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.

GOP lawmakers smell something else behind Big Tech’s AI doomsday warnings: ‘Something else going on’

Young swing-state voters cozy up to Democratic Socialists, say party establishment must ‘learn’ from DSA wins

European Leaders in Panic Mode Over Pete Hegseth’s Military Plans for the Region: Report

DEI Dies at Starbucks, but Not Before They Have to Pay Big Fine for Discrimination by Race, Sex in Florida

Ex-Dem insider reveals why Biden’s daughter threatened to sue her: ‘Bordered on parody’

Flock CEO, tech rivals called to testify before senators over AI camera privacy concerns

Federal judges reveal private coordination behind Trump immigration cases and more top headlines

Watch: Jelly Roll 2.0 – Blue Collar Comedy Legend Ron White Attacks TX Republicans – This After Trashing Trump Online

Watch: Teary Dem in Squad Car Asks God to Deliver Her from DUI Arrest – Apparently Doesn’t Know Her Party Officially Booted God in 2012

Congress is vulnerable to a paralyzing terrorist attack

Judge Judy warns of ‘danger’ if prosecutors don’t retry Lindsay Clancy after murder trial ends in mistrial

‘Unprecedented’: Judges reveal behind-the-scenes coordination on Trump immigration cases

Apple TV’s thriller ‘Last Seen’ is worth seeing

Barry Melrose, 1956-2026

Minnesota woman’s mugshot goes viral after social media users spot resemblance to Jennifer Lopez

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.