Disney continues to pay the price for abandoning family-friendly entertainment. The movie “Haunted Mansion” underperformed at the box office in its opening weekend.
The live-action remake of the 2003 movie by the same name brought in $24.2 million last weekend, coming in under the $30 million experts expected. That, despite a star-studded cast that includes Rosario Dawson, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Tiffany Haddish, Jamie Lee Curtis and Jared Leto.
The Christian website Movieguide expressed its belief that occultic content in “Haunted Mansion” played a role in why some families chose to stay away from theaters.
“The movie struggled to draw in a family audience due to its emphasis on occultism and unbiblical views on the supernatural,” Movieguide said.
The SAG-AFTRA strike also likely had an impact. Despite having significant star power, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Owen Wilson and Rosario Dawson, among others, actors weren’t permitted to attend the movie’s premiere or promote it.
Movieguide connected the poor performance of “Haunted Mansion” to ongoing critiques about the company’s decision to include LGBTQ themes in various TV shows and movies, among other topics. It’s no secret that Disney has been in Christians’ and conservatives’ crosshairs, with various releases reportedly struggling at the box office.
One report last month found the Walt Disney Company hemorrhaging money, with revenue losses nearing $900 million for recent theatrical releases. The report comes after movies such as “Strange World,” “Elemental” and “Lightyear” featured either same-sex relationships or nonbinary characters. “Pauline,” a new Disney+ show, reportedly features a teenage girl who falls in love with Satan.
“Haunted Mansion” reportedly cost Disney $150 million before marketing costs. It’s still too early to tell if the movie will pick up steam at the box office. “Elemental,” a movie initially panned as a flop, has rebounded, with domestic and international monies totaling $400 million. So far, global receipts for “Haunted Mansion” have brought in just less than $39 million.
“Disney needs to return to creating family-friendly movies that promote strong Christian and moral values rather than continuing down the losing path it is currently on,” Movieguide said.
