A blow for original movies: Disney could lose $140 million on Tomorrowland

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Disney is about to absorb it's first major financial bomb since the release of THE LONE RANGER two years ago. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Brad Bird's TOMORROWLAND is poised to cost the House of Mouse somewhere around $140 million after it completes it's theatrical run. Despite weak reviews and a less than $50 million opening weekend in theaters, Disney had hopes for the international release of the film. But, when TOMORROWLAND opened in China, it made less than $20 million.

TOMORROWLAND seemed like a sure thing with Brad Bird in the director's chair but with a $180 million budget and another $150 million spent on marketing, TOMORROWLAND was a risky endeavor in that it was an original idea and not a franchise based on an existing book or comic. While Disney is clearly going to make up for the loss thanks to AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, Pixar's INSIDE OUT, ANT-MAN, and STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, the idea of another non-sequel bombing for the studio should worry some.

Analyst Eric Handler of MKM Partners had this to say about the film.

“There’s a reason you’re seeing more sequels, prequels and known properties because you never know how films like TOMORROWLAND or JUPITER ASCENDING are going to turn out."

Because of how large Disney is, they are able to take risks on original concepts, but how many other studios can take that same chance? We all have complained about the glut of sequels, reboots, and adaptations of TV shows that are becoming movies but all of that is because there is market research on how well those properties are received by audiences. I enjoyed JOHN CARTER, THE LONE RANGER, and TOMORROWLAND for what they were, but most audiences are not going to take that risk, especially with how pricey it is to go to the movies. Hopefully an original movie comes along that blows audiences away and reverses this trend. But, for now, get used to superheroes and reboots for the forseeable future.

TOMORROWLAND is now playing.