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

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Any good writer writes what they know…. I which is putting at least a little of themselves into the work of art… it is human nature… something gives them inspiration

….Gunn’s comments may be having an opposite reaction…. Could have been a smart marketing move… feels like Superman is all anybody is talking about.,. I think the film will earn more because of it…. Its previews are being reported at 21 million minimum….best of the year and it is not even close

I just think the environment calls for caution. Hollywood is fueling “pig thought” unintentionally and pig is winning. And that’s not good

 

[DKampy]

“Superman is an immigrant” feels like a very forced way to co-opt a very popular character or franchise to a very modern sensibility. Sort of like this:

View attachment 870184

That statement is greatly undercut with how Superman’s origin is at least hinted/suggested in the movie (I watched it last night), since [spoiler territory - and I can’t figure out how to do a spoiler tag]

Superman being an immigrant is not new…it has been there from the beginning…. What is new is that we can’t discuss how important immigration was to the USA without ruffling feathers

Sorry you’re upset that sometimes a woman is a lead character in Star Wars….You know what is next on deck for Lucasfilm…. Movies with Pedro Pascal and Ryan Gossling in the lead

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Good god…he’s an alien from another planet…who grew up in Kansas.

His parents didn’t seek diplomatic asylum from the Sandinistas in Nicaragua.

Where’s melmac again? Between Alberta and Saskatchewan??

This is such a reach and why this continues to be the least common sense oriented thread…maybe ever?

 

[erasure fan1]

plus probably many more, including cost of going to the theater,

100%. And that directly ties into what I've been saying about all of this. Your previous films quality, the quality of the art, marketing... are going to factor in. That's where the benefit of the doubt comes in to play. So I just think a lot of the issues can funnel back to this last 10yr or so batch of films. That doesn't mean a new ip can't be successful or, PIXARS DEAD!!! It just means they're going to have to take some lumps and focus on the quality. And that might seem like a cop out, but on all aspects they need better quality because it's a bit inconsistent.

 

[Disney Irish]

We’re going back to this because they’re bombing movies like they’re parked in Pearl harbor and it is having an impact on the social structure Beyond entertainment…not good. Like real world stuff

Except in this case, we're talking about DC/WB not Disney.

 

[Disney Irish]

Good god…he’s an alien from another planet…who grew up in Kansas.

His parents didn’t seek diplomatic asylum from the Sandinistas in Nicaragua.

Where’s melmac again? Between Alberta and Saskatchewan??

This is such a reach and why this continues to be the least common sense oriented thread…maybe ever?

Good god, since when did immigration mean someone's parents officially seeking asylum? Also Superman (ALF too for that matter) is literally having to be thrust away from his planet due to it being destroyed. If that isn't a cause for one to seek asylum (legally or illegally) then I don't know what is, as that is one of the very definitions.

 

[Disney Irish]

100%. And that directly ties into what I've been saying about all of this. Your previous films quality, the quality of the art, marketing... are going to factor in. That's where the benefit of the doubt comes in to play. So I just think a lot of the issues can funnel back to this last 10yr or so batch of films. That doesn't mean a new ip can't be successful or, PIXARS DEAD!!! It just means they're going to have to take some lumps and focus on the quality. And that might seem like a cop out, but on all aspects they need better quality because it's a bit inconsistent.

Sure I see your point, and even agree with it a bit. I just don't like to try to boil this down to "if they focus on quality all will be overcome" type of sentiment. As there are many factors that are beyond their control, many of which have been talked about for the last few years. Sure quality can win the day, but even a quality product doesn't guarantee success.

Maybe in the end this will all become just a footnote in the larger scheme of things. We'll have to wait and see how their next several films do.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

100%. And that directly ties into what I've been saying about all of this. Your previous films quality, the quality of the art, marketing... are going to factor in. That's where the benefit of the doubt comes in to play. So I just think a lot of the issues can funnel back to this last 10yr or so batch of films. That doesn't mean a new ip can't be successful or, PIXARS DEAD!!! It just means they're going to have to take some lumps and focus on the quality. And that might seem like a cop out, but on all aspects they need better quality because it's a bit inconsistent.

People will still go to movies that “resonate”…sometimes that’s familiarity with the ip…sometimes it’s quality

What they don’t seem to want to do is just go to the movies to do it. As in anything without some sizzle is tanking.

So we probably are all in agreement on what needs to be done…it’s just it’s a 50/50 split to make the 100%

 

[Tha Realest]

Superman being an immigrant is not new…it has been there from the beginning…. What is new is that we can’t discuss how important immigration was to the USA without ruffling feathers

Sorry you’re upset that sometimes a woman is a lead character in Star Wars….You know what is next on deck for Lucasfilm…. Movies with Pedro Pascal and Ryan Gossling in the lead

Immigrant takes on a decidedly different context in the summer of 2025 than it has in the past. I’ve posted earlier how this conventional definition is being twisted by some to somehow relate it to modern times. I suggest you go watch the film as Jor-El’s possible motivations for sending Kal-El to Earth affects that view - it’s a central plot point to the film. Go watch the movie. And this motivation is not a new take on the origin story.

I’m not upset by female leads in Star Wars films. I’ve stated I enjoyed Ridley’s take. But this movement was a really silly attempt to retcon a franchise which until the sequel trilogy only had a few Force sensitive female characters.

 

[Tha Realest]

Good god, since when did immigration mean someone's parents officially seeking asylum? Also Superman (ALF too for that matter) is literally having to be thrust away from his planet due to it being destroyed. If that isn't a cause for one to seek asylum (legally or illegally) then I don't know what is, as that is one of the very definitions.

Please watch the movie first before you keep opining. You often critique others for doing what you’re doing now (taking very opinionated stands without seeing the film). It’s spoiler territory to go into Jor-El’s motivations.

 

[Dranth]

Good god…he’s an alien from another planet…who grew up in Kansas.

His parents didn’t seek diplomatic asylum from the Sandinistas in Nicaragua.

Where’s melmac again? Between Alberta and Saskatchewan??

This is such a reach and why this continues to be the least common sense oriented thread…maybe ever?

An illegal alien with parents who lied on forms and to US officials so his status can be revoked. Off to alligator Alcatraz for you Superman!

 

[Disney Irish]

Please watch the movie first before you keep opining. You often critique others for doing what you’re doing now (taking very opinionated stands without seeing the film). It’s spoiler territory to go into Jor-El’s motivations.

I've seen the movie. And that still doesn't change my opinion. As the motivations of the father doesn't change the outcome of whether Superman/Clark is an immigrant or not. Nor does it change Superman/Clark's motivations for being here, as pointed out in the movie.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

An illegal alien with parents who lied on forms and to US officials so his status can be revoked. Off to alligator Alcatraz for you Superman!

I’m going to see it this weekend…so don’t spoil it for me…

But if there is a scene where he goes all van damme on a bunch of these J6 militia clowns raiding Walmart with home made armor and masks…I’m sorry…”deputized federal agents” …I’ll be a hootin and hollerin

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Are people still digging their heads in the sand over the fact that comics sometimes have a subtext to their storytelling, including alluding to issues like immigration?

I can't wait for the next X-Men movie so we can hear how they're just mutants and aren't about civil rights in any way shape or form.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Earth is for Humans!!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Are people still digging their heads in the sand over the fact that comics sometimes have a subtext to their storytelling, including alluding to issues like immigration?

I can't wait for the next X-Men movie so we can hear how they're just mutants and aren't about civil rights in any way shape or form.

I think there’s tons of social context to almost all comics on certain levels…just not the extent we need to “mine” every comic book flick for slights and grievances

Xmen is absolutely a political commentary…as it was meant to be. x1 I believe was 1967? What was the context there?

But supe? Nah…reaching here. It’s a waste of effort and Gunn needs to stick to the mainline this time.

If we need to beat out selves up for no reason…let’s all go over to the new parade thread? Where idiocy is welcome and encouraged

 

[AdventureHasAName]

For what it's worth, I saw Superman and enjoyed it. In the same way I view the Tim Burton Batman movies as Elseworld films ... as opposed to a *main* cinematic shared comic universe ... I'd put this Superman movie in the same category. This is a Giffen/DeMatteis Superman movie. I liked it; but I think it's foolish to try and build a DC cinematic universe around this style of filmmaking.

The things I hated are straight-up James Gunn decisions ... not showing Superman's origin, not explaining who Lex Luthor is, only one scene of Clark Kent, making Jor-el evil, the concept of a harem, the use of profanity, Guy's haircut, Nathan Fillion as Guy. Ultimately, this is exactly why Gunn was a bad choice to run Warner Brother's entire DC operation.

That said, there were things I loved ... the Hall of Justice, the Green Lantern constructs, Krypto (who I assumed was going to be terrible), the Kent parents, the Daily Planet employees, the cameo at the end of the film.

Based on Gunn (and his brother's comments), I assumed the film was going to be a woke mess and it wasn't. The political messaging was very subtle (although stupid ... the harem bit) and will fly faster than a speeding bullet past 99% of the viewing public. And that just makes the Gunn brothers' comments even more incredibly stupid and irresponsible. It was them simply trying to poke conservative Americans in the eye at the potential expense of the film's success (and frankly, the cinematic universe's success). Just inexcusable from a business perspective.

 

[easyrowrdw]

I just don’t think the brand makes the movies “must see” as it once did. Very same boat as the MCU.

I think most…if not all of us as adults would go in the first couple of weeks to see the new Pixar each year…as a matter of habit
Is that the case now?

100%. And that directly ties into what I've been saying about all of this. Your previous films quality, the quality of the art, marketing... are going to factor in. That's where the benefit of the doubt comes in to play. So I just think a lot of the issues can funnel back to this last 10yr or so batch of films. That doesn't mean a new ip can't be successful or, PIXARS DEAD!!! It just means they're going to have to take some lumps and focus on the quality. And that might seem like a cop out, but on all aspects they need better quality because it's a bit inconsistent.

This describes me. After 10 years of IMO mostly mediocre original movies, Pixar doesn't have the pull it once did for me. Coupled with trailers that didn't look appealing, I didn't have much interest in Elio. I only saw it because of the positive word-of-mouth (and the kids wanted to lol). But it's still just one positive after a string of meh so we'll see what happens next year.

 

[Tha Realest]

I've seen the movie. And that still doesn't change my opinion. As the motivations of the father doesn't change the outcome of whether Superman/Clark is an immigrant or not. Nor does it change Superman/Clark's motivations for being here, as pointed out in the movie.

But conflating the purpose and intent of Kal-El being sent to Earth with the modern commentary around immigrants/immigration is dishonest. “Superman is an immigrant.” Great, so we’re Nikola Tesla, Sacco and Vanzetti, Bob Hope, and the 9/11 hijackers. Asserting it so broadly renders it meaningless, and then trying to shoehorn it into the contemporary immigration debate also feels silly (and foolish, as @AdventureHasAName points out). It’s probably the most charged contemporary political / social issue now, and very divisive, and has swayed elections.

 

[Disney Irish]

But conflating the purpose and intent of Kal-El being sent to Earth with the modern commentary around immigrants/immigration is dishonest. “Superman is an immigrant.” Great, so we’re Nikola Tesla, Sacco and Vanzetti, Bob Hope, and the 9/11 hijackers. Asserting it so broadly renders it meaningless, and then trying to shoehorn it into the contemporary immigration debate also feels silly (and foolish, as @AdventureHasAName points out). It’s probably the most charged contemporary political / social issue now, and very divisive, and has swayed elections.

Taking away for a second that I have seen the film, I think the message here has been co-oped by certain parties (not here) to spread a bunch of misinformation about the character. Gunn's comments for whatever they are worth is not inaccurate no matter the context of the story being told in this particular film. Again the motivations for Jor-El sending Kal-El to Earth in this movie are irrelevant to the main point, which is that Superman is and will forever be an immigrant. Also as the saying goes, the sins of the father are not the sins of the son, which actually IS relevant to this movie. But him being an immigrant has been part of the core of the character since the beginning, and has been used in many Superman stories lines before this movie. Heck Lex's main gripe for as long as I can remember about Superman is that he is not "of this planet", if that is not an allegory about immigration I don't know what is. And the fact that some want to make that a politically charged situation within the context of today's politics says more about them than the origins of the character, this movie, or even Gunn's comments.