Disney’s highly anticipated original animated film, ‘Wish,’ fell short of expectations at the box office during the holiday break. Despite positive reviews and strong audience reception, the movie failed to generate significant ticket sales, marking yet another disappointment for the studio.
Key Takeaway
Disney’s latest original animated movie, ‘Wish,’ failed to meet expectations at the box office, despite receiving positive reviews and audience acclaim. The film’s underperformance raises questions about the factors that contributed to its lackluster results, adding to Disney’s setbacks this year.
A Disappointing Box Office Performance
‘Wish,’ starring Ariana DeBose as the main character and featuring Chris Pine as the villain, along with a delightful cast of supporting characters, only managed to rake in $31.7 million over the five-day weekend. This figure fell drastically short of the projected $45-$50 million, leaving Disney disappointed with the film’s underperformance.
Internationally, ‘Wish’ fared no better, earning a mere $17.3 million overseas. The movie’s total worldwide revenue amounted to approximately $49 million, a disappointing figure by Disney’s standards. It landed in third place behind ‘Napoleon’ and the ‘Hunger Games’ prequel, further accentuating its lackluster performance.
A Challenging Year for Disney
Historically, the Thanksgiving period has been a winning window for Disney, with the studio dominating the box office. However, last year’s release of their original animated feature, “Strange World,” also proved to be a disappointment. This year, ‘Wish’ faced a similar fate despite receiving positive reviews and capturing audience hearts.
Interestingly, ‘Wish’ faced no apparent shortcomings in terms of critical acclaim or audience reception. The film garnered favorable reviews, leaving Disney puzzled as to the cause of its lackluster box office performance. One potential factor could have been the impact of the recent SAG strike on promotional efforts. However, the strike had ended well before the movie’s release date, adding to the mystery surrounding its underperformance.
A Year of Setbacks
‘Wish’ adds to the list of disappointments for Disney this year. The studio has experienced underwhelming box office results with movies like the latest ‘Indiana Jones’ installment, “The Haunted Mansion,” and “The Marvels,” among others. It has undeniably been a challenging year for the entertainment powerhouse.
