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AegisP Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man
#45601: Jun 22nd 2025 at 6:54:09 PM

Elemental did pretty well abroad, especially in Korea and that was the start of the turn around.

As long as this flower is in my heart. My Strength will flow without end.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#45602: Jun 22nd 2025 at 6:55:22 PM

Yeah, that didn't happen this time.

Disgusted, but not surprised
AegisP Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Kindhearted SSSSSNAKE Man
#45603: Jun 22nd 2025 at 7:06:46 PM

[up] It certainly didnt.

As long as this flower is in my heart. My Strength will flow without end.
kablammin45 art lizer from Cleese's Battle Circuit (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
art lizer
#45604: Jun 22nd 2025 at 7:39:45 PM

With the movie generally getting very positive word-of-mouth (arguably more positive word-of-mouth than Elemental did even), I don't think it's impossible for Elio to still be able to turn things around like Elemental did once word about how good it actually is starts to really get out about it.

But man if it doesn't seem like it has a much bigger hill to climb than Elemental did, though. Especially since based on what I've seen some people online say, it seems a not-insignificant number of people sincerely don't even know the movie exists. I've seen more than one comment where someone said they brought up Elio with family/friends and said family/friends were like "wait, there's a new Pixar movie out now?".

So yeah, it seems the main culprit here is marketing failing an (otherwise very good) animated movie yet again.

"Hey, least I didn't lose all my artistic talent when I crash landed in the arena here."
fragglelover Since: Jun, 2012
#45605: Jun 22nd 2025 at 7:42:59 PM

I'll admit that most of the ads I've seen outside of Paramount+ is actually for the Happy Meals (which don't really explain the premise outside of "he wants to be abducted and succeeds")

Francescamaria17 Since: Mar, 2020
#45606: Jun 22nd 2025 at 10:50:54 PM

You are all complaining that you are not wanting elio to have a positive Word-of-mouth.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#45607: Jun 22nd 2025 at 10:56:18 PM

Hey, it’s not us who don’t want that. Blame whoever marketed Elio.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Francescamaria17 Since: Mar, 2020
#45608: Jun 23rd 2025 at 2:07:42 AM

You are all waiting for a positive Word-of-mouth for elio. You are all needing to be patient.

ShinyCottonCandy Everyone's friend Malamar from Lumiose City (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Everyone's friend Malamar
#45609: Jun 23rd 2025 at 2:10:34 AM

[up]Please reread what everybody's been saying.

My musician page
TonyG (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#45610: Jun 23rd 2025 at 6:29:53 AM

https://www.cartoonbrew.com/box-office-report/elio-is-a-box-office-disaster-pixars-lowest-opening-of-all-time-248018.html

Over at Cartoon Brew, Amid Amidi has an interesting theory on why Pixar films haven't been as successful lately. He points out that most of their latest films have young children as protagonists, giving the impression that they're strictly kids movies; whereas films from their "classic" period have adult (or adult-presenting) characters with adult problems and concerns, making them surrogates for the adults in the audience.

I'm not saying this explains everything, but it is an interesting observation.

Ultimatum Disasturbator from The Wiggle Room (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#45611: Jun 23rd 2025 at 6:31:34 AM

Its cartoon brew,a tabloid that can be safely ignored I think

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
fragglelover Since: Jun, 2012
#45612: Jun 23rd 2025 at 6:35:37 AM

Elemental has adults as the main characters (and the one child character with more than one scene... isn't well liked, although there was a lot of focus on him)

You know, I think most of what I saw leading up to release was either a handful of jokes (which, as noted, led to all people knowing was that it was about a kid who wanted to be abducted by aliens and gets his wish) or about the bloopers returning.

Ultimatum Disasturbator from The Wiggle Room (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#45613: Jun 23rd 2025 at 6:38:08 AM

I remember being disappointed Elemental didn't have a villain,but in the end I liked the film enough that I didn't care

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Xeroop Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
#45614: Jun 23rd 2025 at 7:03:01 AM

Lightyear had an entirely adult cast and bombed pretty badly.

KiraKiwi410 Since: Jun, 2024
#45615: Jun 23rd 2025 at 7:18:58 AM

I'd say it's more from how younger writers and directors are helming most of these new movies, which aren't of the same tone as the movies that John Lasseter worked on. I'm not saying it's bad. In fact, except for Lightyear, I like all of the movies that Pixar put out in this decade so far. It's just that the style of these newer movies isn't meant to be like that of older Pixar movies, and that's fine. It's just that audiences aren't used to the style of these movies yet.

Edited by KiraKiwi410 on Jun 23rd 2025 at 7:19:15 AM

KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#45616: Jun 23rd 2025 at 7:20:09 AM

Think I heard its more along the lines of licensing issues.

While Disney owns all of the media in question, the TV animation department is separate from the feature animation department.

Licensing doesn’t work that way if you own all the media involved. Disney wasn’t licensing from itself in order to make that show.

There’s a lot of theories going around about it, but I think “doesn’t want to pay royalties on the buttload of people involved in the show” might be the most… likely, I guess? Dunno if it’s true, but it at least makes sense.

Edited by KnownUnknown on Jun 23rd 2025 at 7:22:29 AM

fragglelover Since: Jun, 2012
#45617: Jun 23rd 2025 at 7:21:43 AM

I once said that the issue is that yeah, Pixar changed for the most part. A lot changed.

And for some people, there was too many changes all at once (new directors, different storytelling, new art style, Ratzenberger no longer having a cameo in every film) that for them, the studio's output is unrecognizable.

generation81 Since: Aug, 2021
#45618: Jun 23rd 2025 at 7:24:05 AM

I mean considering Pixar built its success of films in the 2000s that were very tonally similar at least from afar, it does make divegent films feel off to those not used to it.

Contrast that with Dreamworks, who are more consistanly inconsistant for tone and looks, so are able ti weather it better.

Ego-Man25 Since: Mar, 2015 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#45619: Jun 23rd 2025 at 7:28:06 AM

Consistency within inconsistency, as it were. Plus that metronoming of quality has been with DreamWorks since day one. Never know when they'll do something mediocre, something trash, or something of a banger until the movie came out.

Honestly, in some regards, perhaps Pixar's consistently high quality far earlier on wound up being a curse in hindsight.

Self-professed Wild Card who thinks cynicism isn't so bad.
generation81 Since: Aug, 2021
#45620: Jun 23rd 2025 at 7:28:34 AM

My point exactly. Pixar;s legendary winning streak was a Tough Act to Follow in the eyes of general audiences.

Edited by generation81 on Jun 23rd 2025 at 10:29:15 AM

TomWithoutJerry Tyranny Bad, Democracy Good. from Where Might Makes Right and I have no Might. Since: Dec, 2023
Tyranny Bad, Democracy Good.
#45621: Jun 23rd 2025 at 7:29:45 AM

It probably doesn't help Elio that much that it was released so soon after the megasuccess of the Lilo & Stitch remake. Audiences were just fresh from an 'Adorable young quirky kid gets involved with a bizarre menagerie of aliens, heartwarming adventure ensues' movie.

So, maybe it felt a bit samey. If they'd waited until the impressions cooled down from that high bar it might've had more of a success.

Edited by TomWithoutJerry on Jun 23rd 2025 at 11:49:03 AM

Please remember that, ultimately, fictional works of entertainment are just that.
chasemaddigan I'm Sad Frogerson. Since: Oct, 2011
I'm Sad Frogerson.
#45622: Jun 23rd 2025 at 8:16:42 AM

Elio was also released the weekend after the How to Train Your Dragon remake, which is an established franchise that's aimed at roughly the same demographic.

BigBadShadow25 With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg. from Basement at the Alamo (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: Desperate
With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg.
#45623: Jun 23rd 2025 at 8:22:48 AM

And the same day as KPop Demon Hunters which could be watched at home and just blew the F up.

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.
Xeroop Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
#45624: Jun 23rd 2025 at 8:53:31 AM

I'm not sure how much audience overlap there is between Elio and K-Pop Demon Hunters compared to How to Train Your Dragon or Lilo & Stitch. Sure, they're both animated, and rated PG, but beyond that they have relatively little in common.

BigBadShadow25 With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg. from Basement at the Alamo (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: Desperate
With my last breath, I curse Zoidberg.
#45625: Jun 23rd 2025 at 9:17:55 AM

Well you gotta remember that it’s harder to get people in the theatres these days. Elio’s marketing was non existent and KPDH didn’t have to work as hard because people love K Pop and it would be watched at home for “free”.

You’re Gonna Carry That Weight.

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