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

[Disney Analyst]

Um, so Barbie is streaming so quickly, why?

Why are companies continuing to do this, with even blockbusters?

Probably because WB's platforms are dying, and they want to capitalize on the momentum?

 

[DKampy]

MJs final "This is It" docu-concert film, made $252M, so concert films have the potential to make big bucks at the theaters.

Not to insult any MJ fans, but Taylor is a bigger draw at this point then MJ was in his final days. So I won't say a specific number, just that $500M is doable. So yeah I wouldn't bet against her.

I would say Taylor is at this point among the biggest of all time music artists…

Um, so Barbie is streaming so quickly, why?

Why are companies continuing to do this, with even blockbusters?

because the first round of PVOD is to the cost of 19.99 and it is said the studios keep up to 85% of the profits at that stage… I am sure there is some incentive for gen pop to watch something from the comfort of their home that is still in theaters… I am sure the studios have done the math on how to maximize profits

 

[BuddyThomas]

which doesn't negate that was the direction they were heading until last minute.

Oh brother.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

(it reminds me of being at a clothing store and seeing things that are “just ok”, and feeling like they aren’t worth the hassle of waiting in line at the register)

We went to DL Paris last week and although we bought a bunch of Christmas Ornaments, figurines, etc the only article of clothing we bought was a single pajama bottom… when we were unpacking all our souvenirs we were commenting how all the clothing was just “meh” to us.

None of the adult stuff was tempting at all.

It seems impossible for a creative team to have access to the whole Disney lineup and not come up with one original “must have” shirt but somehow Disney manages it.

 

[BuddyThomas]

Um, so Barbie is streaming so quickly, why?

Why are companies continuing to do this, with even blockbusters?

Barbie is being re-released in IMAX later this month complete with new material added.

 

[WaltsTreasureChest]

Barbie is being re-released in IMAX later this month complete with new material added.

Thank you I did not know that

 

[BuddyThomas]

Thank you I did not know that

‘Barbie’ Sets Imax Release With New Post-Credits Footage

As “Barbie” hones in on becoming the highest-grossing release of the year at the domestic box office, Greta Gerwig’s hot pink comedy is about to get even bigger. Warner Bros. has …

variety.com

 

[KeithVH]

No…he’s pointing out an entirely misguided effort by a failing studio

But that’s “macro”

I am stoked for Asohka tonight

Ah, are you awaiting the Rinzler reveal?

 

[WaltsTreasureChest]

Ah, are you awaiting the Rinzler reveal?

What the heck is a rinzler

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Ah, are you awaiting the Rinzler reveal?

I don’t care what they do as long as it does SOMETHING

episode 3 did nothing and that’s a frequent mistake with these pathetically short stories

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Ironic since I don’t even like a lot of the new things lucasfilm pops out with. Hated the sequel trilogy but I admit that Indy 5 was pretty good, and the lies of Helena replacing him were all made up by doomcock. A known liar who creates drama and fake news for money.

I can agree with a lot of this

“Replacement theory” was exaggerated…but not entirely absent

It just wasn’t the movie we needed. To be clear: he’s 85 years old and will do any script with Bitcoin attached to it…
So I needed no movie. Like the sequel trilogy…should have been done decades ago but George is the only one who counts the Pennies more.

If you need money that bad, Harry, downsize the ranch next to bobs in Jackson hole and stop crashing your planes

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

So there’s no saving grace? Damned if you do, damned if ya don’t?
Helena doesn’t need a continuation, just like short round doesn’t, just like Willie doesn’t, and just like a lot of characters don’t. Doesn’t make any of those films have “No Strategy”

Sorry…
I put it in the post above.
I don’t think they ever should have made a movie. They had one old man Indy already.

Some things are a product of it’s time that it occupied. Many films…actually. I think IJ is much more that than it’s sister franchise.

 

[DisneyHead123]

We went to DL Paris last week and although we bought a bunch of Christmas Ornaments, figurines, etc the only article of clothing we bought was a single pajama bottom… when we were unpacking all our souvenirs we were commenting how all the clothing was just “meh” to us.

None of the adult stuff was tempting at all.

It seems impossible for a creative team to have access to the whole Disney lineup and not come up with one original “must have” shirt but somehow Disney manages it.

I’m always amazed at how boring their kid’s clothing is. I don’t know if that’s a creativity fail or if they license out to so many brands that they just stick to the blandest stuff on Shop Disney so as not to compete with their licensees.

 

[Willmark]

Here is another data point, can't speak to the veracity of the site but consider:

Global cinema's biggest money losers as of 2024 | Statista

As of February 2024, the four biggest movie flops of all time were Disney productions.

www.statista.com

Interestingly the Top 4 are all Disney movies and 3 of the 4 are recent.

 

[Willmark]

Also here, now what I found likewise interesting is if you toggle to by year. Previously movie bombs were rarer, something like Heaven's Gate, Cutthroat Island or Ishtar, Now they are happening at greater frequency. I don't think that can be (solely) explained away by COVID or the switch to streaming.

List of biggest box-office bombs - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Tony the Tigger]

I agree, and think it’s a bit of a paradigm shift from the days of “the family movie”, where Disney excelled for years. Entertainment has become so hyper-personalized these last few years. No more movies with a few jokes for mom and dad and a few action sequences for the kids. I can see how appealing “somewhat but not completely” to the broadest possible audience makes intuitive sense, but it doesn’t seem to be enough to make people pull the trigger on actually buying a ticket these days (it reminds me of being at a clothing store and seeing things that are “just ok”, and feeling like they aren’t worth the hassle of waiting in line at the register. The standards for brick and mortar businesses have gone up recently, I think.)

There’s nothing not family about these movies.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

There’s nothing not family about these movies.

The “perception”…right or wrong…has begun to be floated that these are NOT as family oriented

Right or wrong…and I think it’s wrong…few brands/companies are built on “general public perception” more than disney.

I believe all this hubbub will pass…as is most often the case in its history…but it’s hard to dismiss that they at least haven’t taken some body blows in recent years.

Florida deciding this fight was a good idea is REALLY stupid of them…but Disney has also been hurt with zero to little blame…for example

 

[Tony the Tigger]

The “perception”…right or wrong…has begun to be floated that these are NOT as family oriented

Right or wrong…and I think it’s wrong…few brands/companies are built on “general public perception” more than disney.

I believe all this hubbub will pass…as is most often the case in its history…but it’s hard to dismiss that they at least haven’t taken some body blows in recent years.

Florida deciding this fight was a good idea is REALLY stupid of them…but Disney has also been hurt with zero to little blame…for example

People need to get with the program. Families are diverse and no one is better than another because of their color or orientation.

They need to call it another name because “not family friendly” is not accurate.

All families matter.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

People need to get with the program. Families are diverse and no one is better than another because of their color or orientation.

They need to call it another name because “not family friendly” is not accurate.

All families matter.

No argument

The problem with “forcing” progress is it’s difficult. Not saying it should be…but it is.

You remember the 80’s and 90’s?

I’m sure the 60’s and 70’s were frustrating for much larger demographics?

I’m sure the issues now are much “smaller” in scale on the whole…but still it takes time

 

[DisneyHead123]

There’s nothing not family about these movies.

I think you misunderstood my comment. I said the fact that they are family movies is the problem. Family movies are like family meals - made to be a 6 out of 10 for most everyone, and to avoid being a 3 out of 10 for anyone… but to rarely achieve 9 out of 10 status for anyone either. Broad appeal being the name of the game.

That may or may not work in streaming, but for theater sales, it seems like niche markets that cater specifically to the preferences of various demographics (kids, young women, sci fi enthusiasts, etc.) rule the day right now.