Disney is one of the most popular movie studios in the world. It has paved the way for the industry and produced classics that are still in the hearts of many to this day. But, the industry is much different from when it was created in 1923. And that change might not be such a good thing.
Then vs. Now
The first ever movie made by Disney was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but the first film was made in 1928 titled Steamboat Mickey. Many other movies, animations, and short films that followed received positive reviews and critiques. However, around 2022,Disney hit historic lows in the box office. Audiences from around the world began to wonder if Disney really cared about producing quality content over money.
Box Office Failure
Strange World is one example of Disney’s new historic lows at the box office. The film was released to theaters on November 23rd, 2022. Yet despite having an estimated budget of $317.4 million, counting marketing budgets, it only made 73.6$ million worldwide. Compared to other films like Monsters Inc., which made over $528 million, Strange World was a massive fail.
It’s Not All About Money
But Disney still has success in many of its movies, so what’s the problem? Well, reviewers have expressed the movies haven’t been consistent in it’s quality, making it hard to actually enjoy the movies. Not only can you find articles, forums, and discussions about this, but popular platforms like Youtube have dozens of commentary videos expressing distaste for the new movies. Many highlight that the plot in most movies has either been bland or doesn’t make sense.
A Sequel to the Sequel which Sequels the Sequel
Disney has been producing movies for a long time. And while a duology and a trilogy isn’t uncommon in the film world, producing sequels that lack plot, originality, and just a way to earn a buck are not only obvious but disappointing. A key example is Moana 2 and Mufasa (2024). Although Mufasa may have been better than the original Lion King live action in 2019, most agree it still lacked authenticity and originality. Moana 2 follows a similar path. Many believe this is because the movie was first planned and filmed to be a show spread across a few episodes, before it was mashed together into a movie. The Daily Beat writes, “I hate it because it’s offensively lazy, wasting impressive voice talents and beloved characters in the quest for the almighty dollar.” Another reviewer on IMDb writes, “Moana has no arc and there is nothing new with her…little go forward with. Her plot is about finding other people, but there’s no reason for her. She’s lacking nothing, beloved by all, and gets everything her way already.”
Live Action, Schlive action
On the topic of Mufasa (2024), many Disney fans have expressed distaste for the constant live action remakes of beloved movies. Some are the Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo, Aladdin, Mulan, 101 Dalmatians, 102 Dalmatians, Pinocchio, and the Little Mermaid. Every single one has a critique expressing it doesn’t live up to the original–and that fans don’t need another live action that’ll only take the original story and muddle it.
I Wish I Never Watched You
And it gets worse. Wish was a film produced by Disney for their 100th anniversary. And although it made $255 million back from a $200 million budget, it was considered a flop due to the low money back. And the movie itself was worse. Not only was the plot lackluster and bland, but the songs were the nail in the coffin. “This Is The Thanks I Get?!” has become a meme with its famous line, “I let you live here for free. And I don’t even charge you rent.” not only does it sound strange with the music itself but also sounds like something straight out of a comedy film. People also argue that the main antagonist wasn’t even all that evil, and even found the motivations of the protagonist to be selfish. Overall, the movie was a bust.
There’s just Better Movies
In the end, Disney is still a very successful film company that will likely still produce movies that people watch. And even if they are in a dark age, it isn’t the first and won’t be the last. But with DreamWorks releasing amazing films like The Wild Robot and The Bad Guys, Sony with the amazing Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse or even the release of Sonic 3, it’s clear Disney now has more to compete with than ever before.
