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.

Former top Oregon GOP official secures nomination for governor as Republicans target blue-state pickup

Trump-backed senator cruises to primary win, setting up potential 4th term

Bob Brooks wins Pennsylvania’s 7th District primary to take on Ryan Mackenzie in general election

Three stabbed at crowded Rhode Island beach as hundreds of teens pack area, police say

Bob Harvie wins Pennsylvania’s 1st District primary to set showdown with Brian Fitzpatrick

Trump ally Tommy Tuberville cruises to Alabama GOP governor nomination

Kentucky physician advances to general election after receiving glowing Trump endorsement: ‘True friend’

Pentagon cuts Brigade Combat Teams in Europe as Trump pressures NATO on spending

Stelson-Perry rematch set in Pennsylvania’s 10th District

Gallup Poll: Americans Would Rather Live Near a Nuclear Power Plant Than an AI Data Center

Breaking: Thomas Massie Loses to Trump-Backed Ed Gallrein in Hotly Contested Primary

Tragic: College Football Player Dead at 22, Coach Says ‘He Will Be Sincerely Missed’

Ketanji Brown Jackson Publicly Trashes All 8 of Her Fellow Supreme Court Justices

Trump admin readies Raul Castro indictment as fatal shootdown case resurfaces: sources

Oklahoma Newspaper Pulls Jewish Writer’s Op-Ed Praising OKC Thunder and Israel for Thriving Against Bigger Rivals

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.