CaptainAmerica
Well-Known Member
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Elemental (Pixar - June 2023)
- Thread starter DCBaker
- Start date
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
It’s almost like that formula works?
TP2000
Well-Known Member
A crummy Monday morning for execs at Disney and Pixar. Variety has just declared Elemental a "Bomb". Ouch. 
variety.com
This hilariously out of touch paragraph made me laugh out loud though...
“It’s more expensive for a family of four to go to a theater when they know they can wait and it’ll come out on the platform,” Docter has since admitted to Variety. Now, the studio is attempting to reverse course. In an effort to remind the public that Pixar is once again making movies for multiplexes, Disney shelled out to send “Elemental” to the Cannes Film Festival, where it was greeted with a five-minute standing ovation. “We’re trying to make sure people realize there’s a great deal you’re missing by not seeing it on the big screen,” Docter added.
Yes, because goodness knows that the glittery-elite audience at Cannes is exactly like the American family audience pulling up to the mall multiplex in a minivan. It was a huge hit at Cannes, so why did it bomb in Columbus and Charlotte and Corpus Christi???
After ‘Elemental’ Bombs, Can Pixar Restore Its Box Office Touch?
"Elemental" continues an ignominious box office streak for Pixar and animation releases at Disney.
variety.com
This hilariously out of touch paragraph made me laugh out loud though...
“It’s more expensive for a family of four to go to a theater when they know they can wait and it’ll come out on the platform,” Docter has since admitted to Variety. Now, the studio is attempting to reverse course. In an effort to remind the public that Pixar is once again making movies for multiplexes, Disney shelled out to send “Elemental” to the Cannes Film Festival, where it was greeted with a five-minute standing ovation. “We’re trying to make sure people realize there’s a great deal you’re missing by not seeing it on the big screen,” Docter added.
Yes, because goodness knows that the glittery-elite audience at Cannes is exactly like the American family audience pulling up to the mall multiplex in a minivan. It was a huge hit at Cannes, so why did it bomb in Columbus and Charlotte and Corpus Christi???
CaptainAmerica
Well-Known Member
"Ford wanted to know what features truck drivers valued most in full-sized pickups, so they spent several days interviewing the faculty of the Columbia University Women's Studies department."A crummy Monday morning for execs at Disney and Pixar. Variety has just declared Elemental a "Bomb". Ouch.
After ‘Elemental’ Bombs, Can Pixar Restore Its Box Office Touch?
"Elemental" continues an ignominious box office streak for Pixar and animation releases at Disney.
This hilariously out of touch paragraph made me laugh out loud though...
“It’s more expensive for a family of four to go to a theater when they know they can wait and it’ll come out on the platform,” Docter has since admitted to Variety. Now, the studio is attempting to reverse course. In an effort to remind the public that Pixar is once again making movies for multiplexes, Disney shelled out to send “Elemental” to the Cannes Film Festival, where it was greeted with a five-minute standing ovation. “We’re trying to make sure people realize there’s a great deal you’re missing by not seeing it on the big screen,” Docter added.
Yes, because goodness knows that the glittery-elite audience at Cannes is exactly like the American family audience pulling up to the mall multiplex in a minivan. It was a huge hit at Cannes, so why did it bomb in Columbus and Charlotte and Corpus Christi???
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
I had the same thought…A crummy Monday morning for execs at Disney and Pixar. Variety has just declared Elemental a "Bomb". Ouch.
After ‘Elemental’ Bombs, Can Pixar Restore Its Box Office Touch?
"Elemental" continues an ignominious box office streak for Pixar and animation releases at Disney.
This hilariously out of touch paragraph made me laugh out loud though...
“It’s more expensive for a family of four to go to a theater when they know they can wait and it’ll come out on the platform,” Docter has since admitted to Variety. Now, the studio is attempting to reverse course. In an effort to remind the public that Pixar is once again making movies for multiplexes, Disney shelled out to send “Elemental” to the Cannes Film Festival, where it was greeted with a five-minute standing ovation. “We’re trying to make sure people realize there’s a great deal you’re missing by not seeing it on the big screen,” Docter added.
Yes, because goodness knows that the glittery-elite audience at Cannes is exactly like the American family audience pulling up to the mall multiplex in a minivan. It was a huge hit at Cannes, so why did it bomb in Columbus and Charlotte and Corpus Christi???
They’re lost. Tell simple stories with heart, Heroes and villains.
Did I mention the entire board and management needs to go?
TP2000
Well-Known Member
From another Variety article today, the respected industry mag confirms the price tags for production and marketing of Elemental.
"At the domestic box office, “Elemental” flopped with $25.9 million, landing by far the worst start in Pixar’s history. Like “The Flash,” “Elemental” also cost $200 million to produce and roughly $100 million to promote."
Does the Smart Set here want to do their wizard math on that for a break even number?
Because my damp cocktail napkin math says that Elemental needs to make at least $600 Million globally to break even.
variety.com
"At the domestic box office, “Elemental” flopped with $25.9 million, landing by far the worst start in Pixar’s history. Like “The Flash,” “Elemental” also cost $200 million to produce and roughly $100 million to promote."
Does the Smart Set here want to do their wizard math on that for a break even number?
Because my damp cocktail napkin math says that Elemental needs to make at least $600 Million globally to break even.
‘The Flash’ Stumbles at International Box Office With $75 Million, Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ Crashes With $15 Million Overseas
"The Flash" and Disney's Pixar adventure "Elemental" failed to catch fire with international audiences.
variety.com
CaptainAmerica
Well-Known Member
Wait was it revised downward or is that a typo? I though it was 29.5, not 25.9.
The spin machine usually tries to count the money that Disney pays to itself for the streaming rights to their own movies towards the profitability of the film.Does the Smart Set here want to do their wizard math on that for a break even number?
Because my damp cocktail napkin math says that Elemental needs to make at least $600 Million globally to break even.
‘The Flash’ Stumbles at International Box Office With $75 Million, Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ Crashes With $15 Million Overseas
"The Flash" and Disney's Pixar adventure "Elemental" failed to catch fire with international audiences.
CaptainAmerica
Well-Known Member
Hot take: Onward, Soul, Luca, and Turning Red would have flopped too, if they had gotten full theatrical releases.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
It's a typo. They transposed the 9 and the 5 and no one caught it, because "journalism" no longer has editors.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
…now…don’t startFrom another Variety article today, the respected industry mag confirms the price tags for production and marketing of Elemental.
"At the domestic box office, “Elemental” flopped with $25.9 million, landing by far the worst start in Pixar’s history. Like “The Flash,” “Elemental” also cost $200 million to produce and roughly $100 million to promote."
Does the Smart Set here want to do their wizard math on that for a break even number?
Because my damp cocktail napkin math says that Elemental needs to make at least $600 Million globally to break even.
‘The Flash’ Stumbles at International Box Office With $75 Million, Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ Crashes With $15 Million Overseas
"The Flash" and Disney's Pixar adventure "Elemental" failed to catch fire with international audiences.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
But that’s a complete gamechanger, don’t ya think?It's a typo. They transposed the 9 and the 5 and no one caught it, because "journalism" no longer has editors.
1000% correct.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
I think they all would have fared “better” without disruption…but yeah…none would have covered
ppete1975
Well-Known Member
I think onward might have done ok. It was when people still wanted to go the theaters, Disney was still beloved by all, and it was doing pretty well in early reviews. It made 142 million its opening weekend and things were already shutting down and people were nervous about public places and theaters. So had covid not hit... I think it would have done ok.
mf1972
Well-Known Member
to me, these movies were just ok. maybe watch again sometime. overall they reminded me when disney used to release direct to video sequels back in the 90’s vs a theatrical release.
Sir_Cliff
Well-Known Member
Looking at the reviews, it does seem that after this and Lightyear Pixar really does need to look at what has changed regarding the creative process from their earlier successes. Amongst other reasons for the film underperforming, I do think Pixar's brand has always been as the more sophisticated US animation studio in terms of storytelling and that needs to be part of the appeal. When a film like this comes out and the consensus is that it is just ok, it becomes a far harder sell than the known quantity of a franchise. The studio is a bit of a victim of its own success in that regard, as "lesser Pixar" is now a phrase people throw around when the films don't quite hit the mark of the studio's best work. I don't think even "lesser Disney" is as much of a thing as "lesser Pixar"!
On that front, I don't think the issue is at all that they need to start telling simpler stories of heroes and villains: that was never their brand. From the discussion on here, I think a lot of people would be rolling their eyes at films like Ratatouille, Wall-E, and Inside Out as being completely unrelatable to the average moviegoer if Pixar released them today. They just need to get back to great storytelling, which is admittedly easier said than done.
Also think post-Luck we can drop the idea that Lasseter was the magic ingredient.
Finally, I agree with those that think there does need to be some re-training of audiences to see a film at the cinema by lengthening the time it takes to come on Disney+. It's not the only (or even necessarily the primary reason) this and really all post-pandemic Disney and Pixar animated films have struggled at the box office, but I think it is part of it. It's kind of the big risk of having a Disney-branded streaming service for all your Disney content: how do you convince people to essentially pay twice for the same Disney content by also seeing it at the cinema? The only way I can think is making it more akin to seeing the film then buying the VHS/DVD/Blu-ray months later.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
Yeah…we saw onward in the theater and it has a ton of heart…and popular voices
It got a raw deal
Turning red may have done ok
TP2000
Well-Known Member
What a difference a week makes.
Six days ago Variety was going on record saying that Elemental was "bracing for disaster" as it was forecast to only get $35 Million in domestic box office for it's opening weekend in the good 'ol USA.
"Both of the mega-budgeted tentpoles are tracking for lackluster starts, with “The Flash,” starring Ezra Miller as the title DC superhero, targeting $70 million and “Elemental,” an animated adventure about opposites who attract, aiming to collect just $35 million.
In regards to “Elemental,” the family friendly film is bracing for disaster. Those projected ticket sales are rivaling 2015’s “The Good Dinosaur” ($39 million) and 2020’s “Onward” ($39 million) as the worst starts in Pixar’s modern history. The animation empire has been struggling since the pandemic, when several of its titles were sent directly to Disney+ and possibly trained family audiences to watch its movies at home. The studio took “Elemental” to the Cannes Film Festival to amplify the point (to all the youngsters sunning themselves on the French Riviera?) that Pixar is again making movies for the big screen."
The already disastrous and severely downgraded goal of $35 Million domestic wasn't achieved. Not even $30 Million.
Elemental's grand total for US box office as of Sunday night once the last multiplex in Hawaii closed...
$29,602,429
Maybe we should have waited a few more hours to get the box office from Guam and American Samoa?
variety.com
Six days ago Variety was going on record saying that Elemental was "bracing for disaster" as it was forecast to only get $35 Million in domestic box office for it's opening weekend in the good 'ol USA.
"Both of the mega-budgeted tentpoles are tracking for lackluster starts, with “The Flash,” starring Ezra Miller as the title DC superhero, targeting $70 million and “Elemental,” an animated adventure about opposites who attract, aiming to collect just $35 million.
In regards to “Elemental,” the family friendly film is bracing for disaster. Those projected ticket sales are rivaling 2015’s “The Good Dinosaur” ($39 million) and 2020’s “Onward” ($39 million) as the worst starts in Pixar’s modern history. The animation empire has been struggling since the pandemic, when several of its titles were sent directly to Disney+ and possibly trained family audiences to watch its movies at home. The studio took “Elemental” to the Cannes Film Festival to amplify the point (to all the youngsters sunning themselves on the French Riviera?) that Pixar is again making movies for the big screen."
The already disastrous and severely downgraded goal of $35 Million domestic wasn't achieved. Not even $30 Million.
Elemental's grand total for US box office as of Sunday night once the last multiplex in Hawaii closed...
$29,602,429
Maybe we should have waited a few more hours to get the box office from Guam and American Samoa?
‘The Flash’ Targets $70 Million, Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ Aims for $35 Million in Underwhelming Box Office Battle
"The Flash" opens at the box office against Pixar's "Elemental."
variety.com
Dam, you're right!
Tha Realest
Well-Known Member
(Fast forward to November when someone posts a screenshot showing this film was in the top five for streaming viewership, alongside films you didn’t even know existed - “See, it’s not a total loss!”)From another Variety article today, the respected industry mag confirms the price tags for production and marketing of Elemental.
"At the domestic box office, “Elemental” flopped with $25.9 million, landing by far the worst start in Pixar’s history. Like “The Flash,” “Elemental” also cost $200 million to produce and roughly $100 million to promote."
Does the Smart Set here want to do their wizard math on that for a break even number?
Because my damp cocktail napkin math says that Elemental needs to make at least $600 Million globally to break even.
‘The Flash’ Stumbles at International Box Office With $75 Million, Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ Crashes With $15 Million Overseas
"The Flash" and Disney's Pixar adventure "Elemental" failed to catch fire with international audiences.