In the past few years, Disney’s main cash cow has been producing sequels. Almost 231 sequels have been produced within 100 years and 21 live action movies have been made, all bearing various reviews. This poses the question: Is there a need to have so many related storylines?
No doubt sequels are a safe way for Disney to continue its success from the past, as it appeases longtime fans and evokes nostalgia.
“The Toy Story” franchise is one example in which sequels have actually caught the attention of more people. Out of the four movies, the latest, released in 2019, grossed more than $1 billion while the first film, released in 1995, made only $394.4 million.
The sequels brought back iconic characters, such as Woody and Buzz Lightyear, which audiences had grown attached to. This continuity helps maintain emotional engagement. Despite being the fourth installment, the newest film introduced new characters, which added a fresh dynamic to the story.
Similarly, the Disney sequel, “Inside Out 2,” released this past summer, overtook the lifetime gross of its 2015 predecessor. This is because the story resonates with a wide audience, and people already recognize the storyline, making them more inclined to watch.
The addition of new emotions, like Anxiety, Embarrassment and Envy emphasize themes that are geared toward an older audience. This shift in perspective keeps the older audience engaged, while also attracting new viewers.
Still, sequels carry the risk of losing audience interest after they watch the same plot repeatedly in different guises.
Even with the most recent success of “Inside Out 2,” most sequels don’t do as well at the box office as the originals. Sequels to originals like “The Little Mermaid,” “Pocahontas,” and “Indiana Jones” all raked in less money than the originals.
Even worse, sequels often try to copy the plot of the original film, which leads to a lack of originality. Since they require less marketing, Disney is able to solidify its bottom-line profits — even as quality storytelling becomes a distant priority.
Also adding to the tendency for Disney to keep doing the same old thing is the fact that new films like “Turning Red,” “Soul” and “Elemental” have struggled at the box office. The pandemic marked a depression in Disney’s box office sales, and they have been trying to recover ever since. And the rise of streaming services has caused a new problem. Audiences are shifting their preferences away from in-person movie theaters, opting for streaming platforms instead.
“Elemental” was released last year and has since garnished harsh reviews. Many criticized the story beats for being overly familiar because there was nothing they hadn’t seen before. “Elemental” had the worst opening in Pixar history, earning $29.6 million in domestic ticket sales.
“Turning Red” has faced a similar issue. It has a great critical response of 95%, but poor box office turnout. The film was released simultaneously on Disney+, allowing audiences to watch from the comfort of their own home. The limited theatrical release was a major contributor to its poor box office performance. Films are not able to break even with the decreasing box office sales.
As a rule, Disney’s newer films have not matched the lofty heights of its classics. Older films set a high bar with their unique storylines and groundbreaking animation, suited for older and younger audiences alike. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” released in 1937, was the first full-length animated film released by Disney, yet it is still one of the most profitable films ever made. This is due to the film’s animation and use of iconic fairy tale adaptations. Modern audiences have high expectations, and it’s tough for new releases to live up to the nostalgia of the classics.
“Lion King,” released in 1994, is often cited as an exceptional original film, but its storyline derives from other stories. In fact, the plot is primarily based on Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet.” Another one of Disney’s greatest hits, “Aladdin,” also comes from an existing story. The story of “Aladdin” is one of the tales included in “One Thousand and One Nights.”
Not all new films have performed badly, however, with “Encanto” being an exception. It won a Golden Globe, BAFTA and an Academy Award, while also having numerous Billboard-topping songs.
“Encanto” seems to have defied the recent Disney original film curse. Why? It is an original film that has represented multiple ethnic groups of Colombia and defied stereotypes, while also having an original story beat. It also has more nuanced themes such as generational trauma, a subject most kids’ movies wouldn’t even bother to touch on, which resonated with the adult audience.
With the help of Lin Manuel Miranda, the movie showcases some of Disney’s most catchy songs such as “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” which later became an internet sensation. With all these factors coming into play, it was able to gross almost double its budget of $150 million, a feat unusual for the 2020s era of Disney. It proves Disney can still create impactful works if the obsession with easy profits doesn’t hold back executives from taking the plunge into innovation and creativity.
