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

[TP2000]

As I said, I see no good reason to ignore the larger context.

But whenever I mention other non-Disney movie box office in this Disney Box Office thread @MisterPenguin gets mad at me.

And I don't like when he's mad.

 

[LittleBuford]

But whenever I mention other non-Disney movie box office in this Disney Box Office thread @MisterPenguin gets mad at me.

And I don't like when he's mad.

You know what I meant. I’m not going to be drawn into this silly game more than I’ve already allowed myself to.

 

[DKampy]

Now you are going to start going off on freaking Theatre Camp???? I saw it last week and it’s very good .

Theater Camp is the funniest film you probably won't see this summer

Theater Camp is the funniest film you probably won't see this summer

www.avclub.com

I keep checking to see if Theater Camp has expanded near me…I have heard nothing but good things…Despite living in small town Wisconsin we can get smaller movies early in their expansions…as we have 2 theaters of the Same chain about 10 miles apart in neighboring towns…they will split a lot of the smaller movies between them...so far nothing

 

[TP2000]

You know what I meant. I’m not going to be drawn into this silly game more than I’ve already allowed myself to.

Oh come on, I thought that was a funny line.

At least I laughed a little.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

But whenever I mention other non-Disney movie box office in this Disney Box Office thread @MisterPenguin gets mad at me.

And I don't like when he's mad.

…it’s just because everything Disney is doing basically sucks right now…across the board

Lead by the False prophet


That’s weirdly “personal” to those with a “low mindset”

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Perhaps @BuddyThomas is confused, as I am, by the fact that the box-office talk continues to dominate the other threads as well.

Because Disney is a business only really concerned with making money?

I know…this is a tough one to digest…especially in the 21st century - it seems.

 

[LittleBuford]

Because Disney is a business only really concerned with making money?

But this is a fansite, not a forum for Disney accountants and executives. Most of the threads on any given topic are concerned with our experience of Disney’s products as fans, not with how much money those products generate for the company. Why should the movie subforum be any different?

 

[Casper Gutman]

So for all the folks saying audiences are hungry for non-IP content, I got curious and took a look at recent years. I counted only Hollywood-produced films:

The highest grossing American-produced non-IP film in 2022 was (depending on how you define IP) either Elvis at 14 or Smile at 18.
In 2019 it was 1917 at 20.
In 2018 it was either Bohemian Rhapsody at 6 or A Quiet Place at 27.
In 2017 it was Coco at 10.
In 2016 it was Zootopia at 4.

Audiences are not making their desire for original IPs very clear, especially if they aren't animation (pre-Covid) or... repeat it with me... cheap horror.

PS: It's also worth noting that of Disney's remaining theatrical releases in 2023, four are not based on major IPs (The Creator, Next Goal Wins, Wish, and The Bikeriders) and only two are (The Marvels, A Haunting in Venice).

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

But this is a fansite, not a forum for Disney accountants and executives. Most of the threads on any given topic are concerned with our experience of Disney’s products as fans, not with how much money those products generate for the company. Why should the movie subforum be any different?

Correct.valid point

The difficulty as fans is we are all well aware that money dictates their next moves…and a failure to make that means they will look for ways to “extract” it no matter the short term cost to their franchises.

When Cinderella came out…did we REALLY think we were getting now 20 remakes all becoming more and more bad taste?

Like lion king live action 2 and Bambi?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

So for all the folks saying audiences are hungry for non-IP content, I got curious and took a look at recent years. I counted only Hollywood-produced films:

The highest grossing American-produced non-IP film in 2022 was (depending on how you define IP) either Elvis at 14 or Smile at 18.
In 2019 it was 1917 at 20.
In 2018 it was either Bohemian Rhapsody at 6 or A Quiet Place at 27.
In 2017 it was Coco at 10.
In 2016 it was Zootopia at 4.

Audiences are not making their desire for original IPs very clear, especially if they aren't animation (pre-Covid) or... repeat it with me... cheap horror.

Audiences want good takes on things they know first and foremost.

I don’t have a problem with franchises…just pay attention to the appeal and make movies that strengthen that appeal.

Was maverick a great work of art? No…it as an update reboot in many ways. But it was simple enough to enjoy and made the audience feel good.

Coulda did that with Indy…but they couldn’t do it because they have no concern for why it was popular in the first place…only “repositioning”

That’s how you get to the stupidity like bringing back dead characters and riding horses on spaceships in a desperate attempt to gloss over you never really got it.

 

[LittleBuford]

When Cinderella came out…did we REALLY think we were getting now 20 remakes all becoming more and more bad tastes?

I preferred The Little Mermaid to Cinderella.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I preferred The Little Mermaid to Cinderella.

And that’s fine…but did you need all of it in between?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Exactly. Disney's modest-to-disastrous ticket sales this summer are unable to cover the costs of their bloated budgets.

This is just basic math; a 60/40 split of the domestic/overseas box office against the production/marketing budgets. And I hate math.

View attachment 734607

 

[Casper Gutman]

Elemental has now earned more than the first Spider-Verse film. That’s called rebuilding the brand.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Elemental has now earned more than the first Spider-Verse film. That’s called rebuilding the brand.

Not really strong…but not the disaster it was looking to be

So now they’re 4 of 6 on failures for the year?

 

[Casper Gutman]

Now compare their budgets.

What innovative thinking! Talk about bringing something new and exciting to this thread!!

But no, I’m content to note one of the most interesting box office stories of the Summer, something Pixar and Disney needed to have happen to counter the disastrous Pixar streaming decisions.

 

[Willmark]

Looking over the last 20 or so pages.

If I have it right, this thread is to discuss Disney’s box office performance yet when it is discussed there is an objection over that fact?

Over discussing the very topic of this thread?

 

[Hawkeye_2018]

I think we need a new term (instead of flop) when a movie does half a billion and basically breaks even

 

[Phroobar]

I think we need a new term (instead of flop) when a movie does half a billion and basically breaks even

Money pit?
No Legs?
Octogenarian Misadventure?
Pixar?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I think we need a new term (instead of flop) when a movie does half a billion and basically breaks even

I agree

Not a flop…but it is a “failure” as far as financial goals.

It’s really simple…and we need to stop fighting over it to try and put a “w” on the board for Disney…
…they couldn’t give a crap what we say here.

How about?: “did not meet expectations”?

That’s fair. Making half of what Aladdin did and 1/3 of what Lion king did is not why they financed the movie.

Hopefully rob Marshall is done now…on the “Johnson” list