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.

Watch: Bubba Wallace Sparks NASCAR Mega-Crash That Sweeps Up the Majority of the Field

Trump Calls for Jimmy Kimmel to Be ‘Immediately Fired by ABC and Disney’ After ‘Beyond the Pale’ Melania Stunt

Hakeem Jeffries doubles down on ‘maximum warfare’ rhetoric, tells critics ‘I don’t give a damn’

Illegal migrant accused of NY dumpster rape captured on Texas bus as he fled toward southern border: DA

Sun-soaked Boca Bash revelers meet badge blitz as cops flood wild floating party scene

Clip of James Carville Saying He Wants Trump ‘to Suffer’ Resurfaces Following Assassination Attempt

Karoline Leavitt Says DHS Situation Is a ‘National Emergency’ in the Wake of WHCD Shooting

Dem Senate hopefuls under scrutiny for ‘choke them out’ rhetoric after Trump attack scare

Trump admin tightens vise on student aid fraud in ‘ghost student’ crackdown

‘You Should Be Ashamed’: Trump Unleashes on CBS’ Norah O’Donnell Over Question About WHCD Gunman

Leavitt blames ‘left-wing cult of hatred’ after WHCA Dinner shooting

German chancellor says US is being ‘humiliated’ by Iran

Virginia redistricting ballot amendment faces tense questioning from state Supreme Court

Republicans rush to green light White House ballroom following third Trump assassination scare

Supreme Court hands GOP a redistricting win by striking down lower court block on Texas map

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.