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.

President and first lady celebrate 20th anniversary on first week back in office

Judge orders California utility to preserve evidence in Eaton fire as lawsuits pile up

Busy Chicago district known as ‘Mexico of the Midwest’ turns into ghost town as fears of ICE raids loom

House Speaker Johnson captures VP JD Vance’s first visit to the Oval Office on video

Tennessee high school shooting: 1 killed, 1 wounded, teen gunman dead of self-inflicted gunshot: police

Trump Urged to Continue His Pardon Spree for 21 ‘Peaceful Pro-Life Advocates’ Persecuted by Biden DOJ

High School Basketball Player Hailed as a Hero After Saving Opponent’s Life During Game

Newsom uses LA fires to criticize President Trump’s reversal of Biden-era climate emissions standards

Trump, GOP leaders meet at White House as president plans visit to NC, defends executive orders

Trump’s First Interview to Take Place in Oval Office, Fox News Legend to Host

‘Desperate’: Pastors, conservatives unleash on Episcopal bishop for ‘weaponizing’ the pulpit against Trump

Tom Homan Confirms Mass Deportation Operation Is Already Underway, Sends Special Message to Sanctuary Cities

Trump praises ‘inspirational’ letter from Biden

DOJ to investigate state or local officials who obstruct immigration enforcement: memo

Biden returns to California vacation spot after leaving office

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.