Deadpool, Aliens, and the Rest of Fox’s Misfit Movies Show Disney’s Cash Cow Isn’t Just Named Avatar

Welcome back, my starry-eyed cinema lovers! It’s your girl, Hollywood Hrishita, here to spill the tea on the latest box office drama. Grab your popcorn and let’s dive in! 🍿

So, remember when Disney gobbled up 20th Century Fox back in 2019? Yeah, the Mouse House thought they hit the jackpot, only to find themselves stumbling through a series of flops. Imagine buying a treasure chest and finding it filled with… socks. 🙄

Movies like “Dark Phoenix” and “New Mutants” were about as welcome as a soggy samosa. Brad Pitt’s “Ad Astra”? More like "Ad Disastra." And don’t even get me started on “Stuber” or “The Call of the Wild.” They were as appealing as last night’s cold pizza. 🍕

Paul Dergarabedian, some senior Comscore analyst, basically said these films were like orphans. Ouch. But hey, mergers are like arranged marriages—they take time to work out, right?

Fast forward to 2024, and it seems Disney has finally figured out how to play nice with their adopted kids. “Deadpool & Wolverine,” “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” and “Alien: Romulus” are now the shining stars of Disney’s lineup. 🎬

“Deadpool & Wolverine” smashed records, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever with $1.14 billion. Talk about turning lemons into lemonade! 🍋 “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” swung in with $397 million worldwide, not too shabby for a bunch of primates. And “Alien: Romulus” scared up $41.5 million domestically on its opening weekend. Maybe Disney isn’t crying into their Mickey Mouse ears after all.

Of course, not everything’s a hit. “The First Omen” flopped harder than a fish out of water, but hey, with a $30 million budget, it wasn’t a total disaster. 🐟

Jeff Bock from Exhibitor Relations thinks Disney’s finally hit its stride. He says Disney’s capitalizing on IP and event films like a pro. In other words, they’re doing what they do best—selling us nostalgia with a shiny new bow.

And let’s not forget “Avatar: The Way of Water.” It swam its way to $2.3 billion globally, proving that even the naysayers can be wrong. Plus, “Poor Things” became a rare indie hit, grossing $117 million worldwide.

David A. Gross from Franchise Entertainment Research thinks Disney’s feeling pretty smug about their acquisition. Time will tell, but he believes it takes decades to see the real value. Guess we’ll have to wait and see. ⏳

Disney’s 2023 was a trainwreck with flops like “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” “The Marvels,” and “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” But now, things are looking up. “Inside Out 2” is the biggest movie of the year, raking in $1.58 billion. Disney has also surpassed $3 billion in worldwide ticket sales. Not too shabby, eh?

And they’re not stopping—“Moana 2” and “Mufasa: The Lion King” are set to roar into theaters later this year. 🦁

Dergarabedian thinks Disney’s on a comeback tour, making solid films that actually deliver. Imagine that!

In 2024, Disney’s got three Searchlight releases lined up: “A Real Pain,” “Nightbitch,” and “A Complete Unknown.” But beyond that, the future looks a bit hazy. Will they keep pumping out “Alien” and “Avatar” sequels, or will they dare to try something new?

David Gross thinks Disney’s got a good grip on their franchises, but original films? That’s a whole other ball game.

Moral of the Story:
When life gives you flops, turn them into billion-dollar hits. And always, always bet on nostalgia—because who doesn’t love a good comeback story? 🎥✨

Tags: Disney, 20th Century Fox, Box Office, Hollywood, Movie News, Film Industry, Nostalgia, Franchise Films, Original Films