Hollywood’s Sequel Factory Churns Out Worrisome Duds This Summer

More than a month into the summer movie season, one thing has become clear: Many of Hollywood’s sequels, reboots and reimaginings are falling flat.

Some films have missed analysts’ forecasts by tens of millions of dollars. They include last weekend’s new releases — Walt Disney Co.’s “Dark Phoenix” and Universal Pictures’ “The Secret Life of Pets 2.” Though Paramount Pictures’ “Rocketman” topped studio forecasts, the Elton John biopic came in below outside estimates. Warner Bros.’ “Godzilla” sequel also missed industry projections.

So far, the shortfall hasn’t claimed any of the summer’s biggest tentpole films. And Eric Wold, an analyst at B. Riley FBR, still expects higher ticket sales through the balance of the year to deliver a record 2019. But the results also show that fans are getting pickier about the glut of sequels that Hollywood studios have force-fed movie moviegoers for years.

“Audiences are savvy enough to wait for the home market, especially with so many great streaming choices this summer,” said Jeff Bock, an analyst with Exhibitor Relations Co. “That’s something Hollywood will be contending against for years to come.”

Sequels and reboots need to be more compelling to draw in fans, Bock said. “Many of them aren’t upping the ante or raising the stakes significantly enough,” he said.

Hollywood studios have turned movie serials, now dubbed franchises, into an art form — with film series built around comic-book figures, action-hero revivals and classic cartoon characters. And no one has been more successful at this task than Disney.

Public School Slaps ‘Does Not Endorse’ Stickers on US Constitution, Declaration of Independence

Fact Check: Is Dan Goldman the New Adam Schiff, With Over-the-Top Trump Allegations?

Federal immigration enforcement sweeps Charlotte months after Ukrainian refugee killing shocked nation

Laura Loomer teases Georgia move after President Trump says he wants Marjorie Taylor Greene primaried

Dog shoots owner after jumping on bed during gun cleaning accident in Pennsylvania home

Former CBP officer sentenced to 15 years in prison for role in drug trafficking scheme at southern border

Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman denies viewing pornography on flight after viral photos surface online

Border czar Tom Homan slams Catholic Church, says ‘secure border saves lives’

ICE Moves to Save 450k Unaccompanied Minors Abandoned, Lost Under Biden’s Border Policies

Sen. Fetterman shares graphic photo after heart rhythm scare, says doctors ‘put me back together’

Indiana Senate Republicans reject Trump-backed redistricting push, decline to meet in December

Epstein Bombshell: Dem Congressman Texted Epstein During Michael Cohen Hearing

Independent Journalist: Dems Are Playing Games with the Epstein Files to Smear Trump

Boston Strangler’s unheard confession tapes cast new doubt on ‘America’s Jack the Ripper’: victim’s nephew

Four officers wounded in Kansas shooting; no active public threat

Second Place

But even Disney’s biggest hits aren’t doing quite as well as predicted. The Marvel finale “Avengers: Endgame” racked up $2.73 billion in box-office sales globally and looked likely to dethrone “Avatar” as the top-grossing movie of all time. Now — following a drop-off in attendance — it will have to settle for second place.

“It looks like ‘Avatar’ will hold onto the title,” Bock said, “unless Disney snaps their fingers and springs an alternate ending re-release in the near future.”

Bock cites a number of reasons for all of the misses. No one cared about the humans in “Godzilla,” he said, and “The Secret Life of Pets 2” didn’t “bring anything new to the table.”

Missing estimates in a debut weekend doesn’t necessarily mean a feature won’t be profitable. Movies like “Rocketman,” with smaller production budgets, are expected to make money.

‘Dark Phoenix’

“Dark Phoenix,” an X-Men film, is emerging as one of the summer’s bigger duds. It suffered from production and story problems, along with muddled marketing that left audiences confused by the trailer, Bock said. The film cost about $200 million to make, plus tens of millions more to market, suggesting it will have trouble turning a profit.