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

[brideck]

I agree it’s not as lighthearted as the first film—I too was crying quite a bit. Regardless of whether the general public will want to see it more than once, I’m already planning my next trip to the cinema.

Sometimes, heartbreak feels good in a place like this.

I love all four of the films you mentioned. Return to Oz is an underrated gem!

My spouse and I both love it as well. Our local single-screen variety theater just showed Return to Oz a couple of weeks ago. The marquee said something like "Just a normal kids movie" above the title -- had us both laughing. Alas, we couldn't make it out to that showing.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

I went to AMC screen unseen on Monday. Boy, was that a doozy. I think it was called SISU, and apparently it was part two of some kind of grandpa Rambo nonsense lol. I don’t even watch regular Rambo movies, but this was senior on senior crime lol. Not to mention completely unbelievable. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

Re: Avatar: I didn’t even notice it was out. I have not been seeing many ads.

I have, however, been seeing tons of ads for wicked. It is the only movie I am anticipating. I would like to rewatch the first one first, but I don’t think I could sit in the theater for both at once. Of course, I could watch the first one at home, but I’d rather see it in the theater. We shall see what we shall see!

 

[BlindChow]

My theater is doing a double feature of Wicked and Wicked for Good on Thursday. It starts at 11am and goes for five and quarter hours. The $5 movie tomorrow is the original Wizard of Oz.

Too bad Disney doesn't re-release Return of OZ.
Or maybe that is a good thing.

Won't somebody think of Oz the Great and Powerful??

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Won't somebody think of Oz the Great and Powerful??

When Wicked: Part One was released last year, they put a link to that movie in the top rotating banner on Disney+

As if to say "we have Oz at home"

 

[Phroobar]

Won't somebody think of Oz the Great and Powerful??

Universal really needs to make the other books in the series.

Notice I said Universal and not Disney. They would just screw it up.

I've seen a lot of Wicked ads on the street and tv commercials. None for Avatar and a random one for Now You See Me. If I didn't go to the movies, I would have no clue there was an Avatar movie.

 

[coffeefan]

 

[TalkingHead]

So vague as to be practically meaningless.

 

[BlindChow]

Universal really needs to make the other books in the [Oz] series.

Unfortunately, Disney owns the rights to the all but the 1st book (still owned by Warner Bros.).

Maybe they can trade those to Universal for the east coast Marvel theme park rights...

 

[coffeefan]

 

[Miss Rori]

Unfortunately, Disney owns the rights to the all but the 1st book (still owned by Warner Bros.).

Maybe they can trade those to Universal for the east coast Marvel theme park rights...

That's no longer an issue; the original Baum Oz novels (and some of the post-Baum books) have been public domain for quite a while now. The problem is that adaptations always run up against the fact that the version most people are familiar with is the 1939 film; unless they're distinctly revisionist takes like Wicked (and often not even then) it's hard to get out of the shadow. There's a startling number of low-rent Oz-inspired movies and shows out there, if one cares to look.

 

[TP2000]

There's a startling number of low-rent Oz-inspired movies and shows out there, if one cares to look.

As a lifelong devoted fan of Miss Ross, there's only one other movie based on the Oz tale, and that's The Wiz.

 

[Nevermore525]

What Even Is a ‘Box Office Flop’ Anymore?

Numerous movies have struggled at the box office of late, but not all should be so easily considered financial failures.

www.indiewire.com

 

[MisterPenguin]

This is great. Maybe Universal can use this IP for a land themed around Greek mythos!!

 

[DKampy]

This is great. Maybe Universal can use this IP for a land themed around Greek mythos!!

Then maybe they could string up a banner at the entrance “Worlds best themed land”

 

[Tony the Tigger]

What Even Is a ‘Box Office Flop’ Anymore?

Numerous movies have struggled at the box office of late, but not all should be so easily considered financial failures.

www.indiewire.com

Perfect for this board!

 

[BrianLo]

Yes, and with that come the expenses associated with that. It’s the harsh truth and why streaming for companies like Disney have not duplicated the wild success of Netflix. Which has OI on par with the entirety of the Walt Disney Company, while still just remaining mostly a streaming company.

Drat, I missed the streaming discussion!

Disney DTC is now on par with Netflix circa 2019 on most performance measures. So, I mean they kind of did duplicate it despite never having those aspirations at time of launch?

As per if they’d make more without a streaming model, the answer would currently be no. In house streaming typically mimics external licensing for the sake of talent participation and residuals. Without streaming Disney would be down 24+ billion in revenue and 1.3+ billion in operating income. It’s moot, going it alone is already where you said it couldn’t be about 24 months ago.

Even if they have difficulty from this point further staying 5-6 years in lockstep with Netflix, it’s still on a continuous upward trajectory with Netflix still not having found the consumer ceiling.

 

[Figments Friend]

I saw Wicked: For Good yesterday. Those of you planning to see it are in for a treat. It is every bit as good (!) as Part 1 and deserves to make oodles of money.

Seeing it twice in one day on Sunday, at two special events being held locally.
Didn’t plan to see it twice in one day, but it just worked out that way.

First showing I will be with a friend who is a Glinda lookalike in full authentic costume.
Second showing with my workgroup, shenanigans are a given.

Looking forward to it.
Really enjoyed the first film.

-

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Strapped in for wicked in 5 minutes…expecting good things…I think?

 

[TP2000]

Thursday box office previews are in, and Wicked: For Good did big preview numbers last night.

Predator: Badlands looks like it's about to drop into 4th place for its 3rd weekend in theaters.
Also, something called SISU: Road to Revenge from Sony has arrived, to little notice.
And Tron: Ares is now down in 17th place, and just trying to find the change left in the seats at this point, so I think after this weekend we can wrap up its box office data and put it into the history books.

Do you think we'll see a day in the not too distant future where ALL movies will have a colon : in their title? I'd love to see it!

The Numbers - Daily Box Office Chart for Thursday November 20, 2025

Daily Domestic Box Office Chart for Thursday November 20, 2025

www.the-numbers.com

 

[BrianLo]

Potentially on track to be Universal’s second biggest opening weekend of all time. Albeit that still puts it at all time spot 31+/-. Speaks to how much Disney then Warner dominate the big blockbuster list and why Warner is a big prize.

I’m a bit concerned what kind of corner this backs this movie into in a franchising world.