Le succès d’Elemental sur Disney+, est-ce vraiment une bonne nouvelle pour Pixar ?
Pixar’s latest movie, Elemental, has been making waves since its release. Despite a slow start at the box office, it has managed to captivate audiences and rake in an impressive global box office take. Now, Elemental has arrived on Disney+, and it seems to be taking the streaming platform by storm. In just five days, the movie has garnered more views than any other new movie in over a year and a half. It has also secured a spot as one of the top 10 Disney+ premieres of all time. This news is certainly exciting for Elemental, as it deserves to be seen by as many people as possible. However, this success also raises concerns about the future of Pixar as a studio, as it seems to be overshadowed by the streaming platform, whereas it used to dominate the theatrical landscape.
Elemental’s box office run was impressive, considering the challenges faced by the global pandemic. Pixar took a different approach compared to other studios, choosing to release their movies, such as Soul, Luca, and Turning Red, directly on Disney+. This decision may have made the Pixar movies feel like they were of lesser importance compared to other Disney projects that were initially released in theaters or on-demand platforms. Thus, when Elemental opened to a lukewarm box office response, it wasn’t completely unexpected.
However, what unfolded afterward with Elemental was quite surprising. Despite its slow start, the movie showed a smaller week-to-week box office drop than its competitors and eventually surpassed The Flash at the global box office. Word of mouth played a significant role in drawing in viewers who had initially dismissed the film. To date, Elemental has amassed a solid $486 million at the global box office. While this figure may seem impressive, it falls short when considering the movie’s estimated $200 million budget, excluding marketing and distribution costs. In the end, Elemental may not have lost money, but it hasn’t made a significant profit either.
The success of Elemental on Disney+ reveals that many people are still opting to watch movies through streaming platforms. Although it set a record for a Disney+ premiere with 26.4 million views in its first five days, this number may not surpass the viewership of Turning Red, the last Pixar movie originally slated for theaters that was released on Disney+. These statistics suggest that the majority of viewers who chose to watch Elemental on Disney+ had not seen it in theaters and decided to wait for its streaming release. Several factors contribute to this decision, including the ongoing pandemic, discomfort with the behavior of theatergoers, or simply believing that watching Pixar movies on Disney+ suffices.
Looking ahead, the future of Pixar in theaters remains uncertain. A comparison between The Little Mermaid remake, which was released in theaters shortly before Elemental, and Elemental proves intriguing. Although The Little Mermaid made nearly $100 million more at the global box office than Elemental, it garnered 10 million fewer views during its Disney+ premiere period. Additionally, The Little Mermaid outperformed Elemental almost twofold in the domestic box office. This is crucial for Pixar, as the domestic market is crucial for their success. While other markets may contribute to revenue, the absence of success in the US could impact the decision to continue releasing Pixar movies in theaters.
The issue at hand is not the quality of the films themselves, as critics and audiences still adore Pixar movies. However, if audiences stop going to theaters to see these movies, it becomes difficult for Disney to justify their theatrical release. The forthcoming Pixar film, Elio, set to hit theaters in March, will serve as a litmus test for how the studio’s movies are received going forward. The performance of this film will play a significant role in determining the future of Pixar’s theatrical releases.
While being a hit on Disney+ is commendable, it remains unclear how this success translates to the overall success of a movie like Elemental. It would be a pity to see Pixar’s movies exclusively shifted to streaming platforms. This move could potentially result in budget cuts, affecting the talent available to work on these projects and ultimately diminishing the quality of the films. As someone who experienced the magic of Pixar movies in theaters, I believe they are best enjoyed on the big screen. I am glad that Elemental is finding an audience on Disney+, but I hope that those who are discovering it for the first time regret not having seen it earlier in theaters.
Source : www.cinemablend.com
