Disney is considered the king of family animation, but this throne seems to be faltering. The reason is that the recent films from the studio have not generated the box office revenue that was expected, leading to losses of hundreds of millions of USD. According to the latest news from Deadline, the animated film “Strange World” (Thế Giới Lạ Lùng) has cost Walt Disney Animation Studios nearly 200 million USD, earning it the title of the “biggest box office bomb of 2022.”
“Strange World” premiered in theaters globally in mid-November last year, but quickly made its way to the Disney+ streaming service within less than a month due to its poor box office performance. According to Deadline, Walt Disney Animation Studios had invested about 317 million USD, including production and marketing costs for the film, but only recouped 120 million USD from various revenue sources, including box office and TV/streaming services.
Featuring a cast including stars like Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, and Jaboukie Young-White as members of the Clade family, “Strange World” tells a fantastical story that emphasizes the importance of environmental conservation and the relationship between fathers and sons. Some audiences may not want to take their children to see a film with content that is not age-appropriate.
Furthermore, although Disney spent up to 90 million USD on marketing for the film, “Strange World” struggled to attract the necessary public interest. Not only that, but this animated feature also had to compete directly with another blockbuster from Disney, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” At that time, audiences were still flocking to see the superhero film that had been highly anticipated for a long time.
The failure of “Strange World” could lead to Disney pulling back from original creative ideas. Instead, the Hollywood giant may continue to focus more heavily on upcoming projects and adaptations of existing intellectual properties, such as “Peter Pan & Wendy,” set to premiere on Disney+ on April 28, and “The Little Mermaid,” which will be released in theaters on May 26. Overall, the declining box office revenues from animated films and Marvel movies in recent times may prompt Disney to rethink its strategy in the near future.
