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

[TP2000]

Great news. If/when The Marvels loses more Disney money this year, we can say women were unimrpressed with it just as much as men!

It's probably like cars. It's almost impossible to sell a feminine car to a man, but it's much easier to sell a masculine car to a woman.

Hence, the vast majority of cars try to use masculine and powerful styling rather than elegant or delicate styling.

But every once in awhile, some executive committee tries to change human nature and sell a feminine car. And it almost always flops.

(Full Disclosure: I bought a red 1990 Mazda Miata in a Boston snowstorm at 128 Motors in February, 1990. I never looked gayer than when driving that car, and I loved it. And Miata's were very successful for Mazda and still exist. Mine had perfect reliability for the five years I owned it.)

 

[celluloid]

It's probably like cars. It's almost impossible to sell a feminine car to a man, but it's much easier to sell a masculine car to a woman.

Hence, the vast majority of cars try to use masculine and powerful styling rather than elegant or delicate styling.

But every once in awhile, some executive committee tries to change human nature and sell a feminine car. And it almost always flops.

(Full Disclosure: I bought a red 1990 Mazda Miata in a Boston snowstorm at 128 Motors in February, 1990. I never looked gayer than when driving that car, but I loved it. And Miata's were very successful for Mazda and still exist. Mine had perfect reliability for the five years I owned it.)

And then we get Manbuns, that really throws things in the works, and I think there is just a really bad deficit in genetics for whoever enjoys them either on their own head or someone else's.

I think The Captain Marvel craze is a lot like Manbuns. It had to happen. Most really wanted to see it be taken on and done well. It was ok for most, great for some, but really, it was not a great movie. The second one was never likely to do well, especially years later after many more releases.

 

[Disney Irish]

Great news. If/when The Marvels loses more Disney money this year, we can say women were unimrpressed with it just as much as men!

I don't know how it'll do. I have my opinion, but all I can do is wait and see how it plays out. I'm not trying to call balls or strikes here.

All I really care about is whether I personally like it or not. And based on the previous track record of the MCU I'll probably like it, Feige hasn't failed me yet. I know that doesn't apply to everyone, but it does apply to me.

But I hope it does well overall with all audiences, both male and female.

 

[Chi84]

And then we get Manbuns, that really throws things in the works, and I think there is just a really bad deficit in genetics for whoever enjoys them either on their own head or someone else's.

I think The Captain Marvel craze is a lot like Manbuns. It had to happen. Most really wanted to see it be taken on and done well. It was ok for most, great for some, but really, it was not a great movie. The second one was never likely to do well, especially years later after many more releases.

Isn’t Manbuns a men’s underwear company?

 

[celluloid]

Isn’t Manbuns a men’s underwear company?

Could be. It is a pretty common name as a term for men putting their hair in a bun.

 

[celluloid]

I don't know how it'll do. I have my opinion, but all I can do is wait and see how it plays out. I'm not trying to call balls or strikes here.

All I really care about is whether I personally like it or not. And based on the previous track record of the MCU I'll probably like it, Feige hasn't failed me yet. I know that doesn't apply to everyone, but it does apply to me.

But I hope it does well overall with all audiences, both male and female.

If you like all 20(+) movies of any one film producer and group. Than I imagine you are safe to please with their status quo that the latest one will bring, and nothing wrong with that. Enjoy it.

I like Alfred Hitchcock as an artist, but I have a few of his movies that don't resonate with me the same as some other strongholds really do, and that is ok.

 

[Tha Realest]

To be clear, Vellani is the most likable and engaging addition to the MCU since Downey and her show was delightful. Even many of our resident Disney attackers enjoyed it. The criticisms by folks who haven't seen it are far more telling of who they are then it is illustrative of anything about the show, character, or upcoming film.

More likable and engaging than Chris Pratt, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Holland, Scar Jo, Chadwick Boseman, Oscar Isaac, Paul Rudd, David Harbour, and Florence Pugh?

You’re free to advocate for her charms and abilities but let’s not get out of hand.

 

[Disney Irish]

If you like 20 movies of any one film producer and group. Than I imagie you are safe to please with their status quo, and nothing wrong with that. Enjoy it.

I like Alfred Hitchcock as an artist, but I have a few of his movies that don't resonate with me the same as some other strongholds really do, and that is ok.

Obviously as my avatar shows I'm a big Marvel fan. And so what they put out appeals to me. Some entries are stronger than others, but overall I've enjoyed all of it.

So again I hope Marvels does well and others enjoy it.

 

[DKampy]

I'd look forward to that. But first, we'd need to get Disney to produce a big money-making hit again.

Next up this fall... The Marvels and Wish.

Awww…your not going to do Haunting in Venice or The creator

 

[celluloid]

Awww…your not going to do Haunting in Venice or The creator

I think we already know how those will play out based on previous installments for Venice and the type sci fi release of The Creator(I imagine similar to 65 or a bit better). It could do well.

Marvels budget and Wish is much bigger stakes at it is the big budget 200-million-dollar question.

 

[erasure fan1]

As demographics change and advertisers and culture creators increasingly seek to expand the audience or even to appeal solely to new segments of the population, many members of that old audience are taking it as an assault, as an attempt to erase or destroy them.

That's totally fine. What gets me is when things like Ms Marvel, while reviewed well, doesn't get the broad audience, too many blame it on the toxic male. Maybe this new segment they are going for doesn't care? Shouldn't the blame when these things don't preform be put on the new audience that's being attracted? When you make something that is specifically made to cater to a certain audience, don't be surprised if there are groups that skip it. Sure there are people who go off the deep end, both sides have them. But that's not the majority like you seem to be implying.

we have millions screaming about the "M-She-U" because 2 of Marvel's 32 films have featured a female lead.

This is a bit overdramatic in my opinion. There's a group for sure but it isn't by any means the majority. It's a small group in the grand scheme of things. Is it a vocal group? Sure it is, just like most groups on the Internet. I'm not going to pretend that there are zero people unhappy that marvel has increased it's female character output. But they aren't the reason that so much of phase 4 wasn't very well received in my opinion.

 

[celluloid]

That's totally fine. What gets me is when things like Ms Marvel, while reviewed well, doesn't get the broad audience, too many blame it on the toxic male. Maybe this new segment they are going for doesn't care? Shouldn't the blame when these things don't preform be put on the new audience that's being attracted? When you make something that is specifically made to cater to a certain audience, don't be surprised if there are groups that skip it. Sure there are people who go off the deep end, both sides have them. But that's not the majority like you seem to be implying.

Well put.
This is exactly why I said it feels like the ghostbusters 2016 defense is prepping.

Barbie proved that people of all types were fine going to this film. Like, around the world huge. The majority of people have a good enough time with it to share that it was fun and worth seeing what it is all about.

 

[Andrew C]

Asked DW about the marvels. Response from her was, “I wouldn’t pay to see it.” She’s so toxic.

 

[Tha Realest]

Well put.
This is exactly why I said it feels like the ghostbusters 2016 defense is prepping.

Barbie proved that people of all types were fine going to this film. Like, around the world huge. The majority of people have a good enough time with it to share that it was fun and worth seeing what it is all about.

Robbie and Gosling are also incredibly talented, bona fide movie stars.

 

[celluloid]

Robbie and Gosling are also incredibly talented, bona fide movie stars.

One Hundred percent. And the story was well crafted and fresh in a world of saturation.

 

[celluloid]

Asked DW about the marvels. Response from her was, “I wouldn’t pay to see it.” She’s so toxic.

I know my wife said she does not care for Brie Larson; it was her least favorite part of the first. So, I am wondering now who I even married, a misogynist?

 

[Casper Gutman]

Robbie and Gosling are also incredibly talented, bona fide movie stars.

Neither open films, the IP does. Robbie, for instance, is coming off Babylon, Amsterdam, Birds of Prey, Suicide Squad (those last two were great, but they bombed), and Bombshell.

The age of movie stars is past. The last bankable one, Tom Cruise, just bombed, though I'd still gamble on his viability.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I know my wife said she does not care for Brie Larson; it was her least favorite part of the first. So, I am wondering now who I even married, a misogynist?

Let me help: not enjoying a female-led film is not misogynist. Saying really misogynist things is misogynist. You're really working to muddy the waters, so I hope this helps.

 

[celluloid]

Neither open films, the IP does. Robbie, for instance, is coming off Babylon, Amsterdam, Birds of Prey, Suicide Squad (those last two were great, but they bombed), and Bombshell.

The age of movie stars is past. The last bankable one, Tom Cruise, just bombed, though I'd still gamble on his viability.

Tom Cruise has had bombs before. So this is the one that means he is DONE? He was in the highest grossing film of 2022. The one he is known for the most and he returned to it. No one else could have been in that role, love him or tired of him.

He definitely sold Top Gun. There is no way without him it would have done as well.

Stars totally still matter. Otherwise, they would be recasting left and right with great results.

Chris Pratt's track record in theaters is quite bankable. Love him or tired of him, he correlates to the IP and we don't know if it would do as well without him. But it is fair to say there is a reason the movies he is in are rarely misses.

Oppenheimer is great all around but there is no way it would have done quite as well without Robert Downey JR or Cillian Murphy.

Totally bankable. It still has to be a decent movie to great.

But close your eyes and be in the world that everyone must agree with you and is reality because you said so.

 

[celluloid]

Let me help: not enjoying a female-led film is not misogynist. Saying really misogynist things is misogynist. You're really working to muddy the waters, so I hope this helps.

That's good. Since there was really nothing misogynistic said.