As soon as upon a time, Disney may do no unsuitable. From the golden age of hand-drawn animation to the billion-dollar reign of the MCU, the studio has constructed an empire on timeless storytelling and cultural dominance. Whether or not it was The Lion King within the ’90s or Frozen within the 2010s, Disney hardly ever missed a beat when it got here to field workplace numbers. Even its acquisitions, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and twentieth Century Fox, turned out to be strategic masterstrokes that turned Mouse Home right into a monarch.
However the 2020s? They’ve informed a distinct story thus far. The last decade kicked off with a worldwide pandemic that shuttered theaters, rewired viewing habits, and compelled Disney to pivot in the direction of streaming. Whereas hits like Encanto, Turning Pink, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 reminded audiences of Disney’s magic, the studio additionally spectacularly stumbled typically.
Within the final 5 years, Disney has confronted a string of underperformers that fell flat. Attributable to bloated budgets, lukewarm reception, and appalling inventive selections, these motion pictures had been a combined bag. Right here’s a glance again at Disney’s greatest flops of the 2020s thus far.
11
‘Unusual World’ (2022)
Funds: $180M; Gross: $73M
Within the vibrant land of Avalonia, a household of fearless explorers led by a reluctant farmer named Searcher Clade embarks on a journey to avoid wasting their vitality supply, a miraculous plant referred to as Pando. The expedition spirals right into a generational conflict when Searcher reunites together with his estranged father, Jaeger, a legendary adventurer who vanished many years in the past, and his son Ethan, who is raring to forge his personal path.
A Beautiful World Few Wished to Go to
Regardless of its lush visuals, high-concept premise, and heartfelt themes of household, Unusual World by no means discovered its viewers. Directed by Don Corridor (Huge Hero 6) and co-written by Qui Nguyen (Raya and the Final Dragon), it had the markings of a contemporary Disney journey. In truth, Searcher was the studio’s first overtly LGBTQ+ lead. And but, with a reported price range of as much as $180M and a worldwide field workplace of simply $73M, it was a misfire.
10
‘The Marvels’ (2023)
Funds: $275M; Gross: $206M
A cosmic mashup of powers and personalities, The Marvels brings collectively Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) as they mysteriously start swapping locations at any time when they use their talents. The trio, now pressured to cope with the quantum chaos attributable to Kree revolutionary Dar-Benn, has to work as a workforce and cease his harmful plan.
A Muddled Superhero Sequel
With a staggering price range of $275M and a worldwide gross of $206M, The Marvels grew to become the lowest-earning MCU film thus far. Below Nia DaCosta’s course, it had flashes of attraction, particularly with Vellani’s infectious and beloved Kamala again within the combine. However the tonal shifts had been ever-present, and the villain arc was comparatively skinny. The body-swapping gimmick, nonetheless visually daring and creative, felt like a filler after one level. General, the reception was lukewarm.
9
‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Future’ (2023)
Funds: $300M; Gross: $384M
Set in 1969, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Future is the final outing for Harrison Ford’s iconic character. He is on the point of retirement, however is pulled again into journey by his goddaughter, Helena. Collectively, they chase the legendary Antikythera machine, which might supposedly find fissures in time. Their quest additionally pits them towards a Nazi-turned-NASA scientist performed by Mads Mikkelsen.
A Expensive Farewell to a Legend
Although it earned $384M globally, Dial of Future barely broke even towards its $300M+ price range, making it a bittersweet send-off for certainly one of cinema’s most celebrated heroes. Directed by James Mangold, the film marked the primary Indy installment not helmed by Spielberg or conceived by Lucas. Ford’s efficiency, as common, was superb, and it was backed by John Willaims’s Grammy-winning rating. However the pacing, reliance on CGI de-aging, and the complicated time journey finale left followers divided.
8
‘Lightyear’ (2022)
Funds: $200M; Gross: $226M
Buzz Lightyear, the area ranger we thought we knew, will get a cinematic origin story in Disney’s Lightyear. Not because the toy from Toy Story, however because the fictional hero who impressed it. The film opens with Buzz and his commander Alisha Hawthorne crash-landing on the hostile planet T’Kani Prime. Decided to repair his mistake, Buzz retains on testing hyperspace gasoline and leaping years into the longer term, whereas being caught in his mission.
Too Meta For Its Personal Orbit
Lightyear is all about confronting the implications of obsession and studying to embrace the current second. The emotional beats, nonetheless, get diluted by exposition-heavy sequences and a villain twist that lacks punch. Critics had been break up. So. regardless of Pixar’s pedigree and a $200M price range, Lightyear grossed simply $226M worldwide. Even conceptually, it was framed as “Andy’s favourite film,” which solely raised extra questions than intrigue.
7
‘Want’ (2023)
Funds: $200M; Gross: $255M
Set within the kingdom of Rosas, Want follows 17-year-old Asha, who desires of seeing her grandfather’s want granted by the benevolent King Magnifico. When she discovers that he hoards needs reasonably than fulfilling them, Asha makes a determined plea to the celebrities. Her name is answered by a glowing, mischievous ball of sunshine that grants magical powers and awakens the primary creatures. Collectively, they rally to battle Magnifico and liberate the dominion’s stolen desires.
Magic With out Spark
Launched as a part of Disney’s centennial celebration, Want had sure elements that will make it a basic. Musical numbers, a plucky heroine, a climax that finds the villain consumed by his personal greed, and a message about believing in a single self. However with a $200M price range and a worldwide gross of $255M, it barely scraped previous break-even, particularly after advertising and marketing and distribution prices. The explanation? It felt too secure and too processed.
6
‘Haunted Mansion’ (2023)
Funds: $150M; Gross: $117M
Haunted Mansion is a supernatural comedy that finds single mother Gabbie and her son Travis shifting into Gracey Manor and discovering that it’s crawling with ghosts. Determined for assist, they assemble a unusual workforce of a historian, a faux priest, a grieving astrophysicist, and a psychic. Collectively, they uncover the mansion’s darkish secrets and techniques.
A Clumsy Haunted Home Romp
Mixing leap scares and heartfelt moments, this one tries to translate certainly one of Disney’s basic theme park sights to the large display screen. It additionally will get a stacked ensemble of actors, like LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jared Leto, to play attention-grabbing roles. And but, it fails to conjure field workplace magic. Made with a $150M price range, Haunted Mansion touched simply $117M in world earnings.
5
‘Jungle Cruise’ (2021)
Funds: $200M; Gross: $220M
Jungle Cruise takes place in 1969, and it tells the story of intrepid botanist Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) and her brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall) as they journey deep into the Amazon in the hunt for the Tears of the Moon, a tree whose petals are stated to treatment any sickness. They rent Dwayne Johnson’s Frank Wolff to assist them navigate the treacherous waters, however the journey pits them towards a bunch of adversaries.
Sinks Below the Weight of Ambition
Regardless of its breezy tone, charismatic leads, and a summer season launch date, Jungle Cruise didn’t fairly sail into blockbuster territory. Disney put a hefty $200M price range into replicating the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean and The Mummy, however barely nudged previous break-even with a worldwide gross of $220M. Leaning closely on nostalgic tropes, it lacked the narrative spark to face out.
4
‘Mulan’ (2020)
Funds: $200M; Gross: $69M
A live-action remake of the beloved 1998 animated film, Mulan facilities on Hua Mulan, a younger girl in Imperial China, who disguises herself as a person to take her ailing father’s place within the military and defend her nation from invaders. As she trains below Commander Tung and bonds with fellow soldier Honghui, Mulan grapples together with her identification and the facility of her internal chi.
A Business Collapse
In contrast to the unique, Niki Caro’s Mulan trades musical numbers and Mushu for sweeping landscapes, wire-fu fight, and a extra solemn tone rooted in Chinese language folklore. Mandy Walker’s cinematography and Bina Daigeler’s costume design earned award nominations. Nevertheless, its launch was marred by pandemic delays, the casting selection drew criticism, and a few beloved animated facets had been famous to be lacking. Which is why, with a $200M price range and a worldwide field workplace of simply $69M, Mulan grew to become certainly one of Disney’s most costly misfires.
3
‘Raya and the Final Dragon’ (2021)
Funds: $100M; Gross: $130M
Raya and the Final Dragon takes you to the fractured kingdom of Kumandra, the place warrior princess Raya is on a quest to reunite the 5 tribes and defeat the Druun, malevolent spirits that flip folks into stone. Her journey leads her to Sisu, the final dragon whose magic as soon as saved the world. However first, they need to journey throughout Tail, Talon, Backbone, and Fang, to gather the damaged shards of a gem that after helped maintain the Druun at bay.
Promising Essential Darling
Regardless that Raya and the Final Dragon earned glowing evaluations (93% approval ranking on Rotten Tomatoes), its theatrical run was hampered by the pandemic and its simultaneous Disney+ Premier Entry launch. With a $100M+ price range and a worldwide gross of $130M, it fell in need of expectations. Awkwafina’s Sisu introduced levity, and the climax, the place Raya chooses belief over vengeance, was poignant. It even earned an Oscar nomination for Greatest Animated Characteristic, however commercially, it bombed.
2
‘Snow White’ (2025)
Funds: $240–270M; Gross: $206M
One other Disney live-action film that turned out to be one of many greatest flops of the 2020s thus far is Snow White. Based mostly on the 1937 basic, it follows the titular princess as she is pressured into servitude by her useless and power-hungry stepmother, the Evil Queen. After the Magic Mirror declares Snow White “the fairest of all of them,” the Queen orders her execution. So she escapes into the forest, finds refuge with seven dwarfs, and rallies to reclaim the dominion.
Technically Spectacular however Soulless
The story blends musical numbers, forest chases, excellent performances from Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, and Andrew Burnap, and a climactic showdown involving a poisoned apple. It has the legacy components, for positive, however towards a price range reportedly between $240–270M, Snow White solely made $206M worldwide. The goal was to modernize the fairy story, however the film solely stumbled with its execution. The reception was additionally clouded by political backlash and the CGI dwarfs lacked the unique attraction.