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

[Ghost93]

I don’t mean that. I just feel it highlighted how unyielding the discussion in this forum can get. People cling to positions here as if their lives depended on it. (I know I’m guilty of it, too.) Somehow, the fact that we were arguing over such an inconsequential thing only highlighted how depressingly inflexible and unresponsive our conversations often end up being.

IDK, I totally think the (apparently controversial) topic of whether or not Scar and Mufasa are biologically related is completely relevant to a box office discussion.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

If I understand you correctly, you’re saying that the logical conclusion a typical viewer would reach when watching The Lion King is that Mufasa and Scar aren’t brothers by blood. If that is indeed what you’re saying, I disagree completely, but I’m not sure there’s much to be gained by continuing this.

That’s not what I said at all.

I said the logical assumption as a viewer would be that they are brothers. However, it is still just that: an assumption.

An extreme example of that would be the movie the sixth sense. It is logical to assume throughout the movie that Bruce Willis is alive. That doesn’t mean it is correct. It is a device used to trick the viewer to believe something for a time, or for a whole film.

Now, do I think that’s what was at play here? No, but it’s a credible idea.

I think what was at play here was that the original filmmaker had an idea that wasn’t used, but also wasn’t specifically excluded by the finished product. It is not uncommon at all to revisit such things in future remakes, prequels, or sequels. I see this much like the way fans of Walt Disney would like to use his old ideas that were scrapped for what was deemed a better route at the time.

I’m sure we could find things between wicked and the Wizard of Oz that don’t quite line up perfectly.

I don’t think any of this is very important.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

After 62 days of release Captain America 4 finally hit $200 million domestically

It had a $100 million 4-day holiday opening weekend back in February

 

[LittleBuford]

I said the logical assumption as a viewer would be that they are brothers. However, it is still just that: an assumption.

When there are multiple references in the script to their fraternal relationship, that they are brothers is much more than just an assumption.

I’m sure we could find things between wicked and the Wizard of Oz that don’t quite line up perfectly.

I don’t think any of this is very important.

I adore Wicked, and it lines up very cleverly with The Wizard of Oz, but there is absolutely nothing in the latter that would lead any viewer to think that the Wicked Witch is actually good. Wicked is a very successful exercise in deliberate subversion of the established narrative, of the type Disney itself tried with Maleficent and Cruella. Mufasa felt a bit different—more like an earnest prequel with a heavy dose of retconning rather than a subversive retelling. It was fine.

In any case—and as I said from the outset anyway—I agree that none of this is especially important.

 

[Chi84]

Then for the love of God please stop

 

[LittleBuford]

Then for the love of God please stop

With respect, you yourself have got into protracted exchanges over certain off-topic matters, including only the other day.

And if you have something to say to me, I’d prefer you quote me directly rather than passive-aggressively call for me to be quiet.

 

[Disney Irish]

Then for the love of God please stop

We got nothing else to talk about right now, why not this? And its still technically relevant (even if in a only tangential way) to the box office of Mufasa.

 

[DKampy]

We got nothing else to talk about right now, why not this? And its still technically relevant (even if in an only tangential way) to the box office of Mufasa.

Give TP time…. I am sure he will update us on how much money Snow White is losing…

I will say I know someone who grew up in the foster system…. And has several brothers and sisters through that…. The way she talks about them… it is as if they are blood related…. In fact I thought they were at first…. It took me a bit to realize they were foster brothers and Sisters…. It’s not hard to imagine adopted brothers would grow up as though they are closely related

Anyway such issues don’t bother me…as I take each individual movie on it’s own terms

 

[erasure fan1]

Then for the love of God please stop

Why? If you don't want to partake in the conversation just don't pay attention to it. The whole point of this forum is to discuss ALL things Disney. These movie threads would die awfully fast if we didn't talk about all these things. I say bring it all on. And if I don't care for a topic, I check back until there's something I want to engage with. That seems pretty reasonable in my eyes.

 

[Agent H]

Here’s my two cents. The live-action lion king and Mufasa are set in an universe parallel to the animated movie. As such what’s canon to Mufasa is not necessarily canon to the original animated movie.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

During any discussions very few opinions actually change. So I'm not sure what the expectation here is other than to just accept that posters are going to stick to their opinions.

Also all discussion on this site is inconsequential discussion not just this latest exchange.

True but I think there is a lot of good in hearing other viewpoints even if opinions don’t ultimately change, I’m as stubborn and unlikely to change my mind as anyone but I’ve learned a lot over the years from talking with those I disagree with, I wish more people did it, maybe we’d (people in general) be less divided if we understood each others views better.

 

[Agent H]

Why? If you don't want to partake in the conversation just don't pay attention to it. The whole point of this forum is to discuss ALL things Disney. These movie threads would die awfully fast if we didn't talk about all these things. I say bring it all on. And if I don't care for a topic, I check back until there's something I want to engage with. That seems pretty reasonable in my eyes.

Yeah. When people wanna talk about the Oscars non stop that’s when I see my cue to leave.

 

[Chi84]

True but I think there is a lot of good in hearing other viewpoints even if opinions don’t ultimately change, I’m as stubborn and unlikely to change my mind as anyone but I’ve learned a lot over the years from talking with those I disagree with, I wish more people did it, maybe we’d (people in general) be less divided if we understood each others views better.

We’re talking about whether two Disney animated lions are actually related by blood.

I don’t think any greater world understanding is going to be achieved, but others are right. I don’t really care so I won’t participate.

 

[erasure fan1]

Yeah. When people wanna talk about the Oscars non stop that’s when I see my cue to leave.

That would be the proper thing to do. Not get bent out of shape because people aren't talking about what you want. I'm out when the art house films are talked about.

 

[LittleBuford]

Give TP time…. I am sure he will update us on how much money Snow White is losing…

I will say I know someone who grew up in the foster system…. And has several brothers and sisters through that…. The way she talks about them… it is as if they are blood related…. In fact I thought they were at first…. It took me a bit to realize they were foster brothers and Sisters…. It’s not hard to imagine adopted brothers would grow up as though they are closely related

Anyway such issues don’t bother me…as I take each individual movie on it’s own terms

Because I do not want to be misunderstood as implying that adoptive or foster sibling relationships are somehow less valid than biological ones, let me state for the very last time that whether Scar and Mufasa are related by blood had nothing to do with the second point I was making. I offered about three clarifications to this effect, yet somehow people are still implying that I was saying something I wasn't.

 

[LittleBuford]

Why? If you don't want to partake in the conversation just don't pay attention to it. The whole point of this forum is to discuss ALL things Disney. These movie threads would die awfully fast if we didn't talk about all these things. I say bring it all on. And if I don't care for a topic, I check back until there's something I want to engage with. That seems pretty reasonable in my eyes.

I agree it's off-topic, but all of us who contribute to this thread are guilty of straying into tangents from time to time. Some of those tangents are more interesting me than others; those I find boring I just skip, as you advise.

 

[Agent H]

That would be the proper thing to do. Not get bent out of shape because people aren't talking about what you want. I'm out when the art house films are talked about.

Honestly same. I don’t watch art house movies. Only difference is convos about art house films don’t last for pages and pages.

 

[DKampy]

Because I do not want to be misunderstood as implying that adoptive or foster sibling relationships are somehow less valid than biological ones, let me state for the very last time that whether Scar and Mufasa are related by blood had nothing to do with the second point I was making. I offered about three clarifications to this effect, yet somehow people are still implying that I was saying something I wasn't.

Not implying anything…. Just giving my own thoughts..and why it does not bother me in the least…. It is why I did not quote you

 

[Disney Irish]

Overheard…

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BTW, I don't know why this wasn't bigger news and discussed more. People complain about sequels, reboots, prequels, and all the rest but then don't show up when originals actually come out.

 

[WoundedDreamer]

BTW, I don't know why this wasn't bigger news and discussed more. People complain about sequels, reboots, prequels, and all the rest but then don't show up when originals actually come out.

The explanation that jumps out at me is that audiences might have adapted to the drought of original content. Instead of waiting for innovative movies to arrive, audiences found a new source. We now have tons of original content arriving on streaming services to satisfy our needs. Apple, Netflix, Disney/Hulu, Amazon, Peacock, and Paramount have made big bets on streaming content that rivals the quality of cinema. There's ample evidence that their investment has paid off.

The only thing that will pry audiences off of Netflix and into theaters are legitimate cultural events. That's not because audiences lack sophistication or they have short attention spans. Young people will binge watch entire seasons of complex and interconnected television. Instead, the explanation might be as simple as evolving tastes and expectations.

It's a challenging box office environment. More IP does seem to be the answer to fill up theaters. Marvel needs its first big none Deadpool win since GotG 3. The Fantastic Four seems like the film to restart the engine. It's got a cool aesthetic and an interesting retro setting. If not that film, then they have the trump card with Doomsday. That will be drawing from both a well of RDJ nostalgia and a well of X Men nostalgia. There's almost no way that it doesn't gross Deadpool 3 numbers at least. They are going to have to do what they didn't do in Endgame—provide closure while tantalizing people for what comes next. Star Wars also has an opportunity with the Mando film, but it does feel like that franchise lacks a clear strategy. Hopefully its future will come into focus.