Summary
Despite its initial struggle at the box office, Pixar's Elemental is enjoying a surprising comeback and is projected to be a profitable film for Disney.
The initial underwhelming box-office figures of the movie sparked worries regarding Pixar's future. However, the triumph of Elemental signifies that viewers continue to relish watching animated films in cinemas. The upward trajectory of the movie's box-office performance not only brings relief to Pixar executives but also serves as a promising indication for the animation industry at large.
Despite initial low box-office numbers, Elemental is expected to make a profit after experiencing a rare box-office comeback. Pixar's latest feature takes place in a world populated by anthropomorphized representations of nature. The story follows a fire and water element in Element City as they navigate their lives and eventually cross paths. While the film faced challenges in attracting audiences early on, it started to gain momentum and draw in more moviegoers later in its run, alleviating concerns of it being a box-office bomb.
As Elemental unexpectedly enjoys a resurgence at the box office, Pixar's president, Jim Morris, has shared his thoughts on the movie's redemption in an interview with Variety. He expressed confidence that the film will ultimately prove to be a successful venture for the company. When asked about its profitability, Morris confirmed that it would exceed breaking even by the end of its theatrical release. Additionally, revenue from merchandise sales and home streaming is expected to contribute to its overall success. Please refer to Morris' complete explanation below:
Why Elemental's Box-Office Comeback Could Be A Promising Sign For Pixar's Theatrical Future
With numerous revenue streams at our disposal, the film is projected to surpass mere breakeven numbers at the box office. In addition, our earnings will be further boosted by revenue from streaming, theme parks, and consumer products. Consequently, the Disney company can anticipate substantial profitability from this particular film.
Concerns arose when Elemental's early low box-office numbers mirrored several other disappointing releases from Disney in 2023. Although this could be a worrisome trend for Disney, the underperformance of Elemental sparked significant discussions about the future of Pixar's theatrical success. Elemental is Pixar's second film to hit theaters worldwide since the reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic peak. This follows the lackluster performance of the 2022 Toy Story spin-off Lightyear.
If Elemental's box-office numbers continue to improve, it may alleviate concerns about a potential decline in priority for Pixar's productions at Disney. The firing of key employees and the possibility of live-action remakes being favored over animated films only added to these concerns. However, if Elemental continues to succeed at the box office, it may demonstrate that Pixar's work still deserves theatrical releases and prompt a reassessment of Disney's strategies. The growth of Elemental's box-office numbers will be seen as a positive outcome by both high-ranking executives and animation enthusiasts who have been worried about recent Disney failures and the impact of the pandemic on Pixar. Despite some doubts raised by certain events and industry trends, Elemental's success as an animated feature proves that there is still a strong demand for such films in theaters.
Source: Variety
