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

[DKampy]

Just saw Challengers, which was an EXCELLENT movie. It's a very juicy drama, he three leading performances are terrific, and the score is phenomenal. Might be the best movie of 2024 so far. But I have no idea how it will do at the box office. I also wonder how audiences will react to it as I think the marketing has been pretty misleading (trying to sell it as some type of sex film when it's not like that at all). I think it's a better movie than what the trailers have sold but I guess we'll have to see how audiences react.

Haven't seen it yet, but I'm also rooting for Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt's The Fall Guy to do well. I just want non-franchise movies to have a chance of success at the box office. With Disney, the mid-range budget movies used to be somewhat profitable. But ever since the streaming era and launch of Disney Plus, it seems like the company is incapable of releasing anything that isn't a $200 tentpole. That strategy worked when all of the tentpoles were hits (from the 2010s) but it's proven to be quite costly the past few years.

I have not seen either film yet… looking forward to both as they each have great reviews so far at 91% and 89% on Rotten Tomatoes respectively

I guess as far as The Fall Guy is concerned…it is technically not an original as the title come from an old 80’s tv show… but the trailers look fun and I love me some Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt… but if borrowing the title gets an original film in the marketplace… I am all for it… if you would of told me I would be this excited for a movie loosely based on an old 80’s television show I never watched… I would not believe it

 

[Willmark]

So no answers, got it. I know you like "just asking questions", but I often times wonder if you really even think about the answers....

Oh and yes we'll know when an AI replaces an actor, especially the first time, as there is this little thing call the credits at the end of the movie. I know I watch them to see who is in the cast, and know many that do the same. So unless its credited as a specific actor, in which case they will be paid for the usage of their voice (is that really a cost savings), then it'll stand out as not being a real actor. And even if its a named actor I'm sure they'll let the world know it was AI that was used instead of them, and so it'll be know it wasn't a real actor nonetheless.

And I think you missed what I said earlier.... There are already Bills making there way through various state legislatures and even in Congress right now on limiting AIs usage. Some passing as recent as yesterday. There are even lawsuits and other legal things going on right now surrounding the usage of AI too, from copyrights to likeness rights. Once all this shakes out in the months and years ahead I'm fairly certain that we're not going to have this take over that you seem to envision is going to happen with AI in Hollywood.

Hollywood’s AI Concerns Present New and Complex Challenges for Legal Eagles to Untangle

Hollywood's legal eagles are on the vanguard of protecting clients about issues related to artificial intelligence.

variety.com

Hollywood Guilds Come Out Strong For “Ethical & Transparent” AI Bill From Adam Schiff

Along with a new bill just introduced in the US Congress, moves to put up new guardrails around AI are gaining traction

deadline.com

Laws are going to limit the advance of technology?

 

[DKampy]

Laws are going to limit the advance of technology?

Will not limit advancement but will limit how such advancement is used as been discussed by others AI is a great tool for assist not replacement

 

[Willmark]

Will not limit advancement but will limit how such advancement is used as been discussed by others AI is a great tool for assist not replacement

As I discussed previously in the thread there are a whole host of problems with AI that humans are not even anticipating or AI will be able to think around.

As of now we are in control…for now.

And when that happens AI replacing actors isn’t even going to be in the Top 100 worse cases issues.

Suffice of to say without getting political, this is an issue that cuts across everything in terms of importance. There is no stuffing the genie back in the bottle.

The only question is when, not if.

 

[DKampy]

As I discussed previously in the thread there are a whole host of problems with AI that humans are not even anticipating or AI will be able to think around.

As of now we are in control…for now.

And when that happens AI replacing actors isn’t even going to be in the Top 100 worse cases issues.

Suffice of to say without getting political, this is an issue that cuts across everything in terms of importance. There is no stuffing the genie back in the bottle.

The only question is when, not if.

Well I do not believe we are in a Terminator like AI control in my or your lifetime… AI still needs to be program by humans… so it is best to limit the way AI can be used now

 

[Willmark]

Well I do not believe we are in a Terminator like AI control in my or your lifetime… AI still needs to be program by humans… so it is best to limit the way AI can be used now

Skynet becoming self aware? Never say never, not likely soon but the folly of human conceit is a funny thing.

My concern is it getting close to thinking without context. It doesn’t have to be (as I noted prior) sapient, just close to it.

I have some specific examples but will run afoul (likely) of forum rules.

 

[DisneyHead123]

Well I do not believe we are in a Terminator like AI control in my or your lifetime… AI still needs to be program by humans… so it is best to limit the way AI can be used now

A bit of an aside - I think the fear with AI is not so much that it will become sentient with a will of its own. It’s more that a “glitch” in an extremely powerful computer system could have huge consequences. I.e. you program it to “maximize production of crops” and it starts destroying cities in order to create farmland for more crops (that may be a bad example but that’s the general idea, I believe.)

Also, fwiw, I think the talk of AI replacing actors is overblown right now. Actors have waaaaay more to worry about from YouTube influencers, in my opinion (they occupy eyeballs and attention and lower the overall price of entertainment by flooding the market with free content.) Actors and writers probably occupy a niche that is actually the furthest (or very far) away from what AI is starting to do really well. I think AI at this point is a bit more like a wildly complex, glorified graphing calculator with some ability to work with language (in a rule bound, calculator-esque way.) What actors do has that uniquely human element that is one of the hardest things for AI to truly replicate. I would imagine that those working in graphics and CGI related fields will see a big impact first. What a single person had to painstakingly do by hand will, I think, be very rapidly replaced with computers who do it in seconds.

 

[Disney Irish]

Laws are going to limit the advance of technology?

Better to put guardrails on it now before it gets out of control.

 

[TP2000]

So no answers, got it. I know you like "just asking questions", but I often times wonder if you really even think about the answers....

Something tells me that technology will continue to do things cheaper and faster than humans can often do them. And that will likely include the voiceover role of a talking squirrel or something in cartoons, at least to start.

Where will A.I. be in 2030 in Hollywood? We just don't know yet, but my bet is on the Sharp Pencil Boys getting their way.

 

[TP2000]

Hi gang, box office is out for Thursday with a few new movies premiering yesterday. That dropped The First Omen down to 13th place, so it will be interesting to see where it spends this weekend and if it holds on to all its theaters.

The Numbers - Daily Box Office Chart for Tuesday July 29, 2025

Daily Domestic Box Office Chart for Tuesday July 29, 2025

www.the-numbers.com

 

[Disney Irish]

Something tells me that technology will continue to do things cheaper and faster than humans can often do them. And that will likely include the voiceover role of a talking squirrel or something in cartoons, at least to start.

Where will A.I. be in 2030 in Hollywood? We just don't know yet, but my bet is on the Sharp Pencil Boys getting their way.

And yet you missed again (or ignored it) the fact that there are things in motion right now external to Hollywood that is going to limit its use within Hollywood. Limits that the various Hollywood unions are supporting.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Disney's decision to re-release Alien this weekend fared much better than their Pixar ones, earning over $1.5 million the past 3 days.

The Mummy's 25th anniversary re-release also got over $1 million this weekend too.

Shrek 2's reissue is up to $3.3 million now.

Clearly, there is an apatite for these, just not Disney+ movies from the past few years.

A 30th anniversary IMAX/3D re-release of Lion King should have been an obvious choice for this summer or the fall before Mufasa's release.

 

[TP2000]

And yet you missed again (or ignored it) the fact that there are things in motion right now external to Hollywood that is going to limit its use within Hollywood. Limits that the various Hollywood unions are supporting.

That's great. Just like a New Tomorrowland announcement, if new technology can be somehow forbidden and prevented from reducing costs, I will believe that one when I see it.

 

[TP2000]

Disney's decision to re-release Alien this weekend fared much better than their Pixar ones, earning over $1.5 million the past 3 days....

Clearly, there is an apatite for these, just not Disney+ movies from the past few years.

Isn't that fascinating? The Disney+ curse doesn't seem to have been broken yet, does it? I think they can get there eventually and retrain their audience, but it's obviously not going to be a fast fix for them.

Bob Chapek really did a number on their whole Hollywood business model, didn't he?

 

[TP2000]

Box office estimates are out for the weekend, gang! Aside from the re-release of Alien, Disney's other movie in theaters dropped to 15th place. The First Omen pulled in $700,000 over the weekend and dropped 1,430 theaters.

The Numbers - Weekend Box Office Chart for August 2, 2024

Weekend Domestic Box Office Chart for the weekend of August 2, 2024

www.the-numbers.com

 

[Disney Irish]

That's great. Just like a New Tomorrowland announcement, if new technology can be somehow forbidden and prevented from reducing costs, I will believe that one when I see it.

Just because one particular company that you want for a TL redo isn't going to get picked for sponsorship for obvious reasons doesn't mean a new TL isn't possible. Just like just because you think AI should replace actors in animated movies (or even movies in general) doesn't mean that can and should be only way to reduce costs.

As stated before the costs outweigh the benefit here, and it seems the vast majority of those here discussing the topic agree. As I imagine the vast majority of not only Hollywood but also the general public agree, hence why laws are being written, legal challenges in court are proceeding, and discussions around limiting AIs use are happening right now.

AI is a great tool and just like many technologies that came before it it that should be used to help humanity, not completely replace it.

 

[TP2000]

Just because one particular company that you want for a TL redo isn't going to get picked for sponsorship for obvious reasons doesn't mean a new TL isn't possible. Just like just because you think AI should replace actors in animated movies (or even movies in general) doesn't mean that can and should be only way to reduce costs.

I don't think actors should be replaced, any more so than I thought my favorite secretary Marjorie at UofW in the 1970's should have been replaced by email and desktop printers. Marjorie was an absolute workhorse and a very funny lady, and this thread made me remember her and I miss her! She's been up in the great Steno Pool in the sky for decades now.

I just think that human actors eventually will be replaced, at least to an extent by A.I. That's one of the ways the technology has been purposely developed in the first place; to realistically replicate voices and images of humans in media. That technology is not quite 100% there yet, but you can see how quickly it's coming at us. Like airplanes replacing railroads, it's inevitable.

As stated before the costs outweigh the benefit here, and it seems the vast majority of those here discussing the topic agree.

For the record, I think there's about a dozen of us here in this thread regularly. Maybe two dozen, tops?

It's not exactly a Gallup Poll of human opinion.

 

[Disney Irish]

I don't think actors should be replaced, any more so than I thought my favorite secretary Marjorie at UofW in the 1970's should have been replaced by email and desktop printers. Marjorie was an absolute workhorse and a very funny lady, and this thread made me remember her and I miss her! She's been up in the great Steno Pool in the sky for decades now.

I just think that human actors eventually will be replaced, at least to an extent by A.I. That's one of the ways the technology has been purposely developed in the first place; to realistically replicate voices and images of humans in media. That technology is not quite 100% there yet, but you can see how quickly it's coming at us. Like airplanes replacing railroads, it's inevitable.

Will AI be used in Hollywood, yes 100% (I've already said the same numerous times now). And it already is in many ways such as background generation. But to completely replace actors nope.

Just like railroads still exist, even if being updated with newer technology. I can get on a train today in almost every country on this planet and travel around. So even though airplanes have been a more efficient mode of transportation for 60+ years it has not completely replaced train travel for humans or even shipping. Heck you even have been discussing (and dare I might say even positive about it being created) the new Brightline route being added between Las Vegas to LA. Why not push for more airline routes instead if its better? That's because you don't always completely replace one technology for another just because it might be more efficient or even cheaper.

For the record, I think there's about a dozen of us here in this thread regularly. Maybe two dozen, tops?

It's not exactly a Gallup Poll of human opinion.

No, but its a fairly good cross section of humanity we have here from all walks of life. Also notice how you again ignored the rest of what I said about the reasons why laws are being written, legal challenges in court are proceeding, and discussions around limiting AIs use are happening right now, ie most of humanity doesn't agree with you.

 

[TalkingHead]

Read online that the Alien re-release has a promo video at the start that spoils at least one of the deaths in the movie. Pretty dumb considering how sensitive people are to spoilers these days.

A re-release (or 4K restoration) of Planet of the Apes woulda made sense too.

 

[TalkingHead]

Disney's decision to re-release Alien this weekend fared much better than their Pixar ones, earning over $1.5 million the past 3 days.

The Mummy's 25th anniversary re-release also got over $1 million this weekend too.

Shrek 2's reissue is up to $3.3 million now.

Clearly, there is an apatite for these, just not Disney+ movies from the past few years.

A 30th anniversary IMAX/3D re-release of Lion King should have been an obvious choice for this summer or the fall before Mufasa's release.

Just to add: the local theater today was playing Shrek 2, Alien, The Mummy, The Matrix, and Spirited Away. Five throwback titles, but four of which are IP. Plus they’re showing sequels to Kung Fu Panda, Ghostbusters, Godzilla/Kong, and Dune.

It’s not a question of if but when.