavin...

laist.com

Los Angeles' entertainment industry suffers continued losses over past three years, report says

The film and television industry in Los Angeles, widely heralded as the entertainment capital of the world, suffered substantial economic losses over the past three years, according to an industry report released Wednesday.

www.cbsnews.com

There are parts of LA that were once vibrant and successful owing to their proximity to the Hollywood money machine, but they are now slipping into decay and abandonment. Not all of that is due to Hollywood's financial straits, but is also due to years of catastrophic government policy at the state and local level on drug abuse, crime, homelessness, etc.

But large swaths of LA that were once "Tinsel Town!" now look more like an abandoned steel mill town in Ohio.

So tell me how ANY of this has ANYTHING to do with Snow White, a movie filmed in the UK at Pinewood Studios using UK production crews, bombing? UK production crews that are currently working on 8 movies and 10 TV shows at Pinewood.

 

[TP2000]

If they’re making fewer movies that means fewer people working on movies, this isn’t rocket science.

One of our beverage managers is a former actor from the LA area, he moved here because he could no longer find work as a background actor, there’s simply not enough work to go around anymore, that’s reality.

I just checked the Bureau of Labor's statistics page. In January, 2025 California had the 2nd highest unemployment rate in the nation at 5.4%.

A few other states to compare to, like Florida with Disney World and Georgia with lower taxes and a burgeoning film industry, plus the state everyone loves to hate... Texas!

January, 2025 Unemployment Rate
49. California, 5.4%
32. Texas, 4.1%
19. Georgia 3.6%
17. Florida 3.5%

Also in January, the unemployment rate in Los Angeles County was 5.8%, higher than the state average. LA County has about 10 Million residents, or roughly the same population as the state of New Jersey or Michigan.

 

[Disney Irish]

I’m sorry but this ignores reality, all the studios are in the same position, Disney cutting a movie from their schedule does not mean Universal adds one, Universal is unfortunately in the same position as Disney.

Worldwide Box Office peaked at $39 billion in 2019, it clawed its way back to $28 billion in 2023 and then fell to $25 billion last year, why the fall despite being far more profitable? Because fewer movies were released!

If they’re making fewer movies that means fewer people working on movies, this isn’t rocket science.

One of our beverage managers is a former actor from the LA area, he moved here because he could no longer find work as a background actor, there’s simply not enough work to go around anymore, that’s reality.

I'll ask you the same question I asked of TP, so tell me how ANY of this has ANYTHING to do with Snow White, a movie filmed in the UK at Pinewood Studios using UK production crews, bombing? UK production crews that are currently working on 8 movies and 10 TV shows at Pinewood.

Also I'm sorry for your co-worker, but they are an actor, not the production crew that was being talked about.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I'll ask you the same question I asked of TP, so tell me how ANY of this has ANYTHING to do with Snow White, a movie filmed in the UK at Pinewood Studios using UK production crews, bombing? UK production crews that are currently working on 8 movies and 10 TV shows at Pinewood.

Also I'm sorry for your co-worker, but they are an actor, not the production crew that was being talked about.

Because it all comes from the same pool of money, Disney films all over the world, not just Pinewood, if they decide to start 1 less movie next year (because of losses this year) that decision could affect Pinewood, it could affect Georgia, or it could affect Hollywood, regardless of where it happens it harms workers. Whether blue collar workers lose a job in the good ol USA or Jolly old England is irrelevant, it’s real people losing real jobs.

I’d call a background actor as blue collar as you can get, he managed a bar as his full time job and worked background gigs as he could get them hoping for his big break, that’s Hollywood baby! He eventually decided he’d rather make a middle wage income in a cheap place than a middle income wage in one of the most expensive places in America, he misses the ocean and the weather but he said he doesn’t miss surviving paycheck to paycheck praying for work.

 

[Disney Irish]

Because it all comes from the same pool of money, Disney films all over the world, not just Pinewood, if they decide to start 1 less movie next year (because of losses this year) that decision could affect Pinewood, it could affect Georgia, or it could affect Hollywood, regardless of where it happens it harms workers. Whether blue collar workers lose a job in the good ol USA or Jolly old England is irrelevant, it’s real people losing real jobs.

I’d call a background actor as blue collar as you can get, he managed a bar as his full time job and worked background gigs as he could get them hoping for his big break, that’s Hollywood baby!

Except Pinewood is not exclusively used by Disney and they aren't using Disney exclusive production crews, that is the point. Its not the same pool of money. These production crews have already moved onto their next project on that studio lot likely for another Studio, as most I would imagine work directly for Pinewood not a specific Hollywood Studio. So they aren't at risk for being out of work just because Snow White bombs, again the WHOLE point.

And no offense to your co-worker, but they are an actor not a blue collar worker just because that is his day job. I'm sure he was doing it trying to get his SAG card, ie to get his big break just like you said. And that is the risk he takes trying to be an actor, ie living paycheck-to-paycheck, to make it big. He is not the same as someone working on the production crew who is the actual blue collar worker in this context.

 

[LittleBuford]

I just got out of seeing Snow White. I’ll leave a longer post about it in the spoiler thread, but some immediate thoughts about it in response to some of what’s been posted here.

Overall, I enjoyed it. Zegler was very good and Gadot, despite the criticisms that have been voiced of her acting, did a fine job overall. I thought the original songs were excellent. The film was at its strongest when it did its own thing; there was a certain tension between these more original aspects and those that hewed closer to the source material, I suspect because of all the revisions that the project went through.

The messaging of the film is really very traditional: tyranny is bad, and benevolent monarchy is good, a trope that has been repeated time and again in Disney films. We also have a proper baddie in the form of the Evil Queen and a classic love story between a pretty girl and a handsome young man (Jonathan made my heart flutter, too). Contrary to my expectations, female empowerment is not really present as a theme (Snow White’s gender is barely commented on).

It should be clear from what I’ve written so far that this is the furthest thing from how some have characterised it here. There is no propaganda, there is no communism. This is most definitely a family film in the classic mould—not necessarily the best thing in terms of quality, but “safe”, traditional entertainment that is very unlikely to raise any parental hackles. The only thing I found remotely questionable from a child-friendly perspective was the inclusion of the words “where the sun don’t shine” in one of the songs. But other than that, this is one of the most traditional films Disney has come out with in years. It’s ironic, then, that those most loudly denouncing it as woke propaganda are the very people who would most approve of it were they actually to see it.

I thought it was miles better than the Lion King remake and more enjoyable than Moana 2. Its dreadful box-office performance (I was the only person at the screening I attended) is not a fair indicator of its quality.

 

[Agent H]

I just got out of seeing Snow White. I’ll leave a longer post about it in the spoiler thread, but some immediate thoughts about it in response to some of what’s been posted here.

Overall, I enjoyed it. Zegler was very good and Gadot, despite the criticisms that have been voiced of her acting, did a fine job overall. I thought the original songs were excellent. The film was at its strongest when it did its own thing; there was a certain tension between these more original aspects and those that hewed closer to the source material, I suspect because of all the revisions that the project went through.

The messaging of the film is really very traditional: tyranny is bad, and benevolent monarchy is good, a trope that has been repeated time and again in Disney films. We also have a proper baddie in the form of the Evil Queen and a classic love story between a pretty girl and a handsome young man (Jonathan made my heart flutter, too). Contrary to my expectations, female empowerment is not really present as a theme (Snow White’s gender is barely commented on).

It should be clear from what I’ve written so far that this is the furthest thing from how some have characterised it here. There is no propaganda, there is no communism. This is most definitely a family film in the classic mould—not necessarily the best thing in terms of quality, but “safe”, traditional entertainment that is very unlikely to raise any parental hackles. The only thing I found remotely questionable from a children-friendly perspective was the inclusion of the words “where the sun don’t shine” in one of the songs. But other than that, this is one of the most traditional films Disney has come out with in years. It’s ironic, then, that those most loudly denouncing it as woke propaganda are the very people who would most approve of it were they actually to see it.

I thought it was miles better than the Lion King remake and more enjoyable than Moana 2. Its dreadful box-office performance (I was the only person at the screening I attended) is not a fair indicator of its quality.

All of this pretty much tracks with what I’ve inferred from the trailers. Perfectly fine movie. Seeing zelglers performance is the thing I’m looking forward to the most. I don’t like the way the cgi dwarfs look.

 

[LittleBuford]

All of this pretty much tracks with what I’ve inferred from the trailers. Perfectly fine movie. Seeing zelglers performance is the thing I’m looking forward to the most. I don’t like the way the cgi dwarfs look.

They weren’t quite as bad in the context of the film. I’ll have more to say about that in the other thread.

 

[TP2000]

I thought it was miles better than the Lion King remake and more enjoyable than Moana 2. Its dreadful box-office performance (I was the only person at the screening I attended) is not a fair indicator of its quality.

If it's actually a good movie, or even just passable, then that's a shame the controversies caused by Miss Zegler seemed to have doomed it over a year ago.

What do you think caused it to flop at the box office, with global audiences mostly staying away? A laundry list of mistakes and missteps beyond Miss Zegler; Peter Dinklage, CGI Dwarves, rewrites and delays, story straying from the original? Or was it mainly just the Zegler controversies (plural, don't forget)?

 

[LittleBuford]

I’ll also remind folks that Zegler’s comments were not fringe beliefs or support for terrorism. Agree or disagree, they were completely within the mainstream of contemporary discourse. In fact, many Disney employed celebrities made similar statements that passed largely without notice. Zegler’s comments exploded because she was already the object of a hate campaign.

It was, however, unwise of her to post such a sentiment in that particular thread. People were bound to understand it as problematic swipe at Gadot. I myself can’t help suspecting it was.

 

[Disney Irish]

Let me put this in terms more relatable to us average people, and more palatable because it vilifies the T man, if his tariffs and controversies cause a 5% drop in US tourism will that affect jobs?

You are arguing a 5% drop at Disney won’t matter because those CMs will simply go work at Uni, but that ignores the fact Uni will be experiencing the same drop and will also be cutting jobs themselves, they can’t go to Seaworld because Seaworld will be experienceing the same drop and cutting 5% themselves. So where do the 5% who lost jobs at Disney, the 5% who lost jobs at Uni, and the 5% who lost jobs at Seaworld go?

If it was only Disney struggling I’d agree with you… but it’s not just Disney, all the studios are in the same boat, as the industry continues to struggle the workers who missed out on a cut Disney project can’t simply go to another job if that job doesn’t exist.

Except that is being overly simplistic about a complex topic, and one I might add shouldn't be had here.

To bring this back to the conversation at hand, I get your point overall. Less theatrical movies = less work. However you gloss over the whole part where Hollywood and the whole movie industry is not going to stop productions just because one movie bombs and they may shift some theatrical movies around. They will still produce content for all mediums whether it be for theatrical, streaming, or linear TV and so those production crews still will get work.

Also the point that Platt's son was trying to make was refuted, because movies bomb all the time, its just the nature of the business. And so the production crews livelihood who worked on this movie is not tied to the success of this specific movie. You want to try and extrapolate that further and say it can cause a domino effect, fine. But he was specifically trying to use what Zegler said and it causing the movie to bomb as it directly affecting the thousands that worked on that production, which is not how productions work.

 

[TP2000]

If it was only Disney struggling I’d agree with you… but it’s not just Disney, all the studios are in the same boat, as the industry continues to struggle the workers who missed out on a cut Disney project can’t simply go to another job if that job doesn’t exist.

The story of LA's faltering economy didn't happen overnight either, it's been building since Covid with massive shutdown orders closing businesses that stretched well into 2021. The comparatively high unemployment rate in LA County is also causing huge budget shortfalls countywide and region-wide.

The city of LA currently has a $1 Billion budget deficit, after years and years of notoriously bad city management. The city of LA now wants a $2 Billion bailout from California in '25, except California currently has a $68 Billion budget deficit. Can you imagine?!

It would behoove every truck driver and hairdresser and audio tech and waitress in LA to have big studios like Disney making money off of their mega-budget blockbusters. But instead of making profits for future economic growth in SoCal, Snow White is now on track to vaporize around $200 Million in cash. Poof!

How Los Angeles' $1 billion budget deficit could impact Angelenos

Small and big changes are likely to come, impacting the lives of every day Angelenos.

www.nbclosangeles.com