During an earnings call on Wednesday, Disney CEO Bob Iger took a moment to congratulate rival Universal Studios on the success of its recent release, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” The film has generated over $1.1 billion globally since its release in early April, demonstrating that family-friendly films, particularly animated ones, can succeed at the box office in the wake of the pandemic.
Iger’s praise for “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” comes as Disney’s theatrical animated content has struggled at the box office since the pandemic began. Some analysts have attributed this to confusion in the marketplace over which Disney films are streaming-only and which have wider theatrical releases. Others have criticized Disney for not doing enough to market its animated films to the public.
Last summer’s “Lightyear,” a spinoff from the highly successful Toy Story series, made just over $200 million globally, while fall’s “Strange World” flopped with less than $100 million in global ticket sales. Meanwhile, Universal has had a string of box office hits, with “Minions: The Rise of Gru” generating nearly $940 million globally and “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” bringing in nearly $500 million worldwide.
The success of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” could bode well for Disney’s upcoming releases, which include Pixar’s “Elemental” and the Thanksgiving release “Wish.” As parents and kids flock to theaters to see the Nintendo-based film, they are also being exposed to ads for other upcoming animated features, including Disney’s slate.
