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.

Judge suggests DOJ leadership pushed for Kilmar Abrego Garcia prosecution

Florida firefighters allegedly waterboarded, whipped rookie over TikTok video as 4 face criminal charges

Bear remains under California home after weeks of failed removal attempts

Mainstream Media Reporter Slammed for Insane Suggestion About Somali Day Care Owners Turning to Violence

SEE IT: Daycare center at heart of Minnesota fraud investigation fixes sign after viral mockery

Shirley associate in viral video says he filed criminal complaint against Walz over daycare fraud allegations

Mamdani taps controversial lawyer who defended al Qaeda terrorist for top role: ‘Powerful advocate’

Fox News Politics Newsletter: House GOP whip calls for revoking citizenship over Minnesota fraud

UK government squirms after repatriating antisemitic, anti-white activist from Egypt

Churches Across the Country Join in Troubling Closure Trend for Final Sunday of 2025

BREAKING: Kash Patel Says Minnesota Fraud Probes Were ‘Buried’ Under Biden – They Implicated His ‘Allies’

Police Release New Dash Cam Footage That May Show Missing Texas Teen Camila Mendoza Olmos

Judge considers releasing Jan. 6 pipe bomb defendant into home detention

Not Just Minnesota Buzz About Somali-Linked Fraud Emerges in Two Additional States

Elon Musk unleashes on Tim Walz with new nickname amid Minnesota fraud investigations

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.