This past December the live action film Mufasa was released in theaters, and sank in the box office as the film’s budget of $200 million only made back $588.4 million. Despite the big number, the movie made a little over its budget, and was comically overshadowed by the likes of Sonic 3. With a budget of $122 million and global box office revenue of $422.5 million, sharing a release date of December 20, the film easily won over the hearts of millions. Mufasa was seen as a commercial failure and another soulless live action remake as its predecessor, The Lion King of 2019.
Disney was taken aback as it was never predicted a silly hedgehog based on a video game could overshadow the likes of a film whose original movie grossed over a billion dollars. It was then rumors began to circulate that Disney was in talks of buying out Sega after their giant win in the box office. Though a simple google search could easily dispute these claims as Disney nor Sega released an official statement on the matter. Along with no legal documentation proving otherwise.
But this would bring into question why so many people believed this rumor. This easily can be traced back to Disney’s history of out buying and absorbing any and all competition. As of this year, Disney owns 50 different companies that are not extensions of their own brand but companies bought out. This includes Hulu, National Geographic, ESPN and Pixar. All of which the Disney Company saw as an opportunity to get rid of competition and push themselves further in the entertainment industry.
Now this poses the question that many of us tend to overlook: what does this mean for entertainment?
It is clear that Disney is trying to absorb as much competition there can be – to be the hidden face behind all entertainment. And despite many of us believing it can be so because they are number one, which is partially correct, the truth is that Disney is trying to make as much money as possible. Many companies are owned by Disney that the general public may not be aware of and if the true goal of the company was to be the main choice for families, Disney would make sure we, the people, know. But the reality is that networks like ABC and FX, which are owned by Disney despite being separated from the brand, are so that the company can make money without needing to do more work.
And despite there being many other studios, the Walt Disney company is starting to become a monopoly. Everything, even the most inauspicious companies, are connected to Disney. It all connects back to the mouse and if it seems like I am exaggerating, I am not. This photo made by Title Max has every company and channel Disney owns and operates, along with what it works with.
It all connects.
And despite the foundation of the Disney company being based on creating art, the Disney company is still that at the end of the day: a company. It prioritizes making money and when artists no longer run these companies, making money at the expense of the art becomes the norm. Disney’s concern is not with making good art, but with making art that makes good money.
And what does that mean for the media we consume?
The clear cut answer is the decline in quality movies and rise in the quantity of movies and what the board of directors deem will make the most money. As of late, that means reboots, sequels and live action movies. This comes from the fact that studios are no longer willing to take creative risks anymore due to the fact that they may not be profitable, unlike previous media which they can rely on bringing in audiences. They rely on nostalgia to profit off older audiences who are returning to see what they have done with the old property.
We can clearly see this in their latest release, Mufasa, which is a sequel, reboot and live action retelling. But this isn’t just isolated to Disney, but audiences have dealt with this in almost every other type of media Disney owns. From the Star Wars sequels of the last decade to the most recent of Marvel films and even the halls of Pixar. Nothing released has been worthwhile or revolutionary as Disney once was. It all follows the same formula of shock and nostalgia to keep audiences hooked for more.
Even when the studios attempt to take a new creative leap, they stick to what they believe will still make the most money. Take for example their movie Wish, their film to commemorate their 100th anniversary. What could’ve been a beautiful return to 2D animation was instead a CGI movie with mediocre music and a forgettable plot. Even apart from their animated sectors, their last films from Marvel, which used to be a household name, have been disappointments. Disney believes that if an entire film is covered in CGI and has flat dialogue and a predictable plot, they’ll capture audiences the most.
The saddest part of Disney’s decline is that they were once the face of art and animation, leading the world in their advanced animation from the likes of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. But now, in their mission to make billions of dollars every year, they have taken away the life and art from their films, replacing it with an emptiness and lack of humanity.
And it will continue to be like that for years and years and Disney being the biggest entertainment conglomerate of the 21st century, sets the standard and example for other companies. Recently Sony has followed in the footsteps of Disney with the likes of their films Madame Web and the quickly forgotten Kraven the Hunter.
Though, not all hope is lost as despite Disney’s lack of care, their decline has made room for other amazing and beautiful pieces of art to shine like never before. The Wild Robot crashed onto our screens late last year and now it is nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best Sound for the Oscars. Along with the recently released and finished show Creature Commandos from DC and James Gunn.
Despite our troubling times, amidst the chaos of AI and the political landscape, art will never truly go away. Like every piece of art, there is the ugly and the hidden beauty of it all and we just have to wait until the other takes over.
