Disney’s “Wish” Falls Short at Box Office Amidst Centennial Celebrations

Disney’s latest animated venture, “Wish,” faced a disappointing opening weekend, contributing to a year-long trend of lackluster box office performances for the iconic entertainment company, currently celebrating its centennial year of movie-making.

Despite high expectations, “Wish” fell short, raking in $19.5 million in box office sales during its Thanksgiving weekend debut, with a total of $31.8 million earned over the 5-day period domestically. CNBC’s initial projections anticipated an opening weekend haul between $45-$55 million, highlighting the unexpected underperformance of the film.

Instead, moviegoers gravitated towards other offerings during the holiday weekend, with “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” leading the pack with $28.8 million. The historical drama “Napoleon” also outperformed “Wish,” securing $20.4 million in box office earnings, as reported by Box Office Mojo.

The disappointment with “Wish” follows a series of box office letdowns for Disney in 2023. The studio’s other releases, including Marvel’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” “The Little Mermaid,” Pixar’s “Elemental,” “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” and “Haunted Mansion,” failed to capture audience attention as previous Disney films had.

Critics argue that Disney’s inclusion of “woke” politics in its family-friendly entertainment might be driving audiences away. Conservative commentators have accused the company of “virtue signaling,” particularly in the recasting of classic characters in live-action remakes like “The Little Mermaid” and “Snow White.” Actress Rachel Zegler, the star of the upcoming “Snow White” remake, also faced backlash for comments critical of the 1937 animated film upon which her project is based.

Disney CEO Bob Iger, reinstated in 2022, expressed a desire to quell controversies and emphasize respect for the audience. Addressing the company’s involvement in culture wars, Iger stated, “Do I like the company being embroiled in controversy? Of course not. It can be distracting, and it can have a negative impact on the company. And to the extent that I can work to kind of quiet things down, I’m going to do that,” during a town hall meeting with employees.

However, past Disney holiday weekend successes, such as the $63.8 million earned by Marvel’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” in 2022 and “Encanto’s” $40.6 million in 2021, underscore the stark contrast in the performance of “Wish.” As Disney navigates its centennial celebrations, the company faces both external challenges and internal controversies, raising questions about its future strategy to recapture the hearts of audiences.