Pixar's latest film, Elemental, is facing a challenging start. The movie tells the story of Ember Lumen and Wade Ripple, two individuals who are complete opposites - fire and water. As they navigate their love for each other and strive to understand one another, they also face societal disapproval, the significant differences between their elemental states, and the weight of family expectations.
Regrettably, Elemental has not achieved the same level of success as many of Pixar's previous projects. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film debuted with a modest $11.8 million on Friday and is expected to earn around $28 million to $32 million over its opening weekend. If these projections hold true, it would mark Pixar's lowest-earning opening weekend since Toy Story's $29 million debut in 1995. Additionally, it's important to note that Toy Story's box office earnings have not been adjusted for inflation, making the figures for Elemental's box office performance even more disheartening.
Elemental's Shocking Box Office Disappointment
Pixar's hopes for a financial turnaround were resting on Elemental, their latest production following the disastrous performance of Lightyear. However, it seems that Elemental is falling short of being the savior Pixar had hoped for. With a hefty budget of $200 million, Pixar faces the daunting task of not only recouping their investment but also achieving overall financial success through a prolonged run.
Elemental marks only the second theatrical release by Pixar since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the industry, causing delays for films like Seeing Red. While movies like Top Gun: Maverick, Avatar: The Way of Water, and John Wick: Chapter 4 have demonstrated that box office success is still achievable post-lockdowns, the viability of animated films remained uncertain. That was until The Super Mario Bros. Movie shattered box office records and surpassed $1 billion in global earnings, providing a glimmer of hope for the animated genre.
Elemental's earlier disappointments have become even more bewildering in light of the success achieved by other major productions. Currently, the film is receiving favorable reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, boasting an impressive 91 percent audience rating. However, in order for Elemental to truly thrive and achieve success for Disney and Pixar, it is crucial that these positive reviews translate into a larger theatrical audience before the film faces the risk of becoming the next Lightyear.
