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

[Disney Irish]

What I think is interesting is seeing seating reserved on the app but those seats are empty during the movie. Are people buying tickets and not showing up?

Though I’ve only seen that happen a couple times, I’ve always suspected it’s the theater holding a few seats back for walk-ups.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

OK, we saw it. We enjoyed it. Neither of us had seen the original, so we had no preconceived notions. We thought Lilo was adorable, and a good actress for her age. The cgi was quite good.

I had no idea Stitch’s backstory, etc.

Thought it might be a little funnier. Got choked up near the end. Definitely cared about the characters, which definitely doesn’t always happen. I’d see a sequel, and on the suggestion (insistence?) of @Tiggerish I’m going to watch the original (probably on my own.)

So, we liked it. It made me finally like Stitch after all these years. It wasn’t earth shattering, but did remind me of some fun 70’s-80’s movies “for kids” like Escape From Witch Mountain and the like.

The theater - we took our chances. It was about 2/3 full. Most of them were families with a bunch of kids. I knew that was a possibility going in.

I couldn’t believe: every single one of them all talked through the entire movie. They were half paying attention, walking around. Someone tried to shush them at one point, to no avail. I decided to draw on my “big brother brain” where you can block out the voices of little kids.

Why do people think this is acceptable? I can’t imagine going to the movies with my mother as a kid - and talking through the film. She would never allow that. It’s mind-boggling.

Side note: for whatever reason (glitch) the AMC app would not allow me to complete my purchase with points. Further, there was a convenience fee of about $4.50. Two tickets ended up costing $38 and change. That’s a lot just to see a movie. If we upgrade our Stubbs account to a higher level for $18, it would eliminate the fee. Should have done it. Was in a hurry, and was annoyed that our current membership level didn’t remove that fee anymore.

The film is definitely worth watching.

 

[BrianLo]

Which means, again just eyeballing it, Stitch only really needs to get ~$850M to erase any deficit so far during 2025. @BrianLo or someone can check the math to be sure, but I don't think its as much of a gargantuan task as you alluded to that requires a bunch of heavy lifting by Stitch.

Fast math would have Snow at a loss of 235 (Deadline said way less, but we'll see what they say next year), Cap 4 a 17.5 loss, Thunderbolts a loss of 47.5 so far and Stitch has made 20. I won't include the tail end of Moana 2 or Mufasa, because that just makes it already positive.

Your 850 figure checks out, considering Thunderbolts is still making money. Of course that Jan-March quarter was already fully covered up by last years releases. We already know that from the quarterlies.

 

[Disney Irish]

Fast math would have Snow at a loss of 235 (Deadline said way less, but we'll see what they say next year), Cap 4 a 17.5 loss, Thunderbolts a loss of 47.5 so far and Stitch has made 20. I won't include the tail end of Moana 2 or Mufasa, because that just makes it already positive.

Your 850 figure checks out, considering Thunderbolts is still making money. Of course that Jan-March quarter was already fully covered up by last years releases. We already know that from the quarterlies.

Thanks, I think it’s safe to say that Stitch will get to $850M fairly easy just based on opening strong. Rest of 2025 I think will be strong also, but we’ll see.

 

[Clyde Birdbrain]

What I think is interesting is seeing seating reserved on the app but those seats are empty during the movie. Are people buying tickets and not showing up?

Maybe they are last-minute cancellations or A-List people not showing up?

At AMC you can cancel up to until the movie starts.

I saw Lilo & Stitch at AMC Disney Springs on Saturday and all the seats around us on our row were empty until well into the previews. These people were not showing up until 15 minutes after the lights went out.

 

[Phroobar]

Maybe they are last-minute cancellations or A-List people not showing up?

At AMC you can cancel up to until the movie starts.

I saw Lilo & Stitch at AMC Disney Springs on Saturday and all the seats around us on our row were empty until well into the previews. These people were not showing up until 15 minutes after the lights went out.

That's the thing. I checked once the movie started and those seats were still reserved. It feels like up to 1/3 of the seats were empty.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I’m always on the oppo side of things

L&S made $183 domestically…that’s good…no matter our perceptions of presold seats

Marvel = bad
Snow White = embarrassing
Stitch = good

Not hard


I will say…those trailers for the next two look pretty awful

We’ll be back to normal soon

 

[Disney Irish]

I’m always on the oppo side of things

L&S made $183 domestically…that’s good…no matter our perceptions of presold seats

Marvel = bad
Snow White = embarrassing
Stitch = good

Not hard


I will say…those trailers for the next two look pretty awful

We’ll be back to normal soon

I think you're making a joke here, but what is normal in this context? As I've been hearing this idea that we're about to "return to normal" at the box office for the past 5 years in this forum, but its yet to happen in any meaningful way. We have spurts and glimpses of it, but it never actually materializes. So I question the metric used here to determine "normal". And if its in reference to a "Disney normal" or their lack of hitting it in 2025, I ask for what era because there have been many "Disney normal" decades over its 100 years of existence from "failure normal" to "ruling the box office normal".

Also just on a personal note, I hate when people describe things as "normal", because in reality there is no such thing. Normal is a construct of someones perception of what is pleasant.

 

[Disstevefan1]

I hate when people describe things as "normal", because in reality there is no such thing. Normal is a construct of someone's perception of what is pleasant.

 

[Disney Irish]

View attachment 861006

Except your "normal" is different than my "normal" is different than another persons "normal". Normalcy is a perception, one that changes from person to person. There can be an agreed upon "normal", but even that is based on perception and changes.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

I think you're making a joke here, but what is normal in this context? As I've been hearing this idea that we're about to "return to normal" at the box office for the past 5 years in this forum, but its yet to happen in any meaningful way. We have spurts and glimpses of it, but it never actually materializes. So I question the metric used here to determine "normal". And if its in reference to a "Disney normal" or their lack of hitting it in 2025, I ask for what era because there have been many "Disney normal" decades over its 100 years of existence from "failure normal" to "ruling the box office normal".

Also just on a personal note, I hate when people describe things as "normal", because in reality there is no such thing. Normal is a construct of someones perception of what is pleasant.

It will never be, because before Covid, $20-$25 for 2 tickets with a Stubbs membership is now almost $40.

It’s less of a spur of the moment, nominal cost thing to do, and now real money. (+$20 to share a popcorn & soda.)

 

[Disstevefan1]

Except your "normal" is different than my "normal" is different than another persons "normal". Normalcy is a perception, one that changes from person to person. There can be an agreed upon "normal", but even that is based on perception and changes.

Nope. I don't know what is normal either, I just Googled it and sent a screen shot.

I am not sure what normal is, but I am NOT normal.

 

[Disney Irish]

Nope. I don't know what is normal either, I just Googled it and sent a screen shot.

I am not sure what normal is, but I am NOT normal.

I don't think any of here are really "normal". lol

 

[BrianLo]

I think you're making a joke here, but what is normal in this context?

Not directed at me… but Normal for Disney in the tentpole environment the last 15 years is 2-3 big hits. 1-2 outright bombs and a lot of in between.

2023/2024 were on the abnormal end. Both because 2024 didn’t have a bomb and 2023 didn’t really have a huge success (GoTG3 and Elemental notwithstanding in unique ways) and had 4 bombs. 2019 was abnormal because there were so many massive hits, but even that year had a bomb.

In the context of this year - that means we probably will see 1-2 more big hits and maybe another bomb. If 3 big hits happen that would be “abnormally good”… and there are still 3 major contenders left.

 

[Disney Irish]

Not directed at me… but Normal for Disney in the tentpole environment the last 15 years is 2-3 big hits. 1-2 outright bombs and a lot of in between.

2023/2024 were on the abnormal end. Both because 2024 didn’t have a bomb and 2023 didn’t really have a huge success (GoTG3 and Elemental notwithstanding in unique ways) and had 4 bombs. 2019 was abnormal because there were so many massive hits, but even that year had a bomb.

In the context of this year - that means we probably will see 1-2 more big hits and maybe another bomb. If 3 big hits happen that would be “abnormally good”… and there are still 3 major contenders left.

Thanks, which is where I come back to "normal" is based on perception. As I suspect SirWalt's "normal" is based on 2019 type of results whereas we know that is the exception rather than the rule. And that "normal" has mostly been reset in this post-pandemic box office and is trying to still be found for this era of Disney.

 

[TP2000]

The movie wasn’t actually made by Disney, it was made by Rideback and distributed by Disney. Rideback also made the live action Aladdin.

Really??? I had no idea. I don't think anyone here mentioned it, at least not in this thread. I checked out Rideback Ranch, and they look like a fun little workshop on Beverly Blvd. where stuff gets done well, but obviously on a budget.

Rideback Ranch | Los Angeles

Founded by Dan Lin, Rideback Ranch supports and empowers visionary storytellers who share our passion for entertaining audiences across all genres and around the globe.

ridebackranch.com

Lilo & Stitch looks headed to an easy Billion at the box office, so the Rideback team must be thrilled and very proud this week. And I also imagine whichever exec over the hill on the Burbank campus gave them the contract to do Lilo & Stich instead of doing it in house must also be very happy.

The only losers in this money making scenario would seem to be the Disney employees on the Burbank lot who would have required $200 Million to make Lilo & Stitch but would have simultaneously mucked it up somehow to get bad PR (again) and then it only made $400 Million at the global box office. Rinse and repeat.

I can just imagine the death stares the Rideback kids are getting from the Disney kids at Silver Lake brunch tables now!

Paramount reportedly spent $500 million on production and marketing for Mission Impossible.

You're kidding?! I just checked and... yup, the production budget for that one was $400 Million.

How many sets of elevator shoes does Mr. Cruise need to make a movie?

Whatever that shoe lift budget is, that apparently really adds up for Paramount, in inches and dollars.

 

[easyrowrdw]

Though I’ve only seen that happen a couple times, I’ve always suspected it’s the theater holding a few seats back for walk-ups.

I wish that was the case at my theaters. I’ll see seats reserved when I walk up to buy my tickets and they are not made available nor does anyone ever arrive to sit in them. It happens regularly when I see a movie. It’s weird.

 

[TP2000]

Okay gang, here's the box office for Monday the 26th, which now gives us the final tally for the entirety of the Memorial Day Weekend from last Thursday's previews through the actual holiday.

Lilo & Stitch made $183 Million at the domestic box office this past weekend, which is more than Thunderbolts made in an entire month and over twice what Rachel Zegler's Snow White made in its entire theatrical run. Impressive! It must be nice for Burbank to be reminded that this is how you launch a big tentpole movie for America.

The Numbers - Daily Box Office Chart for Monday December 29, 2025

Daily Domestic Box Office Chart for Monday December 29, 2025

thenumbers.com

 

[Hawkeye_2018]

Snow White lost money, but hasn't it also done about as expected?

 

[Disney Irish]

Really??? I had no idea. I don't think anyone here mentioned it, at least not in this thread. I checked out Rideback Ranch, and they look like a fun little workshop on Beverly Blvd. where stuff gets done well, but obviously on a budget.

Rideback Ranch | Los Angeles

Founded by Dan Lin, Rideback Ranch supports and empowers visionary storytellers who share our passion for entertaining audiences across all genres and around the globe.

ridebackranch.com

Lilo & Stitch looks headed to an easy Billion at the box office, so the Rideback team must be thrilled and very proud this week. And I also imagine whichever exec over the hill on the Burbank campus gave them the contract to do Lilo & Stich instead of doing it in house must also be very happy.

The only losers in this money making scenario would seem to be the Disney employees on the Burbank lot who would have required $200 Million to make Lilo & Stitch but would have simultaneously mucked it up somehow to get bad PR (again) and then it only made $400 Million at the global box office. Rinse and repeat.

I can just imagine the death stares the Rideback kids are getting from the Disney kids at Silver Lake brunch tables now!

Disney contracts out a lot of things and have for many many decades, so I don't think it really matters in the end where the work was actually done. And I don't anyone is giving "death stares" to anyone let alone at some fictitious bunch that you continually think happens with folks at Disney.

Also as I mentioned in a follow-up comment, I think its actually a co-production between the two studios not specifically only a Rideback production. So in the end Disney still gets the money.

You're kidding?! I just checked and... yup, the production budget for that one was $400 Million.

How many sets of elevator shoes does Mr. Cruise need to make a movie?

Whatever that shoe lift budget is, that apparently really adds up for Paramount, in inches and dollars.

One of the many reasons why the studio was bought by Skydance last year. They have been just basically held up by Cruise and Transformers for the last decade, but the bubble finally burst and they needed to be bought.

Disney is basically the last of the Hollywood golden era studios left intact as an independent.