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.

Nearly two-thirds of American voters back social media ban for kids under 16, Fox News poll shows

Trump set to address the nation in primetime White House speech as Americans report economic squeeze

Newly Declassified Emails Show FBI Desperately Wanted to Avoid Mar-a-Lago Raid, Begged Biden’s DOJ for Other Options, But Was Denied

Former Texas coach allegedly used AI document to groom teen with manipulation tactics: report

Scott Jennings Dismantles CNN Guest’s Insane Susie Wiles Conspiracy Theory with a Single Question

Senate Republicans block Schiff effort to force release of Caribbean strike footage

Maine ‘mama bear’ facing threats as parents battle to keep 8-year-old boy off girls’ basketball team

Trump on thin ice with breadwinners and MAGA over lackluster economy

WATCH: Doctor-lawmaker blames Obamacare for driving health costs higher

Creeps at PornHub Are Being Extorted by Creep Hackers Threatening to Publish Creep Customers’ Porn Habits Just in Time for Christmas

Several House Republicans Side With Democrats in Attempt to Extend Obamacare Subsidies

Four Republicans buck Mike Johnson to join Hakeem Jeffries’ Obamacare push

Global wave of terror plots sparks new alarms over the West’s growing vulnerability

Nick Reiner Had a Bizarre Interaction with a Famous Comedian the Night Before His Parents’ Murder: Report

Bondi Beach mass shooting suspect charged with committing terrorist act

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.