The greatest films to come out of Japan
Disney has faced backlash over various issues, including its handling of political and social themes in films, labor disputes, and disagreements over content. For example, LGBTQ+ representation in some films has been divisive in certain markets.
While Disney+ has been successful, competition from platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime has intensified, making it challenging for Disney to maintain dominance in the streaming market.
In recent years, Disney has been accused of losing its originality, and it's no surprise when they continue producing remakes and sequels of existing shows and old movies instead of creating something new. For some fans, this has led to "Disney fatigue," with many feeling that the magic is being diluted by the constant releases.
'A Wrinkle in Time' is an adaptation of the Madeleine L'Engle novel of the same name from the early 1960s. The plot follows a group of young heroes who venture outside their home galaxy and battle against a powerful evil force known as "The Black Thing," which represents darkness and fear across the universe.
Despite a star-studded cast that featured Oprah Winfrey, Chris Pine, Mindy Kaling, and Zach Galifianakis, 'A Wrinkle in Time' debuted to negative reviews, which resulted in a loss of about US$63 million.
While the performances of Jim Carey and Gary Oldman received praise from critics, the movie was met with a mixed reception, leading to a loss of approximately $65 million.
Unfortunately, 'The BFG' received little attention from general audiences and the movie ultimately lost an estimated $81 million at the box office.
Adapted from the Roald Dahl novel of the same name, The BFG (short for the Big Friendly Giant) features a young girl named Sophie who uncovers a fantastical world known as Giant Country.
A sci-fi reimagining of Robert Louis Stevenson’s 'Treasure Island,' 'Treasure Planet' received mixed to positive reviews upon its release. It premiered the same weekend as 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,' 'Die Another Day,' and 'The Santa Clause 2,' which contributed to an estimated loss of $109 million.
'Tomorrowland' was based on the themed land of the same name from the Disney Parks. The movie was an attempt by the studio to build a franchise similar to 'Pirates of the Caribbean.'
While 'Tomorrowland' featured an all-star cast, including George Clooney, a lack of solid marketing meant the movie failed to become a hit. Losses were estimated at around $134 million at the box office.
Disney's 'Around the World in 80 Days' is based on the 1873 Jules Verne novel of the same name. The movie only grossed $72 million worldwide, resulting in an estimated loss of $18 million.
To add insult to injury, 'Around the World in 80 Days' was also a remake of the 1956 version, which won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Lukewarm reviews and a general lack of excitement from fans led to 'Wish' flopping at the box office, resulting in an estimated loss of $160 million. It wasn’t an ideal way for the studio to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
Released in 2023, to celebrate Disney's 100th anniversary, 'Wish' follows Asha, a young girl who wishes upon a star to save her community from a dark force.
Box office returns for 'Lightyear' were primarily hampered by the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, as families were used to having movies released on Disney+ rather than going to theaters to see them. An estimated loss of $182 million made 'Lightyear' the lowest-earning film in the 'Toy Story' franchise.
The 'Lightyear' movie tells the origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Chris Evans) from the 'Toy Story' franchise. Although the film did receive more positive reviews than negative, box office returns were poor.
Hopes were high, due to the high budget and star-studded cast, but underwhelming reviews from critics and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a loss of $190 million.
'Jungle Cruise' was based on the Disney World amusement ride of the same name. Executives were hoping that an amusement ride-to-film adaptation, like the first 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie, would be just as successful.
'The Lone Ranger' was marketed as the next big moneymaker for Disney after the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movies. It was a big risk, even with Johnny Depp involved in the project.
The budget for 'The Lone Ranger' exceeded the expected cap, making the required box office profit to be unattainably high. The movie made $260 million worldwide, but considering the production and marketing budget of $225 million, it wasn't enough. 'The Lone Ranger' resulted in a $190 million loss for Disney.
'Haunted Mansion,' released in 2023, was an adaptation of the Disneyland ride, and a remake of the 2003 version starring Eddie Murphy.
Plagued by negative reviews and an audience preference for original content over remakes, 'Haunted Mansion' (2023) only grossed $114 million at the box office, significantly less than the 2003 adaptation.
While the movie featured a new and original storyline, it was unsuccessful critically, and its release at the same time as 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' resulted in a $200 million loss in its total box office run.
'Strange World' combined CGI and 2D animation, with a voice cast including Jake Gyllenhaal and Gabrielle Union, to bring a vibrant world to the big screen.
The movie's release at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a decreased interest in live-action remakes, and abundant controversies caused the new 'Mulan' to lose around $300 million worldwide.
Disney executives made the decision to release 'Turning Red' in both theaters and on Disney+, which resulted in an eyewatering $340 million loss for the company.
Sources: (Forbes) (BBC) (The Direct) (Comic Book Resources)
Like 'Strange World,' 'Turning Red' is another example of an original animated Disney movie that underperformed at the box office. While the film was well-received by critics, it didn't fare well financially.
'A Christmas Carol' is an animated adaptation of the famous Charles Dickens story, written and directed by Robert Zemeckis. It was Zemeckis' third film to use motion capture animation, but by 2009, the technique had begun to feel tired to both general audiences and critics.
While the live-action remakes of 'The Jungle Book,' 'Beauty and the Beast,' and 'The Lion King' were box office hits, the same can't be said for the live-action remake of 'Mulan.'
In 2023, the Walt Disney Company celebrated its 100th anniversary. And what a century it's been, with the company evolving from its humble beginnings in animation to becoming a global powerhouse, influencing entertainment through 12 global theme parks, over 60 feature-length animated movies, a TV network, and a streaming platform. While Disney has experienced plenty of highs, there have also been a number of lows, especially in recent years due to an increase in live-action remakes, franchise fatigue, and controversies.
If you'd like to take a deeper dive into Disney's failures and discover some of the company's biggest box-office flops, don't hesitate to click through this gallery now.
Notable Disney box office flops
Take a look at Disney's biggest box-office bombs
MOVIES Box office
In 2023, the Walt Disney Company celebrated its 100th anniversary. And what a century it's been, with the company evolving from its humble beginnings in animation to becoming a global powerhouse, influencing entertainment through 12 global theme parks, over 60 feature-length animated movies, a TV network, and a streaming platform. While Disney has experienced plenty of highs, there have also been a number of lows, especially in recent years due to an increase in live-action remakes, franchise fatigue, and controversies.
If you'd like to take a deeper dive into Disney's failures and discover some of the company's biggest box-office flops, don't hesitate to click through this gallery now.