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

[Tony the Tigger]

I don't really see that, but I think it's probably just a matter of opinion. According to Google AI , "Some conservative reviews of Inside Out 2 have noted that the movie avoids major content concerns for Christian families, and that it has messages that have biblical precedents." The "conservative" reviews I see were posted in advance of the release so they don't seem to be post-hoc rationalizations.

But I think that statements from filmmakers and executives support that they are attempting to make a shift.
From the NY Times article.

So what if IO2 had a gay character? Do we still think the (apparently) good story/quality movie would render that meaningless? Or would the boycott brigade kick in?

It’s different from Deadpool. It’s an animated film aimed at children.

 

[bwr827]

Even in this forum, we had multiple posts mocking the fact that the hockey coach was portrayed as a Black woman (because statistically she “should” have been white). Had the film done badly, it would have been easy for those so inclined to spin it as a “woke” fail.

That was one poster with a weird fixation, if I recall correctly.

 

[easyrowrdw]

Even in this forum, we had multiple posts mocking the fact that the hockey coach was portrayed as a Black woman (because statistically she “should” have been white). Had the film done badly, it would have been easy for those so inclined to spin it as a “woke” fail.

I hadn’t seen those (I haven’t read the entire thread). As I said, the consensus opinion from what I can see is that conservative viewers do not view Inside Out 2 as “woke.” I'm sure there are outliers though.

I don’t take what Iger says as gospel, particularly when the films themselves don’t bear out what he’s saying. Elemental has much stronger social messaging than Lightyear, yet it’s infinitely more entertaining and, of course, did much better at the box office. Something can be entertaining (or not) regardless of whether it has a strong message.

Sure, it could just be talk. I pulled the Iger quote as this is a Disney board, but the article was pointing to a larger trend. I guess we'll see.

 

[LittleBuford]

Barbie is not a PG animated Disney film that parents take their 6 year olds to see. Apparently Barbie was also a good movie. I tried to watch it but fell asleep. The Disney brand has a reputation that was built over the last 100 years. People have certain expectations and have/had a strong emotional connection to the company. Again, you had two women kissing in Lightyear. A boy crushing on another boy in Strange World. This was a huge shock to many people. Many parents are not comfortable with this content being in children's movies. Especially Disney ones. You are either being obtuse or just don't get it as you think that a multicultural relationship between a flame and a puddle of water is comparable to the examples above. What happens in Inside Out 2 that you think remotely comes close to these two examples that would keep a lot of conservative families away? These are the main reasons a lot of people found those movies woke and stayed away from the theaters. Why do you refuse to understand or accept this reality?

I’m responding to the claim that the (Disney) films that do badly are those that are “woke” and heavy on social messaging. My comparison of Lightyear and Elemental is revealing in this regard for reasons I’ve already outlined. But it seems the claim I’m responding to isn’t quite what it seems, because if your framing of it is correct, it’s the presence of queer characters rather than progressive messaging per se that’s the issue. Following your logic, the plodding and charmless Lightyear would have done much better than it did at the box office had it not featured that brief, narratively inconsequential lesbian kiss. That just doesn’t wash with me.

 

[LittleBuford]

Sure it would be easy. Easy for people with an axe to grind. If the film hadn't hit, I don't see the hockey coach being anyone's reason why. Except as like I said, YouTubers with an axe to grind.

Plus a few WDWMagic posters.

 

[LittleBuford]

So what if IO2 had a gay character? Do we still think the (apparently) good story/quality movie would render that meaningless? Or would the boycott brigade kick in?

I know you’re not asking me, but I think both would happen: we’d have some vocal complaints from some quarters but they ultimately wouldn’t stop the film from doing really well.

 

[LittleBuford]

That was one poster with a weird fixation, if I recall correctly.

Which is why I said “multiple posts” rather than “multiple posters”. He was not alone in feeling that way, however—just look at the post a few above yours.

 

[LittleBuford]

I guess we'll see.

I’ll be very glad when this moment is behind us and a clearer picture emerges.

 

[bwr827]

I’ll be very glad when this moment is behind us and a clearer picture emerges.

Now I’m puzzled; I thought you were eager to move on from this topic.

Instead, you’re single-handedly keeping it alive.

 

[LittleBuford]

Now I’m puzzled; I thought you were eager to move on from this topic.

Instead, you’re single-handedly keeping it alive.

Please quit it. I already made clear that I was talking about the long-term discourse here. And there’s nothing singlehanded about it when multiple people (yourself included) are responding to me. If you’d rather I stay silent, I suggest you put me on ignore.

 

[easyrowrdw]

So what if IO2 had a gay character? Do we still think the (apparently) good story/quality movie would render that meaningless? Or would the boycott brigade kick in?

It’s different from Deadpool. It’s an animated film aimed at children.

IMO, probably, unless it was really brief or something. If had been Riley, definitely.

 

[Hawkeye_2018]

I wasn’t watching the box office when The Marvels came out. Holy moly, what a failure.

It's the biggest box office bomb of all time. Yet because of "reasons" it rarely gets roasted the way other bombs have

 

[J4546]

Marvels was just a terrible movie that nobody wanted. Noone knows the Marvels, and introducing a dozen new characters noone cares about into an already packed Marvel universe was a terrible idea. that just imo

 

[Disney Irish]

It's the biggest box office bomb of all time. Yet because of "reasons" it rarely gets roasted the way other bombs have

I'm pretty sure that John Carter and Lone Ranger still has it beat when you adjust things for inflation.

As far as roasting, Marvels got roasted plenty by many out on the interwebs, even if most of it isn't deserved.

 

[Hawkeye_2018]

I'm pretty sure that John Carter and Lone Ranger still has it beat when you adjust things for inflation.

As far as roasting, Marvels got roasted plenty by many out on the interwebs, even if most of it isn't deserved.

 

[BrianLo]

It's the biggest box office bomb of all time. Yet because of "reasons" it rarely gets roasted the way other bombs have

That’s still technically John Carter and Lone Ranger. But it’s a very close three way race.

I think The Marvels will have a little more long term prospects than the former. Not ‘not a bomb’ prospects, but the former films have been absolutely buried.

 

[BrianLo]

As far as roasting, Marvels got roasted plenty by many out on the interwebs, even if most of it isn't deserved.

I like the Marvels. It’s certainly not the worst MCU film by a long shot. I think long term we’ll see a softening on it, a la Thor the Dark World. Mostly because they clearly aren’t going to just ditch all those characters.

In fact out of Disneys no good, very bad year, I like the Marvels third (behind GoTG3/Elemental).

But I have affinity for Iman and hope she gets a nice comeuppance in a young Avengers product.

 

[easyrowrdw]

That’s still technically John Carter and Lone Ranger. But it’s a very close three way race.

I think The Marvels will have a little more long term prospects than the former. Not ‘not a bomb’ prospects, but the former films have been absolutely buried.

Yeah. I imagine the ongoing MCU would help the movie long-term, at least in terms of D+ viewers.

 

[Disney Irish]

I like the Marvels. It’s certainly not the worst MCU film by a long shot. I think long term we’ll see a softening on it, a la Thor the Dark World. Mostly because they clearly aren’t going to just ditch all those characters.

In fact out of Disneys no good, very bad year, I like the Marvels third (behind GoTG3/Elemental).

But I have affinity for Iman and hope she gets a nice comeuppance in a young Avengers product.

Exactly, I honestly believe had it been released at another time in MCU history it would have done a lot better than it did.

Anyways its not going to be swept under the rug like other "bombs" in Disney's history. The characters will live on and so will the movie.

 

[Hawkeye_2018]

Exactly, I honestly believe had it been released at another time in MCU history it would have done a lot better than it did.

Anyways its not going to be sweep under the rug like other "bombs" in Disney's history. The characters will live on and so will the movie.

This is funny considering most people agree the number one factor in the success of the original was the release date