The newest Disney venture, ‘Wish,’ brings a plethora of changes for the studio, or let me rephrase it: it takes Disney to the old nostalgic era. In terms of animation and storyline, Disney went back to its roots, checking all the perfect boxes.
Now, Wish has all the formulas to be a success, and the recent box office projections also agree with that fact.
Disney’s ongoing tradition of releasing an animated film at Thanksgiving was fruitful in the beginning, and even last year, it was probably at its pinnacle as “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Strange World” had almost no friction.
But this time, the scenario has changed as Wish will be facing a plethora of competition. Cinephiles can anticipate a diverse lineup, featuring Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” and popular picks like “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” and “Trolls Band Together.” Nationwide expansion awaits indies such as “Saltburn” and “The Holdovers.”
Wish is now projecting around $35M for the weekend, and if you count Thanksgiving in, for the five days, it can reach around $45M-$50M, which will be a good success for the studio.
Disney’s recent Thanksgiving releases fell short of pre-pandemic success. “Strange World” in 2022 struggled with an $18 million start, ending at $37 million domestically. “Encanto” only gained traction post-release on Disney+. Now, Disney looks to revitalize its 2023 lineup, hoping “Wish” can boost underperforming films like “The Marvels,” “The Little Mermaid,” and others.