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

[CinematicFusion]

From an advertising and marketing perspective.
The decline in Disney’s box office performance could be attributed to two key factors. First, storytelling. It’s not just about representation or inclusivity in films. Audiences are looking for engaging stories and characters that resonate with them. If the plot or characters fail to captivate, then even well-intended inclusive elements won’t have a significant impact. Secondly, Disney’s recent political and social stances, as highlighted by the Axios Harris Poll, may have contributed to a polarized audience. This reputational issue can sway public opinion and consumer behavior, leading to fewer people choosing Disney movies, affecting box office results.
Also… Disney Plus is a factor. The strategy of releasing films directly to streaming could be influencing audience behavior. a trend where audiences are increasingly waiting for the release on Disney Plus rather than experiencing the film in theaters. This shift undeniably impacts box office figures. Moreover, given the extensive library available on Disney Plus, if a new release doesn’t stand out or offer a compelling reason to watch, it will be overlooked in favor of other content.

 

[Tha Realest]

So you think theater chains will drop theaters for Poor Things over the next two weeks, only to restore those theaters "plus more" after Oscar nominations are announced?

Just going on my gut instinct as someone who spent every year in the late 20th century decades at the best and gayest Oscars party in whatever city I was living in at the time, but I think you've overestimated the impact of the Oscars here in the 2020's.

If it was 1985, or even 2005, I would agree with you. But now? I'd be very surprised to see that happen. The socio-cultural importance of the Oscars has crashed into almost nothing in the past 10 years. (Since they got really political, and snotty about it too, just to make it even worse.)

Something tells me Poor Things has already peaked at 800 theaters in late December, 2023.

The Oscar bump phenomenon has been tapering off in recent years, becoming particularly acute during Covid years. For example, yes, Oscar nominated films made $82M in box office between the nomination announcements and the Oscar’s - and 7/8 of that yield was from Avatar 2.

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/03/10/oscar-box-office-bump-shrinking.html

The reduction in theaters - not expansion - is a worrisome trend. Weeks ago some here explained Poor Things would be going wider about now - not contracting. The subject matter of the film also makes it a bit less accessible to the viewing public at large.

“It’ll get a big Oscar bump!” is starting to sound like “Haunted Mansion is going to get a big Halloween bump.”

 

[Phroobar]

Can someone explain to me why we care about Poor Things? This is just an artsy horror movie with strong and pervasive sexual content, graphic nudity, disturbing material, gore, and language.

 

[Tha Realest]

Can someone explain to me why we care about Poor Things? This is just an artsy horror movie with strong and pervasive sexual content, graphic nudity, disturbing material, gore, and language.

Coming soon to Disney+!

 

[Andrew C]

Can someone explain to me why we care about Poor Things? This is just an artsy horror movie with strong and pervasive sexual content, graphic nudity, disturbing material, gore, and language.

You explained exactly why people care.

 

[Andrew C]

Coming soon to Disney+!

At least the Hulu beta within Disney+...have standards.

 

[BuddyThomas]

Can someone explain to me why we care about Poor Things? This is just an artsy horror movie with strong and pervasive sexual content, graphic nudity, disturbing material, gore, and language.

Clearly, you have not seen the film, but I'll be more than happy to explain it to you:

1. It is from Fox Searchlight, owned by Disney.
2. It has either been nominated for or has won well over 100 awards.
3. It won the Golden Globe for Best Picture - Musical or Comedy, as well as Best Actress -Emma Stone
4. It is from an extremely well respected and reviewed director.
5. It is 93% positive on Rotten Tomatoes
6. It is an Oscar front runner.

Sorry about these inconvenient facts.

 

[DKampy]

The Oscar bump phenomenon has been tapering off in recent years, becoming particularly acute during Covid years. For example, yes, Oscar nominated films made $82M in box office between the nomination announcements and the Oscar’s - and 7/8 of that yield was from Avatar 2.

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/03/10/oscar-box-office-bump-shrinking.html

The reduction in theaters - not expansion - is a worrisome trend. Weeks ago some here explained Poor Things would be going wider about now - not contracting. The subject matter of the film also makes it a bit less accessible to the is cuttingviewing public at large.

“It’ll get a big Oscar bump!” is starting to sound like “Haunted Mansion is going to get a big Halloween bump.”

the article is speaking on how streaming cut into EEaaO box office chances after it’s win and it did as it was already available on streaming and PVOD…Poor Things is available in theaters only…It will get a theater bump after nominations….even EEaaO did last year…I am not saying it will make 50 million in one weekend…it will keep chugging along adding to it’s box office just like his last film ( The Favourite)…and get a bit of a bump after nominations are out…Poor things had one of the better holds this week at only -11.7…as already mentioned by another poster…there are still people who want to watch every best picture nominated film…I know a couple myself…and they don’t go to the theaters every week like me…and the only way you can watch this film is in theaters…there is a reason so many award contenders release this time of year

I never claimed Haunted Mansion would get a Halloween bump..,I didn’t think it would…I figured it would be on Disney Plus by Halloween…as that was the only reason I could see releasing that film in late July….and if you think I automatically praise everything Disney…I did not care for the Haunted Mansion

 

[Tha Realest]

the article is speaking on how streaming cut into EEaaO box office chances after it’s win and it did as it was already available on streaming and PVOD…Poor Things is available in theaters only…It will get a theater bump after nominations….even EEaaO did last year…I am not saying it will make 50 million in one weekend…it will keep chugging along adding to it’s box office just like his last film ( The Favourite)…and get a bit of a bump after nominations are out…Poor things had one of the better holds this week at only -11.7…as already mentioned by another poster…there are still people who want to watch every best picture nominated film…I know a couple myself…and they don’t go to the theaters every week like me…and the only way you can watch this film is in theaters…there is a reason so many award contenders release this time of year

I never claimed Haunted Mansion would get a Halloween bump..,I didn’t think it would…I figured it would be on Disney Plus by Halloween…as that was the only reason I could see releasing that film in late July….and if you think I automatically praise everything Disney…I did not care for the Haunted Mansion

Never said you made that claim re: HM.

I don’t know that comparing the trajectory for a 2018 film to one post-Covid and the current theatrical landscape holds up.

 

[CinematicFusion]

Clearly, you have not seen the film, but I'll be more than happy to explain it to you:

1. It is from Fox Searchlight, owned by Disney.
2. It has either been nominated for or has won well over 100 awards.
3. It won the Golden Globe for Best Picture - Musical or Comedy, as well as Best Actress -Emma Stone
4. It is from an extremely well respected and reviewed director.
5. It is 93% positive on Rotten Tomatoes
6. It is an Oscar front runner.

Sorry about these inconvenient facts.

Rotten Tomatoes:
A from the critics. (Loved it)
B- from the fans. ( maybe not for everybody)

 

[BuddyThomas]

Rotten Tomatoes:
A from the critics. (Loved it)
B- from the fans. ( maybe not for everybody)

No movie is for "everybody".

 

[CinematicFusion]

No movie is for "everybody".

B- with fans on rotten tomatoes proves your point.
It’s a different movie, not everyone will like it and audience score reflects that.

Critics loved it, A rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Little Mermaid (2023)
Audience gave it an A
Critics gave it a D+

 

[Disstevefan1]

No movie is for "everybody".

 

[Casper Gutman]

Clearly, you have not seen the film, but I'll be more than happy to explain it to you:

1. It is from Fox Searchlight, owned by Disney.
2. It has either been nominated for or has won well over 100 awards.
3. It won the Golden Globe for Best Picture - Musical or Comedy, as well as Best Actress -Emma Stone
4. It is from an extremely well respected and reviewed director.
5. It is 93% positive on Rotten Tomatoes
6. It is an Oscar front runner.

Sorry about these inconvenient facts.

It’s also not a horror movie, but why let facts creep into this thread.

The conversation about Poor Things is one of the stupidest moments this thread has achieved.

“Disney needs to release a more varied slate of films… um… not like that.”

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Can someone explain to me why we care about Poor Things? This is just an artsy horror movie with strong and pervasive sexual content, graphic nudity, disturbing material, gore, and language.

You explained exactly why people care.

Sounds like it’s probably not for me.

Clearly, you have not seen the film, but I'll be more than happy to explain it to you:

1. It is from Fox Searchlight, owned by Disney.
2. It has either been nominated for or has won well over 100 awards.
3. It won the Golden Globe for Best Picture - Musical or Comedy, as well as Best Actress -Emma Stone
4. It is from an extremely well respected and reviewed director.
5. It is 93% positive on Rotten Tomatoes
6. It is an Oscar front runner.

Sorry about these inconvenient facts.

Cool.

(Note: see how I can be happy for and respectful of a movie I probably won’t watch?

And I have no hatred for it or bewilderment that other people might enjoy it very much?

I don’t have to smear the actors or the studio. Or the audience, for that matter.

It’s common practice to put these smaller films back into theaters when they are nominated for Oscars, and I’m guessing some people are going to be more curious/eager to see it because of the Golden Globes (and because of GG performance being somewhat predictive of Oscar performance.)

Good for all involved.

 

[CinematicFusion]

It’s also not a horror movie, but why let facts creep into this thread.

The conversation about Poor Things is one of the stupidest moments this thread has achieved.

“Disney needs to release a more varied slate of films… um… not like that.”

Agree that for Disney to thrive, it needs to offer a wide range of entertainment options. Like a model similar to Netflix for Disney+, where viewers have access to a diverse selection of content ranging from films like ‘Aliens’ and ‘Predator’ to ‘Poor Things’, as well as classic Disney movies like ‘Dumbo’.”

 

[Phroobar]

Disney+ needs a section similar to old video store's adult section. It is another erosion of the family friendly brand name. Why not rename the service to something that isn't linked to Disney. Just call it Hulu+. It just seems strange watching Poor Things on Disney.

 

[Disney Irish]

Disney+ needs a section similar to old video store's adult section. It is another erosion of the family friendly brand name. Why not rename the service to something that isn't linked to Disney. Just call it Hulu+. It just seems strange watching Poor Things on Disney.

Poor Things is not an X-Rated movie as you're making it seem. It might not be to your tastes, but its not like you're making it seem.

As for D+, the service outside of the US has had the Star tile (the Hulu equivalent outside the US) for years now. Its doesn't seem to have any less appeal because of the adult oriented content being available.

In fact I think that when polled D+ subs in the US it was something like 65% of households without children. So the market seems to be ok with having adult oriented content on D+ and associated with Disney.

In 2024 I think most people are smart enough to separate the "Disney" brand from other part of the Disney company.

Not to mention that if you don't want to see it you can lock away everything with parental controls in D+. Which actually makes it better than that curtain from the 80s in video stores which didn't block anything.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Poor Things is not an X-Rated movie as you're making it seem. It might not be to your tastes, but its not like you're making it seem.

As for D+, the service outside of the US has had the Star tile (the Hulu equivalent outside the US) for years now. Its doesn't seem to have any less appeal because of the adult oriented content being available.

In fact I think that when polled D+ subs in the US it was something like 65% of households without children. So the market seems to be ok with having adult oriented content on D+ and associated with Disney.

In 2024 I think most people are smart enough to separate the "Disney" brand from other part of the Disney company.

Not to mention that if you don't want to see it you can lock away everything with parental controls in D+. Which actually makes it better than that curtain from the 80s in video stores which didn't block anything.

Feels like it’s 1989 again and we’re arguing over Blaze.

 

[Ghost93]

No movie is for "everybody".

As someone who liked Poor Things, I think the movie is pretty niche in appeal. I am glad I saw it, but there's only a handful of people I would comfortably recommend it to.