Disney’s “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” opened to a paltry $20.4 million ($58.5 million worldwide) last weekend, a box office bomb given its production budget of $130 million. But it is far from the first time a version of Tchaikovsky’s ballet has failed financially — and critically.
So why can’t Hollywood get “The Nutcracker” right? TheWrap spoke with three box office experts to find out.
But lets start with the sordid box office history of “The Nutcracker” on the big screen:
In 2010, Freestyle Releasing put out “The Nutcracker in 3D,” starring Elle Fanning, Richard Philipps and Richard E. Grant. It grossed only $195,000 (from 45 locations) its opening weekend, and was widely panned by critics. (TheWrap’s own Alonso Duralde recently recalled the film “defiled” the work of Tchaikovsky, having taken “the classic story and ballet and added Holocaust metaphors, Tim Rice-penned hip-hop lyrics, and a bizarre turn by Nathan Lane as Albert Einstein.”)
Before that was “The Nutcracker,” released by Warner Bros. in 1993. It grossed just $2.2 million its opening weekend and received mixed reviews. Similarly, 1986’s “Nutcracker: The Motion Picture,” 1990’s “The Nutcracker Prince” and 1998’s “The IMAX Nutcracker” all underperformed at the box office.
Experts who spoke with TheWrap pointed to one main reason why Hollywood hasn’t been able to crack “The Nutcracker” tale: The films stray too far away from the subject matter of the classic ballet.
“Hollywood has always tried to do too much with their adaptations of ‘The Nutcracker,’ without seemingly understanding why people go to the stage versions each and every year: the music and the dancing,” said Jeff Bock, senior analyst at Exhibitor Relations. “If ‘The Nutcracker’ were made into a true musical it would no doubt delight audiences. Lin Manuel Miranda — Can you see the sugar plums dancing?”
Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at comScore, added, “Certainly cracking the code of the ‘Nutcracker’ on the big screen has proven to be an elusive goal with most of the adaptations having met with audience indifference. Such a classic and indelible story has presented challenges to filmmakers who have tried to tinker with the formula while balancing that against the built in expectations of moviegoers.”
And Shawn Robbins, chief analyst at BoxOffice.com, agreed, saying that filmmakers have deviated from “The Nutcracker”‘s origin as a ballet too dramatically. “Part of the challenge has been the saturation of adaptations across film and television over the decades,” he told TheWrap, adding that the property may also not be well enough known among today’s young moviegoers. “Perhaps Tchaikovsky’s musical suite has become more recognizable than the story itself,” Robbins offered.
There are even more reasons why “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms,” specifically, had difficulty resonating with audiences last weekend. Its release date, its reshoots and the lack of name recognition also made it bomb at the box office, according to analysis by TheWrap’s Jeremy Fuster. Also, Disney possibly underestimated the power of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which over performed with a $51 million opening.
That said, “Four Realms” has been the highest grossing among all versions of the holiday season ballet adapted to the big screen. But that hasn’t earned it bragging rights.
“Disney’s newest film is the most successful attempt in terms of tickets,” Robbins said. “It grossed more on its first day than the last six films made in their total runs, but as one of the more expensive Christmas movies made in recent years, there’s a negative perception overshadowing an otherwise decent box office performance.”
Even though we’ve seen Hollywood take multiple stabs at adapting the ballet to the big screen, Dergarabedian said we haven’t seen the last of “The Nutcracker.”
“There is no way that Hollywood will give up on this classic tale,” he concluded.
'Nutcracker' and 10 More of the Biggest Bombs in Box Office History (Photos)
Even though Disney is currently the king of the box office, they aren't immune from a big misfire. With a $130 million budget and a $20 million opening "Nutcracker and the Four Realms" is shaping up to be one of 2018's biggest bombs. But will it be as infamous as some of these all-time flops?
Disney
"Ishtar" (1987) -- With reports of a rocky production and a budget that got way out of hand, critics and the Hollywood trades savaged Elaine May's adventure comedy starring Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman as it made just $14 million. For years, it was considered one of the worst films ever made, but is now considered by some to be a stealth success.
Sony Pictures
"47 Ronin" (2013) -- Though Keanu Reeves was on his game in the action scenes, this Japanese fantasy was panned for its story and cost Universal big, as it failed to make back its $175 million budget.
Universal
"Cutthroat Island" (1995) -- Geena Davis, still hot from "Thelma & Louise," found her star diminished by this infamous pirate comedy that only made $10 million against a $98 million budget. The script, cast and footage were repeatedly overhauled, and this bomb convinced Hollywood that pirate movies were poison... until "Pirates of the Caribbean" came around eight years later.
MGM
"The Black Cauldron" (1985) -- Known in animation history as the movie that nearly bankrupted Disney. With a then-animation record $44 million budget and Disney's first ever PG rating, it was a big risk for Disney that failed to pay off with just $21 million grossed. Fortunately, Disney held on and went on to kick off their Renaissance with "The Little Mermaid" four years later.
Disney
"Treasure Planet" (2002) -- On the other end of the Disney Renaissance was this labour of love from longtime Disney animators Ron Clements and John Musker. Sadly, this $140 million film supplanted "Black Cauldron" as Disney's biggest flop with just $110 million grossed, as families turned out to see "Harry Potter" instead. Still, the film has earned a cult following among Disney buffs.
Disney
"Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever" (2002) -- Two months before "Treasure Planet" came this $70 million action film about dueling spies (Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu) that only made $14 million. But unlike "Treasure Planet," it was... and still is ...known as one of the worst movies ever made.
Warner Bros.
"The Adventures of Pluto Nash" (2002) -- Wow, 2002 had a lot of really bad bombs, didn't it? Eddie Murphy appears on this list thanks to a $100 million sci-fi comedy that only made $7 million and cost Warner Bros. $131 million. Fortunately for WB, the "Harry Potter" films easily bailed them out.
Warner Bros.
"Gigli" (2003) -- One of the most infamous movies ever made, one which launched 10 thousand tabloid articles. With a $75 million budget and just $7 million grossed, it was an albatross around Ben Affleck's neck until he won the Best Picture Oscar for "Argo" in 2012.
Columbia Pictures
"Waterworld" (1995) -- Maybe not one of the biggest flops, but certainly one of the most well-known. With a much-publicized troubled production which saw Kevin Costner take over as director, what was supposed to be a tentpole release for Universal ended up only making $262 million against an inflated $175 million budget that, at the time, made it one of the most expensive productions in Hollywood history.
Universal
"Heaven's Gate" (1980) -- This is the big one. A film that bombed so hard with just $3.5 million grossed that it led to the bankruptcy of one of Hollywood's most well-known studios, United Artists, and destroyed director Michael Cimino's reputation. But time has been kind to Cimino and "Heaven's Gate," with critics praising the film years later with an extended director's cut being hailed as a masterwork.
MGM
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”Nutcracker and the Four Realms“ isn’t working with audiences, but it could be much worse
Even though Disney is currently the king of the box office, they aren't immune from a big misfire. With a $130 million budget and a $20 million opening "Nutcracker and the Four Realms" is shaping up to be one of 2018's biggest bombs. But will it be as infamous as some of these all-time flops?