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

[Hawkeye_2018]

It is curious how that has recently evolved into being the goal. No company invests hundreds of millions of dollars over several years, not to mention focus an entire global organization on marketing a project, to generate no return (and in reality a negative NPV).

Even discussing "breakeven" as some sort of a victory is just amusing to me.

If anybody would like to give me $500M for five years and be thrilled with getting $500M back at the end, please DM me.

It is a small victory when a film battles back after opening weekend disappointments

 

[Disney Irish]

…they couldn’t give a crap what we say here.

In this part we can agree, they don't care what we say here. Nor does what we say here indicate how they are actually feeling about specific projects or its financial outcomes. We can make guesses based on our own personal opinion, but its just that a guess based on personal opinion.

For all we know breaking even on a particular project might just end up with a sigh of relief in Burbank even if there was initial disappointment.

 

[DKampy]

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

Rob Marshall has Oscars on his mantle

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

A movie that just "breaks even" obviously isn't the goal, but it becomes a long term asset. Movies made decades ago that did so so at the time were subsequently sold on VHS, DVD, blu-ray, 4k disc, digital, streaming services, etc.

 

[Hawkeye_2018]

Uh, OK. When a public (or private for that matter) company invests hundreds of millions of dollars and does not achieve the return it expects (and by definition, foregoes other investment opportunities that would have provided a better return), there is no "victory" of any size.

If fans want to cheer on films and create some sort of moral "wins" along the way that is up to them, but these films are absolute financial failures for these companies.

My point is there are degrees of failures. I don't think LM or Elemental belong in the same conversation as Indy 5 or The Flash

 

[wtyy21]

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

There's another similar example of Disney films that are just not break-even, not only Marshall-directed The Little Mermaid.

Tangled is a example of that. Directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, this film had $260M budget (most expensive animated film at the time and currently tied with The Lion King remake in 2019), but it outgrossed them with $592M budget. However, more noticable difference from TLM live-action remake is Tangled did performed flop in domestic ($200.8M), but far outgrossed it overseas ($391.6M). This film eventually failed to break-even, but is more popular when it released to digital platforms and home media releases.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

There's another similar example of Disney films that are just not break-even, not only Marshall-directed The Little Mermaid.

Tangled is a example of that. Directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard, this film had $260M budget (most expensive animated film at the time and currently tied with The Lion King remake in 2019), but it outgrossed them with $592M budget. However, more noticable difference from TLM live-action remake is Tangled did performed flop in domestic ($200.8M), but far outgrossed it overseas ($391.6M). This film eventually failed to break-even, but is more popular when it released to digital platforms and home media releases.

Tangled is very rare outlier…

Because it really kinda launched a new chapter in Disney animation. It’s budget went nuts cause of problems

The little mermaid won’t launch anything. It’s a simple remake in a too long of a line of remakes.

Quickly and quietly it goes away.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Rob Marshall has Oscars on his mantle

And has made two very expensive Disney reboots/remakes that were intended to start franchises and neither got out of the gate.

I do like Chicago…by the way.

But perhaps he needs to disassociate with Miranda on his next time out?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

A movie that just "breaks even" obviously isn't the goal, but it becomes a long term asset. Movies made decades ago that did so so at the time were subsequently sold on VHS, DVD, blu-ray, 4k disc, digital, streaming services, etc.

We can all acknowledge that

Where this has been twisted/mongrelized is the assertion Disney is ok with it not making box office money.

Are not.
Will not be.
Never were.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

A movie that just "breaks even" obviously isn't the goal, but it becomes a long term asset. Movies made decades ago that did so so at the time were subsequently sold on VHS, DVD, blu-ray, 4k disc, digital, streaming services, etc.

Except in 2023 they're not selling VHS, DVD, blu-ray, 4k disc, or digital, and the only customer they have for streaming rights is themselves.

Disney nuked all the other windows that used to provide post-theatrical revenue streams. Unless a piece of content is directly creating Disney+ subscribers (or at least preventing existing Disney+ subscribers from churning out), then the theatrical window is all they've got.

 

[Hawkeye_2018]

Except in 2023 they're not selling VHS, DVD, blu-ray, 4k disc, or digital, and the only customer they have for streaming rights is themselves.

Disney nuked all the other windows that used to provide post-theatrical revenue streams. Unless a piece of content is directly creating Disney+ subscribers (or at least preventing existing Disney+ subscribers from churning out), then the theatrical window is all they've got.

They still sell all that stuff. They also sell it via pay TV channels like TBS who play Marvel and SW movies non stop

 

[Disney Irish]

Except in 2023 they're not selling VHS, DVD, blu-ray, 4k disc, or digital, and the only customer they have for streaming rights is themselves.

Disney nuked all the other windows that used to provide post-theatrical revenue streams. Unless a piece of content is directly creating Disney+ subscribers (or at least preventing existing Disney+ subscribers from churning out), then the theatrical window is all they've got.

Might want to double check that my friend.....

You can pre-order the 4k/Blu-Ray release now, available on Sept 26th.

And its available on Vudu, iTunes, Prime and where ever other digital purchases can be made as of last week.

The Little Mermaid Swims to the Top of VOD Charts

Disney's Little Mermaid remake is topping the VOD charts after its digital release.

movieweb.com

 

[wtyy21]

For someone who know about Disney's only profitable movie this year so far (for now), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be the last physical home video release in Australia (released on August 9) as Disney stopped their DVD/Blu-ray releases in this country.

So, all upcoming Disney films digitally released afterwards will released exclusively at PVOD at Disney+ in Australia.

 

[Hawkeye_2018]

Wish they would release numbers for how well a film does via digital sales

 

[Disney Irish]

For someone who know about Disney's only profitable movie this year so far (for now), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will be the last physical home video release in Australia (released on August 9) as Disney stopped their DVD/Blu-ray releases in this country.

So, all upcoming Disney films digitally released afterwards will released exclusively at PVOD at Disney+ in Australia.

Amazon seems to be able to ship TLM 4K/Blu-Ray to Australia, so not sure how true this really is.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Wish they would release numbers for how well a film does via digital sales

Likewise, I wish they would release number for how well a film does by number of tickets sold.

 

[Disney Irish]

Wish they would release numbers for how well a film does via digital sales

I have a feeling this is part of what will be discussed as part of the strike negotiations along with greater transparency into streaming numbers.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Might want to double check that my friend.....

You can pre-order the 4k/Blu-Ray release now, available on Sept 26th.

View attachment 734777

And its available on Vudu, iTunes, Prime and where ever other digital purchases can be made as of last week.

The Little Mermaid Swims to the Top of VOD Charts

Disney's Little Mermaid remake is topping the VOD charts after its digital release.

movieweb.com

Dear lord.

Yes, obviously they're making the movies available to be purchased. But nobody is purchasing them because they're included in the all-you-can-eat subscription service.

 

[Disney Irish]

Dear lord.

Yes, obviously they're making the movies available to be purchased. But nobody is purchasing them because they're included in the all-you-can-eat subscription service.

If nobody was really purchasing them via PVOD services or 4K/Blu-ray then they wouldn't be pushing them out that way.

So clearly they are selling enough via these offerings as they continue to do it.

Also as you know streaming services don't guarantee continued availability, digital purchase and 4K/Blu-Ray does.

 

[Hawkeye_2018]

I typically bought 3-5 Disney movies a year on disc/digital prior to D+. Now I buy none but spend about the same amount via my Dis+ subscription