Disney's Live Action The Little Mermaid

[Disney Irish]

No one with a straight face can convince themselves in the mirror that Disney didn’t expect $1 billion in box office here. Maybe a $800-$1.2 range? Possible. But not like $525

You’re math is still fuzzy. Some movies are hits…others are disappointments…

But no studio approves a $250,000,000 budget expecting $500,000,000 back.
They would be fired for “arithmetic” then.

Its going to be seen as a success domestic and a failure worldwide, a large part of it is going to be blamed on budget some of which isn't Disney's fault due to the legally required added expense of Covid precautions.

How that shakes out within the walls of TWDC is anyone's guess. But it won't deter them from making more live action remakes, more of which were confirmed just yesterday.

 

[Chi84]

A very large portion of the population reads/watches movie reviews/ratings before they decide to see a movie.

I assumed we all joined this forum to because we enjoy seeing what everyone else thinks about the new things coming to WDW. And how they feel about Disney's new films/shows.

Is everyone excited? Or not excited?

If it is exciting, tell us why. That's why I'm looking to read, and I'm not really getting that vibe from anyone in this thread. Everyone just seems kind of unhappy.

I read reviews to learn what films are like and what others do or do not like about them. There are some movies that are highly rated and well-received but just something I know I would not enjoy. Same with all things Disney.

There are a lot of unhappy people on all the threads. Sometimes I agree; mostly I do not.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Its going to be seen as a success domestic and a failure worldwide, a large part of it is going to be blamed on budget some of which isn't Disney's fault due to the legally required added expense of Covid precautions.

How that shakes out within the walls of TWDC is anyone's guess. But it won't deter them from making more live action remakes, more of which were confirmed just yesterday.

Possibly…but it still has some work to do even domestic…
It’s doing well this week…so far.

 

[LittleBuford]

Everyone just seems kind of unhappy.

Some of us left very positive reviews.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

Some of us left very positive reviews.

Yes, but positive/like is not the same as persuasive.

If I say I like oranges, but follow that up by saying, something along the lines of "and anyone who doesn't like oranges is an idiot." That isn't going to make anyone want to run out and buy oranges.

The other thread has already died out. I count about 14 people in that thread saying they liked the movie, and of those, most were adamantly in the "It is going to be great" camp months before the movie came out. Some if it also reads like patting each other on the back, not actual movie content.


So definitely, I'd like to hear more. Sell me on why this is a great movie. (and If I have missed excellent posts, please forgive me, I'd appreciate if you would be willing to repost or tell which ones are especially worthwhile.)

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Goes back to what I said previously, who in Disney is allowing these kind of budgets to happen?

For a company who is rightfully getting known for Nickel and Diming, it’s like they have got into the mindset that making profits on a movie doesn’t matter?

You’re only going to make PROFIT when production costs are sensible. They can’t produce every movie for this kind of money and expect it to get returns like The Force Awakens, Avengers and Avatar

They approve based on future earnings…particular merch

That’s “free money” and core to their business since Eisner took over.

But that’s a confidence game. People are less critical of their product when they assume it’s a hit.

If their studios struggle…and they are..it doesn’t hold up as well under scrutiny and people aren’t as inclined to spend

 

[LittleBuford]

If I say I like oranges, but follow that up by saying, something along the lines of "and anyone who doesn't like oranges is an idiot." That isn't going to make anyone want to run out and buy oranges.

None of us who’ve posted positive reviews have stated anything resembling this.

 

[Disney Irish]

They approve based on future earnings…particular merch

That’s “free money” and core to their business since Eisner took over.

But that’s a confidence game. People are less critical of their product when they assume it’s a hit.

If their studios struggle…and they are..it doesn’t hold up as well under scrutiny and people aren’t as inclined to spend

We don't know what the original approved budget (pre-Covid) was. Its very possible that it was more reasonable back when it was first approved and only skyrocketed once the required Covid expenses got added in.

Once the strike is over and production starts on new projects will we see if the budgets get back to reasonable levels, its only been a month since the Covid protocols were removed for productions.

 

[DKampy]

Yes, but positive/like is not the same as persuasive.

If I say I like oranges, but follow that up by saying, something along the lines of "and anyone who doesn't like oranges is an idiot." That isn't going to make anyone want to run out and buy oranges.

The other thread has already died out. I count about 14 people in that thread saying they liked the movie, and of those, most were adamantly in the "It is going to be great" camp months before the movie came out. Some if it also reads like patting each other on the back, not actual movie content.


So definitely, I'd like to hear more. Sell me on why this is a great movie. (and If I have missed excellent posts, please forgive me, I'd appreciate if you would be willing to repost or tell which ones are especially worthwhile.)

Who said anything even remotely that someone was an idiot for not liking TLM…if someone saw it and did not care for it that is their prerogative…all film is suggestive…people are only questioned when they can critique the film without watching

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

We don't know what the original approved budget (pre-Covid) was. Its very possible that it was more reasonable back when it was first approved and only skyrocketed once the required Covid expenses got added in.

Once the strike is over and production starts on new projects will we see if the budgets get back to reasonable levels, its only been a month since the Covid protocols were removed for productions.

It was never less than $150…which means it still wouldn’t have been much of a success

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

None of us who’ve posted positive reviews have stated anything resembling this.

Who said anything even remotely that someone was an idiot for not liking TLM…if someone saw it and did not care for it that is their prerogative…all film is suggestive…people are only questioned when they can critique the film without watching

You guys have some lag on the uptake here…

They’re saying none of the reviews here were compelling. And if you go back and look at them….you can see it.

Pretty tepid. That doesn’t motivate to go see it. Nobody’s fault…the movie is what it is.

 

[erasure fan1]

We don't know what the original approved budget (pre-Covid) was. Its very possible that it was more reasonable back when it was first approved and only skyrocketed once the required Covid expenses got added in.

Well, Aladdin cost over 180mil and according to the inflation calculator that's about 220mil if made today. Same thing with Jungle book, that would be 224mil. It really wasn't just covid that caused these budgets. They've been creeping up for a while.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Well, Aladdin cost over 180mil and according to the inflation calculator that's about 220mil if made today. Same thing with Jungle book, that would be 224mil. It really wasn't just covid that caused these budgets. They've been creeping up for a while.

I doubt the lion king was “cheap” either

Edit: and the internet provides:

Disney: Live-Action Movies Ranked By Budget - FandomWire

Walt Disney Company has been producing the best animated and live-action movies for the past decade, and there is no stopping them from...

fandomwire.com

 

[Chi84]

Who said anything even remotely that someone was an idiot for not liking TLM…if someone saw it and did not care for it that is their prerogative…all film is suggestive…people are only questioned when they can critique the film without watching

I agree. People should not be commenting on the quality of the film without seeing it. Including saying the film isn’t good based solely on box office. If you want to comment on whether or not the film is good, just go see it or leave the comments to those who have.

 

[Disney Irish]

It was never less than $150…which means it still wouldn’t have been much of a success

Well, Aladdin cost over 180mil and according to the inflation calculator that's about 220mil if made today. Same thing with Jungle book, that would be 224mil. It really wasn't just covid that caused these budgets. They've been creeping up for a while.

Point is we don’t know the original budget only the budget with Covid costs added in. Taking the inflation adjusted budget of the previous live action films only gives part of the equation, you don’t know how much would have been required for Covid costs if produced at the same time as TLM.

This is not to say that Disney can’t or shouldn’t lower budgets, I’ve been saying it for a long time now, just that it’s a partial explanation for the current higher budgets.

 

[BlakeW39]

I agree. People should not be commenting on the quality of the film without seeing it. Including saying the film isn’t good based solely on box office. If you want to comment on whether or not the film is good, just go see it or leave the comments to those who have.

I'm sorry but has anyone said the film is bad without seeing it? I haven't seen anyone here make that claim.

 

[BrianLo]

I don't quite understand why everyone thinks the domestic take is suddenly over. It's continuing to track in almost perfect lockstep with Aladdin domestically. I don't know if that means 325 or ultimately 350 like Aladdin... but what logic are people using that it will be 275? Nothing with its trend has indicated such.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I agree. People should not be commenting on the quality of the film without seeing it. Including saying the film isn’t good based solely on box office. If you want to comment on whether or not the film is good, just go see it or leave the comments to those who have.

There’s probably some trolling back upthread…and I bet it’s100% responses to blind pro-Disney snits…but…

I'm sorry but has anyone said the film is bad without seeing it? I haven't seen anyone here make that claim.

…yeah. Saying the movie is not performing well and questioning Disney is not the same thing

But we all must kneel before Zod

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don't quite understand why everyone thinks the domestic take is suddenly over. It's continuing to track in almost perfect lockstep with Aladdin domestically. I don't know if that means 325 or ultimately 350 like Aladdin... but what logic are people using that it will be 275? Nothing with its trend has indicated such.

None of those figures make it a breadwinner in 2023

 

[Trauma]

The Little Mermaid Remake's Box Office Destroys Disney's $1 Billion Trend: Will It Recover?

Will this impact future Disney remakes?

screenrant.com

Well now that this Disney bomb is finished we can move on to the next one, opening today!