Spooky Showdown: Haunted Mansion Director Left Spooked by Barbenheimer's Entry!
Haunted Mansion Director Disappointed by Barbenheimer Release Competition: A revealing insight into why the movie failed to impress at the box office, uncovering the challenges faced and the impact of competing releases in July
Summary
The film director, Justin Simien, expresses his disappointment regarding the tough competition that his movie, Haunted Mansion, encountered, while acknowledging the influence of Barbie and Oppenheimer on the film's performance at the box office.
The film's lackluster performance at the box office can be attributed to the negative reviews it received and the fact that its release date in July did not align with its haunted house theme. Despite these setbacks, there is still potential for success through platforms like Disney+ and future releases after the theatrical run.
Haunted Mansion director Justin Simien expressed his disappointment in the competition his horror comedy faced due to "Barbenheimer," a rival film. Simien knew early on that the simultaneous release of Barbie and Oppenheimer would negatively impact the box office performance of Haunted Mansion. He regretted not capitalizing on the popularity of the Barbenheimer phenomenon to generate more interest in his own movie.
I anticipated the release date of 'Barbie' well in advance. Although certain aspects of our release were disappointing, I wasn't truly caught off guard.
The strike caused a lot of unrelated issues that hindered the movie's progress. As someone with a background in publicity, it was frustrating to witness these distractions. If given the opportunity to discuss, I would have been able to foresee some of these challenges.
Why Haunted Mansion Became A Box Office Flop
: Despite skepticism and hesitation from many industry professionals who doubted the potential success, I unwaveringly believed in the immense impact thatWhy Haunted Mansion Became A Box Office Flop
would have. The brilliance of Oppenheimer's marketing strategy was their acknowledgement and embrace of the colossal cultural force that Barbie represented. However, I recognize that our campaign failed to fully embrace or acknowledge the fact that we were entering the scene in the shadow of a box office phenomenon.
In addition to failing to generate profits at the box office, Haunted Mansion was also met with a barrage of negative reviews that the director had to gracefully accept. The film did not achieve the same level of critical acclaim as Barbie and Oppenheimer, which likely resulted in a lower turnout of moviegoers. Furthermore, the choice to release the movie in July, instead of closer to Halloween, may have further hindered its performance due to its focus on a haunted house theme.
Although the Barbenheimer success did not receive support from browsers, it may still have affected the challenges faced by Haunted Mansion. By incorporating a more comprehensive advertising campaign to address the intense competition, the film could have potentially attracted greater attention during its theatrical run. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether the movie would have been able to recover its expenses, as the substantial budget of $150 million does not encompass the advertising costs.
The box office disappointment of the movie suggests that Haunted Mansion 2 is unlikely to be made. However, the film's recent release on Disney+ and upcoming physical release on October 17 may still garner some success. If that happens, the movie could follow in the footsteps of films like Encanto, which found renewed popularity after its theatrical run. Despite its initial setback, Haunted Mansion could still achieve success through alternative channels in the near future.
