Disney's Wish: From Theaters to Home Release
The journey of Disney's Wish from its disappointing box office performance to its upcoming digital and Blu-ray release dates.
The Story Behind Disney's Wish
Disney's Wish, directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, made its theatrical debut in November. The film follows the story of a teen named Asha, who accidentally summons a trouble-making wishing star from the sky. The voice cast includes Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, and Alan Tudyk, and despite generally poor reviews, the film has garnered attention for its animation style and voice performances.
King Magnifico in Wish is smiling menacingly with three magical balls in front of him.
Now, after its disappointing run at the box office, Disney has revealed the release dates for Wish on digital and physical media. The film is set to release on all major VOD platforms on Tuesday, January 23, followed by a 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD release on Tuesday, March 12. Both the digital and physical releases will include bonus features, including a sing-along version of the movie.
Why Disney's Wish Underwhelmed In Theaters
The underwhelming performance of Disney's Wish at the box office goes beyond just poor reviews. While initial buzz seemed positive, critics' reviews ended up being mixed, with the film criticized for relying too heavily on nostalgia and not offering new ideas or themes. However, the voice performances and animation style were noted as high points.
The film's Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 81% contrasted with the critics' score of 48%, indicating that general movie-goers tended to enjoy the film. However, the box office performance did not reflect this, with the film barely breaking even on its $200 million budget. Wish's poor box office adds to Disney's recent string of disappointments for animated movies, suggesting other factors at play.
The pandemic's impact on movie-watching habits is also considered a contributing factor, as Disney's straight-to-streaming release strategy during the height of the pandemic may have trained audiences to wait for Disney Plus releases. While a Disney Plus release date for Wish has not been announced yet, the trend of waiting for streaming releases may have affected the film's box office performance.
The Future of Disney's Wish
Despite its underwhelming theatrical run, the upcoming digital and Blu-ray release dates offer a new opportunity for Wish to connect with audiences. The inclusion of bonus features and the sing-along version in the home releases may attract fans who missed the film in theaters.
While the box office performance may have been disappointing, the home release presents a chance for Wish to find its audience and potentially gain a following over time, similar to Elemental's journey to moderate success after a disappointing opening.
