Disney to "Quiet the Noise" in Culture Wars

[BrianL]

"Children's movies" have a built-in audience unconcerned with quality. Most of them will make money, many of them a LOT of money. If they're based on something the parents already know, all the better for the box office receipts.

I somewhat disagree - at least with the idea that Disney makes "childrens movies." They are typically movies for everyone, and being for everyone is the key to their success. Kids are smart too - they know a quality production when they see one. They may not be looking for the same qualities that adults do, but they can be discerning. Walt was always a big proponent of not talking down to children.

 

[gmi3804]

I somewhat disagree - at least with the idea that Disney makes "childrens movies." They are typically movies for everyone, and being for everyone is the key to their success. Kids are smart too - they know a quality production when they see one. They may not be looking for the same qualities that adults do, but they can be discerning. Walt was always a big proponent of not talking down to children.

Walt's been dead for 60 years. Disney's films took a sharp downturn in quality in the decades after his death. People still flocked to those films.

Disney hardly knows how to make a film "for everyone" anymore; winking references to keep the parents entertained are the cheapest cop-out in their arsenal.

 

[BrianL]

Walt's been dead for 60 years. Disney's films took a sharp downturn in quality in the decades after his death. People still flocked to those films.

Disney hardly knows how to make a film "for everyone" anymore; winking references to keep the parents entertained are the cheapest cop-out in their arsenal.

Well, I disagree. Disney has made a lot of movies, even recently, that were great and entertaining for both kids and adults. They don't all hit, but many do. Pixar generally has this down - and I know you'll cry Lightyear! which, yes, wasn't that good, but that's pretty much an abberation in their overall ouvre.

 

[HopperFan]

"Children's movies" have a built-in audience unconcerned with quality. Most of them will make money, many of them a LOT of money. If they're based on something the parents already know, all the better for the box office receipts.

I disagree. Families are not going to the movies around here. It is expensive and they can just wait a few weeks until they hit streaming. COVID retrained our "have to see in theaters" thought process.

I live in an affluent area, cost not an issue. I am at theaters 1-2 times a week and it is all adults. We go to ALL the kids movies then some. It is adults coming to these movies with a random child. Any given movie I see maybe 2-6 kids and the rest adults.

The studios have to figure out how to fill the theaters again.

You're not wrong. It's why while the Mario Bros movie is a solid 6/10 experience when looking at it critically, it made over 1.3 billion dollars.

Our theater was PACKED - with adults. That is who is tied to Mario. I could count the kids on my fingers. Make a movie about adult's childhoods and you will make money.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I disagree. Families are not going to the movies around here. It is expensive and they can just wait a few weeks until they hit streaming. COVID retrained our "have to see in theaters" thought process.

I live in an affluent area, cost not an issue. I am at theaters 1-2 times a week and it is all adults. We go to ALL the kids movies then some. It is adults coming to these movies with a random child. Any given movie I see maybe 2-6 kids and the rest adults.

The studios have to figure out how to fill the theaters again.


Our theater was PACKED - with adults. That is who is tied to Mario. I could count the kids on my fingers. Make a movie about adult's childhoods and you will make money.

Yeah my showing was 98% adults with maybe 2-3 families? The one before mine was full to the brim with elementary school kids. I agree that people are seeing movies less lately. If Wish is good I'll go check it out but if it's meh I'll skip.

Maybe a better example is Minions Rise of Gru. Objectively a kids movie (doesn't mean adults can't enjoy it btw) but that too made over a billion dollars.

 

[HokieRaven5]

Yeah my showing was 98% adults with maybe 2-3 families? The one before mine was full to the brim with elementary school kids. I agree that people are seeing movies less lately. If Wish is good I'll go check it out but if it's meh I'll skip.

Maybe a better example is Minions Rise of Gru. Objectively a kids movie (doesn't mean adults can't enjoy it btw) but that too made over a billion dollars.

Made almost a billion, but also speaks to the sequels/reboots/remakes/known IP over original storytelling success at the box office.

 

[Jwaire]

Made almost a billion, but also speaks to the sequels/reboots/remakes/known IP over original storytelling success at the box office.

Speaks to that particular franchise being hilarious and enjoyable for adults and teens too, similar to first few Shrek films.

It's the 80's and early 90's generation that are dominating now. If you aren't marketing to that generation, you're missing out. Nintendo is a gold mine for Illumination and Universal with so many potential films—Zelda, Pokemon, Star Fox, Metroid, Luigi's Mansion, etc.

 

[HokieRaven5]

Speaks to that particular franchise being hilarious and enjoyable for adults and teens too, similar to first few Shrek films.

It's the 80's and early 90's generation that are dominating now. If you aren't marketing to that generation, you're missing out. Nintendo is a gold mine for Illumination and Universal with so many potential films—Zelda, Pokemon, Star Fox, Metroid, Luigi's Mansion, etc.

Still selling known IP and nostalgia over storytelling. Which is fine, it obviously makes $$$.

Disney does the same thing cranking out sequels and live action remakes that made $$$

 

[DCLMP]

The last year it’s down 19%, the last 5 it’s down 29%. None of that has to do with the content they are putting out.

I don’t know about that most of their movies have under performed.

 

[HokieRaven5]

I don’t know about that most of their movies have under performed.

Warner Brothers has the top movie of the year and since Barbie released has been down 10%.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Well, I disagree. Disney has made a lot of movies, even recently, that were great and entertaining for both kids and adults. They don't all hit, but many do. Pixar generally has this down - and I know you'll cry Lightyear! which, yes, wasn't that good, but that's pretty much an abberation in their overall ouvre.

I know taste is subjective, but it always surprises me that Lightyear is held up as an example of a movie bomb because my entire family really enjoyed it. It got several rewatches at my house, the kids asked for Lightyear toys the Christmas after it came out, and Sox is arguably their favorite Disney Character. And I have a theory on this…

My kids eat, sleep, and breathe Mario, Minecraft, and Pokémon but they aren’t really Disney fans. They know who Mickey Mouse is but I’m about positive they wouldn’t be able to name Goofy or Donald. (I know, I’m a bad DISer.) The other day my husband put on Chip ‘n Dale’s Park Life show for the 3 year old and my 6 year old made a comment about “the dog.” (Pluto ) My oldest did go through an OG Buzz Lightyear phase when he was two (maybe that contributed to his liking Lightyear a few years later), and he likes Wall-E the character but doesn’t seem to care one way or the other about the movie. As well, The Lion King got a “meh” reaction from him. And, that’s about the extent of my kids’ Disney exposure — a bit of Pixar and absolutely no interest in classic Disney. It just doesn’t seem to appeal them, nor have I really seen much Disney influence among their friends and classmates.

Disney has a lot of competition these days and some kids, even at younger ages, are drawn to the more mature content of something like Minecraft than they are the G-rated world of talking animals. I think Lightyear probably appealed more to that crowd than it did to the traditional Disney fans.

My husband and I have already discussed how we’re going to have to work at getting our kids familiar with Disney movies and characters before our WDW trip next summer, because the exposure isn’t happening naturally. Again, Disney has a lot of competition, it’s not the default kids entertainment option anymore.

I just asked my 6 year old what his favorite movie or tv show is and he answered “YouTube.” So there ya go…

 

[Disneychick75]

You know the saying, money talks and bull hookey walks

 

[BrianL]

I just asked my 6 year old what his favorite movie or tv show is and he answered “YouTube.” So there ya go…

Gah! Kids, man....

I'm not actually surprised. Honestly, I don't really htink that Lightyear was unappealing, it just wasn't very...good. It wasn't bad either, but Pixar can do better. The third act was just a bit of a mess. I mean, it was fine, but it could have been GREAT. I really wanted to like it more than I did.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Gah! Kids, man....

I'm not actually surprised. Honestly, I don't really htink that Lightyear was unappealing, it just wasn't very...good. It wasn't bad either, but Pixar can do better. The third act was just a bit of a mess. I mean, it was fine, but it could have been GREAT. I really wanted to like it more than I did.

Yeah, I’m not trying to argue that it was the greatest movie of all time, only that it wasn’t as terrible as people make it out to be. I just think it wasn’t a typical Disney movie and it appealed to a different crowd.

I’ve been giving this more thought since my last post. I had this conversation with my 6 year old:

Me: Who is your favorite Disney Character?
Him: Ummm… probably the basic one.
Me: Who’s the basic one?
Him: ….Mickey?
Me: What about Sox?
Him: Oh yeah, Sox. No, wait, Figaro! Yeah, it’s Figaro.

We have a black and white cat named Figaro, named by me. He didn’t know who Figaro was before I gave that name to the cat and told him where it came from. He’s never seen Pinocchio but he does have Sox toys and clothing.

This has made me realize that’s it the adults keeping Disney alive in our house, not the kids. My husband is the one who will throw on Disney movies, the kids usually only watch for a few minutes before losing interest and wandering off to do something else. I’m the one who buys the Disney merchandise and gives Disney themes to birthday parties, but once they’re old enough to chose their own themes, Disney falls by the wayside. Thinking of their friends’ party themes over the last year, I can remember Roblox, Paw Patrol, dinosaurs, Lego, Hello Kitty, Gabby’s Dollhouse, and The Lion Guard (Pride? Whatever that show was called). So, that’s 1 for Disney and 6 for Other.

Now I’m worried about Disney’s fate.

 

[irlandaise]

San Francisco and Disney's roots go together?

Nope. A loud statement by the Disney family over how Disney was being operated.

I don't recall that. What statement did the family make when they chose that location for the museum?

The Presidio is a wonderful location, and some of the family live (or used to live) in the Napa Valley, so it never struck me as odd that they chose San Francisco for the museum.

 

[tvguy]

I don't recall that. What statement did the family make when they chose that location for the museum?

The Presidio is a wonderful location, and some of the family live (or used to live) in the Napa Valley, so it never struck me as odd that they chose San Francisco for the museum.

It was pretty obvious at the time since the Disney Corporation was pushing for it to be on one of the properties. But if you aren't a Disneyaholic like our family is, you probably wouldn't know that.

 

[Dis Dragon]

I'm kind of in disbelief that there hasn't been a Pokemon themed land proposed at Universal yet. The recognition has been there for decades at this point, I was half expecting one with Epic universe but then they dusted off how to train your dragon...

 

[Smugpugmug]

I'm kind of in disbelief that there hasn't been a Pokemon themed land proposed at Universal yet. The recognition has been there for decades at this point, I was half expecting one with Epic universe but then they dusted off how to train your dragon...

Universal Studios Japan has a partnership with the Pokemon Company so they do some stuff at that park.

There were rumors that Pokemon was replacing Kidzone a while back but was scrapped early on. I wouldn't mind if Pokemon replaced Springfield IMO.

 

[irlandaise]

In my opinion, some of Disney’s “roots” include creativity and really good storytelling. In some of the movies they’ve put out the past couple of years, the storytelling has not been very good. Look at the Pixar disaster of the Buzz Lightyear movie. I saw that one IN the movie theater. It dragged on and on forever. Lacked all of the stuff that’s made Pixar movies great in the past. The live action remakes? Bleh. Come up with new stories.

Occasionally, they’ve put out some pretty awesome stuff. Like Encanto. Or all of the Star Wars TV series that Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau have been putting out.

Disney needs to stay out of politics. And so do we.

If you're talking about politics in Disney's movies (as opposed to statements by Disney leadership), then what are some examples of that? Some people (not necessarily you) seem all too ready to call any non-traditional casting or characters "political."

 

[VandVsmama]

Lmao you think Star Wars doesn't have politics? It's THE "punch the nazi" IP.

That started with George Lucas, though.