CHARLOTTE, N.C. —
After several flops for one of the biggest movie producers in the world, the future of animated movies in theaters could be in jeopardy.
Animation has historically been a major earner for companies like Disney and Universal, but post-pandemic trends are changing the that.
Disney's "Wish" only made $31 million during its opening weekend, which is way less than experts' expectations.
Live-action competition, like the new "Hunger Games" movie and the historical epic "Napoleon," beat out the Disney film in theaters.
With the recent rise of streaming service, getting people to the theater has been tough for pretty much every studio.
Disney has been releasing a lot of content on its Disney+ streaming service, which is stretching creative teams thin. And with so many platforms, parents are getting confused about when and where they can actually watch new Disney films.
But, there's a chance to rebound.
Colder weather and an emphasis on family time during the holidays might push folks to the theaters and give animated movies a needed boost.
Contact Ben Thompson at bthompson@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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