Disney's Live Action The Little Mermaid

[Californian Elitist]

“Improvement” isn’t really the goal. You’re not trying to disregard the originals because they’re all iconic and a foundation brick for Disney

I think “good take/spin” is what they’re looking for

It was still an improvement, whether you believe it’s the goal or not.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Can we agree that if Dis though this was just a domestic play they should have had a much smaller budget?

I would guess TWDC thought this would do as well as Cinderella, BatB, and Lion King.

So, if it doesn't do that well, it would be disappointing, and maybe... just maybe they'd change tack.

But WDS (live-action studio) is still following the hit-and-mostly-miss formula of the past 6 decades of throwing story ideas at 3rd party writers, directors, and producers and hope, that on their own, they'd make a hit.

The reason Pixar and DAS had been doing so well (up until recently) is that their own staff produces the films in a process that gets regular feedback from *everybody* working at their respective studios. This was the John Lasseter way. And then it got transposed to DAS.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I would also agree that it’s the best live-action remake that I’ve personally seen.

 

[DKampy]

This is what happens a lot lately on Disney forums: “success on a diminishing standards scale”

Definitely saw it with wakanda…and Thor: love and stupidity…it was tried early with light year but that wasn’t gonna hold.

Let’s see how it goes. Not decree failure or then claim failure decrees are wrong. Spinning wheels right now

It happens both ways… but honestly for me right now it is holding up better than expected… as I figured international it would not do too well, but I also thought Domestic would fall off harder with the competition and I now expect next weeks drop will be even smaller as I think Transformers won’t be much competition for anyone, but time will tell

I knew the Little Mermaid would be a risk from the get go…. As I am sure Disney did as well… you would have to be blind to not see the so called ”anti-woke” agenda

 

[DKampy]

It does improve upon its animated predecessor in many ways, including Ariel and Eric’s relationship, Eric’s characterization, and Ariel’s characterization.

I thought it was a good companion piece to the original

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Deadline updated forecast showing down now 57% this weekend, below both BATB and Aladdin.

Box Office Mojo has it down 69% but I believe the blue means it’s still an estimate for yesterday.

 

[Trauma]

Box Office Mojo has it down 69% but I believe the blue means it’s still an estimate for yesterday.

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I really think it’s going to hold better domestically than expected. Anyone here knows I’m not a cheerleader for this film so I’m just huffing pixie dust.

We will have to wait and see but I’m guessing 50%.

And yes I know how crazy that sounds.

I actually think Spidy might help it.

I’ve been wrong many times before so we will see, maybe it still dumpsters.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Box Office Mojo has it down 69% but I believe the blue means it’s still an estimate for yesterday.

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That's Friday-to-Friday, not weekend-to-weekend.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I really think it’s going to hold better domestically than expected. Anyone here knows I’m not a cheerleader for this film.

We will have to wait and see but I’m guessing 50%.

And yes I know how crazy that sounds.

I actually think Spidy might help it.

I’ve been wrong many times before so we will see, maybe it still dumpsters.

They have Spidey at $70 million for Friday alone, that’s a crazy number for 1 day, especially on a $100 million budget.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

When I saw that this was made by Rob Marshall I did wonder what happened with Mary Poppins returns then as this TLM was great.

A corporate mandate to make 100% “safe” remakes and try to sell them as not remakes?

 

[Trauma]

It does improve upon its animated predecessor in many ways, including Ariel and Eric’s relationship, Eric’s characterization, and Ariel’s characterization.

I agree with everything you just said in opposite world.

 

[DKampy]

Box Office Mojo has it down 69% but I believe the blue means it’s still an estimate for yesterday.

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The 69% is usually higher Friday the week after as opening Fridays include preview Thursdays… which is pretty common for movies to decline near 80% on the 2nd Friday Deadline is reporting for the full weekend to be 54% decline for the weekend I think it will beat that as it has been trending to do better than originally forecasted

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I would guess TWDC thought this would do as well as Cinderella, BatB, and Lion King.

So, if it doesn't do that well, it would be disappointing, and maybe... just maybe they'd change tack.

But WDS (live-action studio) is still following the hit-and-mostly-miss formula of the past 6 decades of throwing story ideas at 3rd party writers, directors, and producers and hope, that on their own, they'd make a hit.

The reason Pixar and DAS had been doing so well (up until recently) is that their own staff produces the films in a process that gets regular feedback from *everybody* working at their respective studios. This was the John Lasseter way. And then it got transposed to DAS.

I agree…this was the next “big” remake

And I think we all agree it’s not gonna get close to that BO…

Some can be splained away to changing consumer habits - for sure - and some for a bit of a smear PR campaign…

…but is that like $200-250 million of gross worth?

Hard to gauge

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

They have Spidey at $70 million for Friday alone, that’s a crazy number for 1 day, especially on a $100 million budget.

Wow…prediction was $40

Just wow

But it’s incredibly well reviewed and got fantastic word of mouth…

Good movies make money.


Some…make $1 billion of name/brand recognition and are so bad they make $0 off the actual garbage thrown up…

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I agree with everything you just said in opposite world.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

A company like Disney, doesn't set out to break even. I don't believe for a second that Disney actually believes that when a 200/250mil dollar production breaks even or falls short of profit, it's a success. They expect these major tent poles to make profit.

I generally agree with this but also wonder if they aren’t ok with, and even plan on, a few break even movies in their search to find the next billion dollar mega hit.

Losing money is obviously bad but if a couple movies break even, or generate a small profit, it keeps talented people on the payroll that might be important to the success of the next “Frozen”.

 

[Trauma]

I generally agree with this but also wonder if they aren’t ok with, and even plan on, a few break even movies in their search to find the next billion dollar mega hit.

Losing money is obviously bad but if a couple movies break even, or generate a small profit, it keeps talented people on the payroll that might be important to the success of the next “Frozen”.

To get the next Frozen you have to take some risks.

These remakes are not risks.

At least they didn’t use to be.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I thought it was a good companion piece to the original

I agree. Looking at it as a companion is nice.

Side note, a child in my theater yelled “HE DIES!” during the scene when Eric falls into the ocean. We all laughed.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

To get the next Frozen you have to take some risks.

These remakes are not risks.

At least they didn’t use to be.

Wait but I don't want the next Frozen. Frozen was butt too.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

To get the next Frozen you have to take some risks.

These remakes are not risks.

At least they didn’t use to be.

True, but a few of the remakes have hit a billion + also. I don’t see any formula to explain what hits and what doesn’t, but enough hit to offset the ones that don’t so I get why they keep remaking everything to see what audiences rush to.