“With the underwhelming box office performance of The Little Mermaid, Disney’s upcoming slate of live-action remakes could potentially face challenges in the long run. The Little Mermaid, which was highly anticipated with its star-studded cast, stunning visuals, and beloved music, fell short of its expected box office projections, leaving industry insiders questioning the fate of other Disney live-action movies in the pipeline.
The film’s unexpected shortfall has prompted a closer examination of Disney’s previous experiences with live-action remakes. While the studio has witnessed both tremendous successes and significant disappointments in this genre, The Little Mermaid’s current position below its anticipated box office revenue has raised concerns about the overall reception of upcoming remakes.
Considering the substantial investment made in The Little Mermaid’s production, it becomes crucial for the film to reach a certain financial threshold to break even. Although the theatrical window for The Little Mermaid is closing as summer blockbusters enter the rotation, there is still a chance for the film to achieve its financial goals. The original animated film, released in 1989, amassed $211 million at the global box office, which, adjusting for inflation, would be around $518 million today. While Disney can still generate revenue from the film’s release on VOD and Disney+, the lackluster performance of The Little Mermaid remake raises uncertainties about the future prospects of Disney’s live-action endeavors.
Looking ahead, let’s explore the box office predictions for some of Disney’s upcoming live-action remakes:
- The Sword In The Stone (TBA) – Estimated box office: $320 million The Sword in the Stone is expected to attract a relatively smaller audience compared to other Disney live-action remakes. The original 1963 animated film garnered $22.2 million in box office revenue, which, accounting for inflation, would amount to approximately $220 million today. It is unlikely that the remake of this classic will outperform The Little Mermaid, given its lower popularity and market appeal.
- Robin Hood (TBA) – Estimated box office: $360 million Similarly, the Robin Hood live-action remake is not projected to perform significantly better than The Sword in the Stone at the box office. The original 1973 animated film accumulated $33 million in revenue, making it the eighth highest-grossing movie domestically that year. Adjusted for inflation, this would be approximately $226 million today. Given the comparative popularity of these titles against The Little Mermaid, it is unrealistic to expect either remake to surpass its underwhelming performance.
- The Aristocats (TBA) – Estimated box office: $540 million The Aristocats, released in 1970, earned $55 million domestically, which, when adjusted for inflation, equates to around $523 million by modern standards. The original film ranked fifth in box office performance in 1970, with only two movies surpassing $100 million in domestic revenue that year. Considering the sustained popularity of The Little Mermaid’s original film, there is hope that The Aristocats remake may slightly outperform the underwhelming totals of The Little Mermaid remake.
- Hercules (TBA) – Estimated box office: $610 million Hercules, which previously received a live-action remake in 2014 without Disney’s involvement, experienced a lackluster box office performance. However, the beloved 1997 Disney animated original earned $250 million globally, equivalent to $474 million today. With the exceptional characters, captivating plot, and memorable music, there is optimism that the upcoming Hercules remake could surpass both its predecessor and The Little Mermaid remake, potentially becoming a massive blockbuster hit.
- Lilo & Stitch (2024) – Estimated box office: $635 million The original Lilo & Stitch performed modestly at the box office in 2002, generating $246 million worldwide, which, adjusted for inflation, is approximately $416 million today. The live-action remake, currently in production and scheduled for release in 2024, has the potential to benefit from the delays in major Disney movie releases, as it may attract a larger audience due to pent-up demand.
- Bambi (TBA) – Estimated box office: $665 million Bambi, one of Disney’s oldest and most beloved films, was released in 1942. Over the years, it has accumulated a total of $267.5 million in box office revenue, including various re-releases. Adjusted for inflation, the original release’s earnings amount to around $55 million today. Given the enduring popularity of Bambi over the past 80 years, the live-action remake is expected to surpass the $600 million global mark, a milestone that The Little Mermaid remake is also striving to achieve.
- The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (TBA) – Estimated box office: $720 million The Hunchback of Notre Dame, released in 1996, was a box-office success, accumulating $325 million worldwide. Adjusted for inflation, this figure amounts to approximately $631 million today. The film outperformed several notable titles at the 1996 box office, including 101 Dalmatians, Jerry Maguire, Space Jam, and Scream, and ranked fifth in terms of highest-grossing films that year. Given the original film’s achievements and its iconic music, the live-action remake of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is expected to generate significant interest and potentially outshine The Little Mermaid remake.
- Snow White (2024) – Estimated box office: $860 million Snow White, a timeless Disney classic, is set to receive a live-action remake in 2024. The original 1937 animated film holds the Guinness World record for the highest-grossing animated film at the domestic box office, amassing $1.55 billion due to multiple theatrical re-releases. With such record-breaking success, Disney has high hopes that the Snow White remake will surpass the coveted $1 billion mark worldwide. However, the lukewarm response to The Little Mermaid remake raises doubts about whether the Snow White remake can achieve the same level of box office success as its beloved original.
- Moana (2025) – Estimated box office: $985 million Moana, released in 2016, stands as one of Disney’s most profitable animated movies, grossing $631 million worldwide, which, adjusted for inflation, amounts to approximately $800 million today. The highly anticipated live-action remake of Moana, scheduled for 2025, could potentially cross the $1 billion mark at the global box office. However, the disappointing performance of The Little Mermaid remake introduces an element of uncertainty, making it difficult to predict the success of the Moana remake with absolute confidence.
- Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) – Estimated box office: $1.2 billion Mufasa: The Lion King holds the highest potential to surpass the $1 billion worldwide box office threshold upon its premiere in July 2024. Its predecessor, The Lion King (2019), is the most successful Disney live-action remake to date, ranking as the ninth highest-grossing movie of all time with $1.66 billion in global revenue. Adjusted for inflation, The Lion King’s profits today amount to nearly $2 billion. Directed by Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins, Mufasa: The Lion King is poised to exceed the $1 billion mark with ease. The performance of this film will likely set a new standard for Disney’s live-action movies, especially in light of The Little Mermaid’s underperformance.
While these predictions provide an estimate of the box office potential for Disney’s upcoming live-action remakes, it is important to note that the success of each film depends on various factors, including marketing, critical reception, competition, and audience preferences. The performance of The Little Mermaid serves as a reminder that even highly anticipated projects can face challenges, and the future of Disney’s live-action remakes remains uncertain.”
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