Disney Suffers Its Biggest Animated Film Flop In 20 Years
Image via Disney / IMDb
Disney has stumbled onto rocky terrain with Strange World, which pulled a meager US$11.9 million at the Thanksgiving box office, and just US$18.6 million over the extended weekend. These numbers might be fine for a B movie, but this is Walt Disney Animation Studios we’re talking about, who coughed up an eye-watering US$180 million for the film. Ouch.
Variety cites sources that Disney would have to amass US$360 million to break even for the project, since it has to take into account marketing expenses. For now, that seems like a steep mountain to climb as the House of Mouse is set to lose US$100 million during the theatrical run of the computer-animated feature.
The last time the company flopped so hard with an animated film was with Treasure Planet back in 2002. The sci-fi adventure opened to a poor US$16.6 million during a Thanksgiving weekend slot, and its theatrical release lost the company US$74 million, reports TheWrap. Treasure Planet was also its most ambitious traditionally-animated film at the time with a budget equivalent of US$230 million today.
Well, what a way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Treasure Planet’s dismal opening—with round two. Call this the Circle of Life, if you will.
The Thanksgiving weekend is no excuse for a cinematic bomb, since the stupendously successful Frozen and Moana both premiered during the holiday. However, some analysts deduce that the lukewarm reception for Strange World could be a result of the Disney+ effect, BGR notes. With streaming being just a click away, the idea of heading to theaters may be less appealing.
But wait—there’s more. Strange World is also the first Disney Animation film to receive a CinemaScore rating lower than an A-. It scored a B, ending a 31-year streak on the A list.
The film marks an unceremonious end to Bob Chapek’s reign. Chapek was replaced by his predecessor Bob Iger as Disney’s CEO on November 20.
Voiced by Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, and Gabrielle Union, Strange World follows a legendary family of explorers who journey to a world that defies the basic laws of nature.
In its defense, the sci-fi adventure has received a satisfactory 74% critics’ score, and a 65% audience score, on Rotten Tomatoes—so most people may actually find it agreeable.
With that being said, Strange World may still be doomed for a grimmer fate than Adventure Planet, and how compelling the plot is will have nothing to do with it. The film is not on show in certain international markets with LGBTQ+ content restrictions, including China and the Middle East, because of its queer lead character.
[via BGR, Vulture, TheWrap, cover image via Disney / IMDb]
