Disney has had a challenging year in 2023, facing significant setbacks with several projects underperforming at the box office, including Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and the animated feature Elemental. Currently, one film continues to hinder Disney’s prospects, contributing to a staggering estimated loss of around $900 million for the company.
According to Hollywood insiders, Haunted Mansion is the next major release from Disney that is expected to become one of this summer’s “bombs.” The film managed to gross nearly $33 million globally during its opening weekend, with only $9 million coming from the domestic market outside of North America. This also marks the lowest box office performance for a Disney film in the last 20 years, particularly among projects inspired by Disneyland’s iconic attractions.
Currently, industry revenue estimates suggest that many films are likely to earn less than $50 million, compared to production costs exceeding $150 million, indicating a potential loss margin of around $90-100 million (over $2,000 per ticket).
Screen Rant has outlined 10 reasons behind the box office failure of Haunted Mansion, including a cast that reportedly has the “lowest star power,” which has led to a lack of attraction. Collider pointed out that the high salaries for the cast have significantly impacted the budget of Haunted Mansion. Every actor in the film, including leading stars like LaKeith Stanfield and Tiffany Haddish, as well as cameo roles by Jamie Lee Curtis, earned over $5 million, with total casting costs reaching up to $75 million—almost half the entire production budget.
From the outset, production challenges, including the environment and primarily the script’s quality, have faced criticism, especially compared to the 2003 film.
Moreover, the ongoing strike among Hollywood actors is also impacting the film marketing process. Screen Rant raised concerns about why Disney has not released a promotional film for Halloween, instead of focusing on summer films and continuing to push several other “bombs.”
Inspired by the famous Haunted Mansion attraction at Disneyland, Haunted Mansion follows the story of a family who encounters ghosts in a mansion, helping two children escape from haunted spirits within the eerie estate.
