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

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Considering the hype and positive word of mouth from both critics and audiences, a 66% drop is awful.

That’s what is said everytime they post a flub.

Critics aren’t an effective predictor of success any more…

And audience scores can be…but it doesn’t cancel out if there’s another issue(s) going on that are bigger.

Seems pretty clear there are bigger issues going on

 

[Disney Irish]

That’s what is said everytime they post a flub.

Critics aren’t an effective predictor of success any more…

And audience scores can be…but it doesn’t cancel out if there’s another issue(s) going on that are bigger.

Seems pretty clear there are bigger issues going on

And those bigger issues aren't what I suspect you believe they are.

I know you hate it when I say it, but this is really indicative of the larger box office trend that has been happening all year.

When you have Bad Guys 2 in what was the "untouchable" non-Disney family space looking at opening just under its predecessor from 3 years ago (which was hamstrung by the still raw theatrical space post-pandemic so the sequel should be opening better) at just $23M you know things are bad at the box office. Same with Naked Gun which should have been a slam dunk, opening at what looks to be $16.5M, since people claim they want that type of humor out of Hollywood again. Both movies by the way got excellent audience scores, A and A- respectively.

So yeah there is a bigger issue going on, but I don't think its with the MCU here or at least that isn't the main issue. Its the larger issues with the box office as a whole, and to a minor extent I believe now the economy.

 

[Tha Realest]

And those bigger issues aren't what I suspect you believe they are.

I know you hate it when I say it, but this is really indicative of the larger box office trend that has been happening all year.

When you have Bad Guys 2 in what was the "untouchable" non-Disney family space looking at opening just under its predecessor from 3 years ago (which was hamstrung by the still raw theatrical space post-pandemic so the sequel should be opening better) at just $23M you know things are bad at the box office. Same with Naked Gun which should have been a slam dunk, opening at what looks to be $16.5M, since people claim they want that type of humor out of Hollywood again. Both movies by the way got excellent audience scores, A and A- respectively.

So yeah there is a bigger issue going on, but I don't think its with the MCU here or at least that isn't the main issue. Its the larger issues with the box office as a whole, and to a minor extent I believe now the economy.

Naked Gun, a slam dunk? An adult comedy with a new cast trying to revive a moribund franchise where the last film made a little over $100M over 30 years ago? A slam dunk? Who said that? You’re stretching more than Mr. Fantastic.

 

[Disney Irish]

Naked Gun, a slam dunk? An adult comedy with a new cast trying to revive a moribund franchise where the last film made a little over $100M over 30 years ago? A slam dunk? Who said that? You’re stretching more than Mr. Fantastic.

Yes, the type of comedy that many claim Hollywood doesn't know how to make anymore, the parody comedy. Because many claim that Hollywood is too serious and too "PC" to make it, so yeah it should have been a slam dunk.

Basically if a movie like that can't make money in this (and I hate to use this term) "anti-woke" world we live right now then you know there is a larger issue going on at the box office as a whole.

Liam Neeson Could Be Firing Blanks at the Box Office This Weekend With Worrying 'Naked Gun' Update

'The Naked Gun' has received some incredibly positive reviews, but even Liam Neeson's skills might not be enough to save him.

movieweb.com

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Naked Gun, a slam dunk? An adult comedy with a new cast trying to revive a moribund franchise where the last film made a little over $100M over 30 years ago? A slam dunk? Who said that? You’re stretching more than Mr. Fantastic.

…I hear it’s pretty good…don’t know how that translates to money…but a nice diversion.

 

[Serpico Jones]

Theatrical seems to mainly appeal to middle aged men. The way that content is distributed by Hollywood needs to change.

 

[Disney Irish]

Theatrical seems to mainly appeal to middle aged men. The way that content is distributed by Hollywood needs to change.

Do you have any data to back this up? As I think I read it’s actually 18-29 age bracket (split 45/55 women to men so almost even) that go to the movies the most.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Theatrical seems to mainly appeal to middle aged men.

Don’t talk about me like I’m not here.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Theatrical seems to mainly appeal to middle aged men. The way that content is distributed by Hollywood needs to change.

…like…how?

 

[CoastalElite64]

Superhero fatigue is a factor, streaming is a factor, and so is the bad economy.
Families still go to the movies, but not as often as before, because discretionary spending is down.

 

[Disney Irish]

Superhero fatigue is a factor, streaming is a factor, and so is the bad economy.
Families still go to the movies, but not as often as before, because discretionary spending is down.

I think there are a lot of factors not just one that some like to point to as "the" reason.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Superhero fatigue is a factor, streaming is a factor, and so is the bad economy.
Families still go to the movies, but not as often as before, because discretionary spending is down.

And MCU has been mismanaged for 5+ years…very hard to dispute that at this point (but the fools will try)

 

[Disney Irish]

And MCU has been mismanaged for 5+ years…very hard to dispute that at this point (but the fools will try)

And there it is on queue.

No one is disputing there haven’t been issues with the MCU. But to point to that as “the” reason ignores everything else that is happening at the box office with every other studio not named Disney.

 

[CoastalElite64]

And MCU has been mismanaged for 5+ years…very hard to dispute that at this point (but the fools will try)

Yes, that too. But its not just Marvel. The bad villain movies Sony kept making also burned people out. The general audience can't tell the difference between whats official MCU and what's not. So there's many contributing factors, but the economic is the biggest factor. We're seeing that affect consumer spending in all sectors, even fast food sales are declining.

 

[BrianLo]

If Fantastic 4 ends in underperformance it shall bring me great sadness. I do hope it hits the Superman range.

Like Thunderbolts they’ll get another kick at the can and a second wind in Avengers. I also can’t imagine they totally drop F4 either, I think there’s enough entrained support with this specific franchise to allow a sequel unless it totally bombed. Which it has not.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

If Fantastic 4 ends in underperformance it shall bring me great sadness. I do hope it hits the Superman range.

Like Thunderbolts they’ll get another kick at the can and a second wind in Avengers. I also can’t imagine they totally drop F4 either, I think there’s enough entrained support with this specific franchise to allow a sequel unless it totally bombed. Which it has not.

…so ignore the performance and go “hopes, wishes and dreams?”

 

[BrianLo]

…so ignore the performance and go “hopes, wishes and dreams?”

I’m literally not in denial so don’t go retroactively claiming I am months from now!

We aren’t even at your three week wall! It seemed to have a good start, it seems to not be having a good second weekend domestically. I don’t know what International is doing. We’ll get a good look at the end trajectory in the next 10 days.

If all the wheel come off I’ll be sad. That’s a non denial opinion.

 

[JackCH]

If Fantastic 4 ends in underperformance it shall bring me great sadness. I do hope it hits the Superman range.

Like Thunderbolts they’ll get another kick at the can and a second wind in Avengers. I also can’t imagine they totally drop F4 either, I think there’s enough entrained support with this specific franchise to allow a sequel unless it totally bombed. Which it has not.

I’m not savvy enough with current Box Office to analyze much, but I know the general consensus is it is trending disappointment.

Which is sad. I love FF, and even aside I think it was a solid film roughly in the same tier as Superman. I hope we get a sequel.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I’m literally not in denial so don’t go retroactively claiming I am months from now!

We aren’t even at your three week wall! It seemed to have a good start, it seems to not be having a good second weekend domestically. I don’t know what International is doing. We’ll get a good look at the end trajectory in the next 10 days.

If all the wheel come off I’ll be sad. That’s a non denial opinion.

Fair enough…

But the die is cast. The most pedantic thing about this little think tank is the “but…but…we can’t KNOW for sure…” stuff to every thing that doesn’t post up well…

But a certain “level of surety” does exist with this numbers game.

So elemental beat the odds based on early returns…Mufasa did too…the trends didn’t hold.

But what about the 20 floppers before…after…and around them?

Yeah…that created that “surety level”

Is FF gonna buck it? No. If you can’t get people to a comic book flick 8 days after it comes out…congratulations, you’re the Flash.

But it’s ok.

None of us were ever gonna make it succeed…none of us were gonna make it fail. Spectators and we can shout at it for engagement. I don’t make the guy fumble at the 5 yard line…but I’m gonna let him hear it from the couch

Because we can’t speak honeslty about where this rather rudderless ship is at. Which is to say…in trouble.

Disappointment on this makes sense. And unfortunately…right now…a lot of my annoying predictions about the deplorables (I honeslty can’t remember the real name…) and fantastic four have come to pass: they’re going too far into the back of the comic book shop and leaning away from what actually made the MCU such a hit: which is main stream, low investment entertainment.

You can’t throw every comic book on the screen. Most of them consumed only by the geeks…were done so for a reason. Water finds it’s level.

And when it’s done everyday…it’s a yawn. Too much only works with narcotics (I’ve heard )…

Too much. Killing it. Bad management.

 

[BlakeW39]

Fair enough…

But the die is cast. The most pedantic thing about this little think tank is the “but…but…we can’t KNOW for sure…” stuff to every thing that doesn’t post up well…

But a certain “level of surety” does exist with this numbers game.

So elemental beat the odds based on early returns…Mufasa did too…the trends didn’t hold.

But what about the 20 floppers before…after…and around them?

Yeah…that created that “surety level”

Is FF gonna buck it? No. If you can’t get people to a comic book flick 8 days after it comes out…congratulations, you’re the Flash.

But it’s ok.

None of us were ever gonna make it succeed…none of us were gonna make it fail. Spectators and we can shout at it for engagement. I don’t make the guy fumble at the 5 yard line…but I’m gonna let him hear it from the couch

Because we can’t speak honeslty about where this rather rudderless ship is at. Which is to say…in trouble.

Disappointment on this makes sense. And unfortunately…right now…a lot of my annoying predictions about the deplorables (I honeslty can’t remember the real name…) and fantastic four have come to pass: they’re going too far into the back of the comic book shop and leaning away from what actually made the MCU such a hit: which is main stream, low investment entertainment.

You can’t throw every comic book on the screen. Most of them consumed only by the geeks…were done so for a reason. Water finds it’s level.

And when it’s done everyday…it’s a yawn. Too much only works with narcotics (I’ve heard )…

Too much. Killing it. Bad management.

Fantastic Four isn't from the back of the comic book store. They're a bigger property than the Avengers were when they were adapted. And definitely bigger than no-names like Black Panther or Captain Marvel. I remember when I was a kid, I didn't like superheroes at all but I still knew who the Fantastic Four were. And fast forward to me being an actual comic bool reader, I think they have better source material and are less derivative than the Avengers. Yet I did not and will not see the film. Why?

The reason FF is failing is actually just stupidity in three regards:

1. Disney made a number of stupid decisions that have tanked the Marvel brand (they started in the comics, didn't work there, did them on screen and, surprise! it didn't work there either)

2. Disney is too stupid and too arrogant to change course

2. agreed that Disney-Marvel massively oversaturated the market, and refuses to just......stop. for just a second. and let it breathe