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

[MagicMouseFan]

2ND UPDATE, Friday midday: Currently, Disney‘s Snow White is seeing $15.5 million today, which includes last night’s $3.5M, and will get the Rachel Zegler-Gal Gadot movie to the mid-$40Ms for a three-day total at the domestic box office. That’s right around where Dumbo was, jeez: That Tim Burton clunker did $15.2M on its opening day for a near $46M 3-day off a much cheaper production cost than Snow White ($170M versus $270M). Again, it all comes down to Saturday and Sunday matinees with Snow White particularly given its target of women.

Ho-Hum, Ho-Hum: ‘Snow White’ Opening To $45M On Par With ‘Dumbo’ – Saturday AM Box Office Update

Disney's controversial 'Snow White' begins with $3.5M in previews on Thursday.

deadline.com

 

[Disney Irish]

Everyone can see how their sensibility changed during the 2010s. A film like Tangled would never be made today.

I disagree, I don't think its that Disney's sensibilities changed its that audience tastes changes and Hollywood followed suit which is why you notice that RomComs by and large also went away. I mean look at the recent RomCom that came out in 2023, Anyone but you. It did $219M WW at the box office, and only $88M domestic. While good compared to its budget, its not some earth shattering smash hit box office earner here that Hollywood is looking for.

I get it if you want that type of content, and I feel for you if you do. But it appears that a majority of audiences don't want that content, or least aren't willing to go to theaters for it.

The only hope is that the trend changes, or that streamers like Netflix see it as an opportunity to make such content. As that is where the small to mid range movies are ending up rather than the theater.

 

[Tha Realest]

I doubt any career is over for Zegler… by most accounts she was not the issue with the movie, but was the highlight

I suspect we’ll see more big budget live action Disney films released in theaters going forward than we see big budget live action films led by Rachel Zegler.

 

[Disney Irish]

2ND UPDATE, Friday midday: Currently, Disney‘s Snow White is seeing $15.5 million today, which includes last night’s $3.5M, and will get the Rachel Zegler-Gal Gadot movie to the mid-$40Ms for a three-day total at the domestic box office. That’s right around where Dumbo was, jeez: That Tim Burton clunker did $15.2M on its opening day for a near $46M 3-day off a much cheaper production cost than Snow White ($170M versus $270M). Again, it all comes down to Saturday and Sunday matinees with Snow White particularly given its target of women.

Ho-Hum, Ho-Hum: ‘Snow White’ Opening To $45M On Par With ‘Dumbo’ – Saturday AM Box Office Update

Disney's controversial 'Snow White' begins with $3.5M in previews on Thursday.

deadline.com

Interesting as that means Disney predicts that Sat and Sun will only get as much as Fri or less. That hasn't traditionally been the case especially Sat, so I think Disney is being conservative here. We'll see how it turns out.

 

[Tha Realest]

I disagree, I don't think its that Disney's sensibilities changed its that audience tastes changes and Hollywood followed suit which is why you notice that RomComs by and large also went away. I mean look at the recent RomCom that came out in 2023, Anyone but you. It did $219M WW at the box office, and only $88M domestic. While good compared to its budget, its not some earth shattering smash hit box office earner here that Hollywood is looking for.

I get it if you want that type of content, and I feel for you if you do. But it appears that a majority of audiences don't want that content, or least aren't willing to go to theaters for it.

The only hope is that the trend changes, or that streamers like Netflix see it as an opportunity to make such content. As that is where the small to mid range movies are ending up rather than the theater.

The audience just went elsewhere. And other studios have cracked the code in terms of that content: it’s why The Hallmark Channel has a complete lockdown on young to middle aged women in the fall and winter, and other streamers and studios are trying to replicate that success as well (Netflix, GAC network, etc).

 

[Disney Irish]

The audience just went elsewhere. And other studios have cracked the code in terms of that content: it’s why The Hallmark Channel has a complete lockdown on young to middle aged women in the fall and winter, and other streamers and studios are trying to replicate that success as well (Netflix, GAC network, etc).

Lifetime had that market locked up long before The Hallmark Channel started. Basic cable has always been a haven for middle aged women content, its why the description of something schmaltzy being called like a Lifetime or Hallmark Movie came into the lexicon.

Hollywood Studios by and large have left that type of content to those providers for a reason, they aren't traditionally huge money makers.

 

[brideck]

The audience just went elsewhere. And other studios have cracked the code in terms of that content: it’s why The Hallmark Channel has a complete lockdown on young to middle aged women in the fall and winter, and other streamers and studios are trying to replicate that success as well (Netflix, GAC network, etc).

Right. There is no need to go to the theater for romantic content because it is everywhere else. Disney even still does this for home audiences, too -- Descendants, Zombies, High School Musical? All musical comedies with romantic relationships at their core.

Having said that, we just finally saw Heart Eyes at the theater last night. A slasher rom-com? Brilliant idea and absolutely goofy (and romantic) fun.

 

[erasure fan1]

You listed animated films. Until recently, animation was one of the few places creating original IPs (we’ll see less of this now). This conversation is about live-action films, a very different matter.

Race-swapping isn’t a solution to the problems we face, but it’s a little tiny bit of progress and the hate campaign and the powerful people perpetuating it are a sign of very significant social regression on the issue.

Disney is an utterly cowardly company, as are most corporations. They deserve criticism. But the far bigger issue is that any little bit of what a poster below you calls “social engineering” brings a torrent of abuse and hate and threats of governmental repression. That should be the focus of our concern.

The “but” with me is an understanding of historical context and nuance. You are exaggerating here to desperately make a point - Falcon was liked well enough, but he certainly wasn’t a “fan favorite” like Loki or Iron Man. That aside, the character DID get a chance to be the lead. The character is Sam Wilson. He’s Sam Wilson as Falcon and Sam Wilson as Cap. You need to reconsider why so many people were upset when he became a symbol of America instead of a man in a bird outfit and think about how close “He should have stayed as Falcon,” is to “he should have known his place.”

At this moment in history this amounts to willful ignorance. As numerous posters have pointed out in this thread, the country has regressed SIGNIFICANTLY on racial matters over the last decade. The people in power are very literally erasing the history of American minority groups. No matter how hard you may close your eyes to what’s happening, it’s still happening - and at some point, denial becomes inseparable from acceptance and even support.

Unwarranted optimism does not make you a good person.

That's fine, unfortunately we won't see eye to eye on this. Keep this in mind. Continuous accusations and furthering the division, Does not make you a good person or the white knight you believe. You've said I don't believe you're this, or that. But it's always followed with comments that insinuate the opposite. No matter what anyone says, if it's not 100% your same view, the accusations start flying. If you want to say being optimistic and not everyone is racist, is having my head in the sand and the same as enabling racism, nothing I can do will change your mind. But I can say I think what you do here, only enables and fosters more division. And that's a shame because there's a bunch we agree on.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

So weird how many "Disney fans" are just okay trashing the film that literally made Disney what it is just to prop up a lousy remake that will be completely forgotten in a few months.

Not one person has trashed anything, including Rachel. Next.

 

[Agent H]

Not just articles, even YouTube videos. It was extremely trendy back then:

Holy terrible singing Batman!

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Snow White's journey symbolizes a coming of age. A little girl becoming a woman. Eating the apple is the loss of innocence we experience as we grow up, but also the entire scenery with Snow White evokes life while the Queen evokes death and decay, hence why when she eats the apple the entire atmosphere changes from sunny to raining, as if the world died with her, and the power of true love is what wakes Snow but also brings life to the world again.

Does she not turn into a woman in this one?

Are you confusing Snow White with Eve? Snow White’s apple wasn’t temptation; it was attempted murder.

 

[MagicMouseFan]

Interesting as that means Disney predicts that Sat and Sun will only get as much as Fri or less. That hasn't traditionally been the case especially Sat, so I think Disney is being conservative here. We'll see how it turns out.

Agree

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Hollywood rarely makes fun movies for women anymore.

I hear Snow White just came out. Co-written by Greta Gerwig of Barbie fame.

why are you being purposefully disingenuous?

That’s way off base.

 

[BrianLo]

Not one person has trashed anything, including Rachel. Next.

Though many have trashed Rachel.

Holy hell, you'd think they cast her to replace Luke the way Gen X men are in a tizzy.

In fact, that's a great idea. Who needs nuclear winter when we have that sort of world ending power.

 

[erasure fan1]

Hollywood followed suit which is why you notice that RomComs by and large also went away. I mean look at the recent RomCom that came out in 2023, Anyone but you. It did $219M WW at the box office, and only $88M domestic. While good compared to its budget, its not some earth shattering smash hit box office earner here that Hollywood is looking for.

I can't say I follow RomComs but have they ever been earth shattering smash hits? You made a romcom for a very modest budget, released it to theaters where it would maybe make it's budget back. Then the death of rental and rise of streaming killed what the real play for romcoms was. Now you don't get the rental income, or the home video cash, then the premium network money that leads to your regular network syndication cash. Romcoms were never going to sell a streaming service and they aren't making bank at the box office. So what is the insensitive for studios to make them? Of course that's just what I saw with the situation.

 

[easyrowrdw]

Good lord what kind of crap do you watch?!

Do you believe there is anything in any way, shape or form that is feminist about that, faux or otherwise? I'll admit I had to turn the sound off about halfway.

I can’t imagine that video influencing anyone. Maybe the men here who have such an issue with young female stars because it might explain some things.

I've never seen that video and would be inclined to agree with you. But it has 179 million views! I think we might be underestimating the influence of things like this.

 

[Chi84]

Does she not turn into a woman in this one?

Are you confusing Snow White with Eve? Snow White’s apple wasn’t temptation; it was attempted murder.

Please, don't get me started on Eve.

 

[Chi84]

I've never seen that video and would be inclined to agree with you. But it has 179 million views! I think we might be underestimating the influence of things like this.

I don't doubt it. I just sent it to everyone I know

 

[Casper Gutman]

That's fine, unfortunately we won't see eye to eye on this. Keep this in mind. Continuous accusations and furthering the division, Does not make you a good person or the white knight you believe. You've said I don't believe you're this, or that. But it's always followed with comments that insinuate the opposite. No matter what anyone says, if it's not 100% your same view, the accusations start flying. If you want to say being optimistic and not everyone is racist, is having my head in the sand and the same as enabling racism, nothing I can do will change your mind. But I can say I think what you do here, only enables and fosters more division. And that's a shame because there's a bunch we agree on.

A lot of straw men here.

I will simply say that the idea that, “recognizing and being honest about bigotry is what really divides us,” is a very old and a very silly idea.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

A lot of straw men here.

I will simply say that the idea that, “recognizing and being honest about bigotry is what really divides us,” is a very old and a very silly idea.

It’s being repeated like crazy. That’s how you know it’s being spoon-fed.