Walt Disney executives are in shock after their new animated movie “Strange World” tanked at the box office over the long Thanksgiving holiday. But perhaps they shouldn’t be.
The movie represents Disney’s first overt insertion of a gay character in a children’s movie, and parents stayed away in droves. So far away that the flick is expected to have a final five-day tally of only $26 million.
That compares to a production budget of an estimated $180 million.
#StrangeWorld grossed a disappointing $4.2 million on Wednesday as it eyes a five-day haul of under $24 million. That’s a terrible result for Disney's $180 million-budgeted animated adventure. https://t.co/u0y4SqYfGl
— Variety (@Variety) November 25, 2022
One scene from the kids’ release displays a teenage character named Ethan flirting with another boy, Diazo, while friends watch the exchange. Ethan’s dad, Searcher, joins in the fun and makes a very obvious show of acceptance of his son’s interest in the other boy.
The star-studded cast features Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Gabrielle Union, and Lucy Liu. Joining the ensemble as the voice of Disney’s first openly gay character is Daily Show contributor Jaboukie Young-White.
None of them saved “Strange World” from being the lowest-rated Disney production in 31 years. CinemaScore, which has rated its animated films since 1991, gave a “B” score.
No other movie from Walt Disney Animation Studios rated lower than “A-” in over three decades.
Rotten Tomatoes critics awarded a mildly positive 73% score, but the all-important audience rating is below 60%. As one reviewer on the site explained, “If I want to teach my children about sex and/or sexual preferences at 7 and 8 I would do it at home.”
Compared to pre-pandemic figures, this post-pandemic Thanksgiving release can only be rated as a box office flop.
2019’s “Frozen II” raked in $123.7 million, 2018’s “Ralph Breaks the Internet” earned $84.6 million, and 2017’s “Coco” pulled down $71 million.
Summertime’s “Lightyear” also drew dismal figures. This Disney film, which aimed a lesbian kissing scene at children, tanked across North America and around the world.
“Get woke and go broke” has become a truism that must be sinking into Disney executives right now. Nothing speaks louder than dollars to the entertainment industry, and parents are emphatically voting “no” to progressive indoctrination of small children.
