Go Woke Go Broke: Disney/Pixar 'Lightyear' Mocked Following Box Office Flop
Keneci Channel
The new Toy Story spin-off film earned $51.7 million in North America, far below analysts' expectation of about $70 million. Lightyear opened in 4,300 theaters domestically and in 43 markets overseas over the weekend, including at premium theaters, like IMAX, that charge premium prices. Yet it lost to Jurassic World: Dominion, which held on to first-place spot with $58.7 million in its second weekend.
Pixar Studios and Walt Disney launched the computer-animated comedy Toy Story in 1995, and its four films have made over $3 billion. Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4 both broke the $1 billion mark.
Apparently Hollywood has chosen to ignore the anti-woke populist sentiment sweeping popular culture in recent years.
The controversy over a scene in Lightyear which shows a kiss between a homosexual couple turned off many, and got the movie banned in about 14 countries. In the scene, a lesbian space ranger character, Alisha, voiced by actress Uzo Aduba, and her partner kissed on the lips.
The scene had been originally cut from the film by Disney earlier this year, but was reinstated in March after Pixar staffers reportedly protested in an open letter.
Disney also faced criticism for replacing conservative star Tim Allen, 69, with Marvel superhero Chris Evans as the voice of Buzz Lightyear.
Critics say Allen is being punished for his endorsement of former President Donald Trump and attendance at his inauguration. Disney and Pixar have denied that the 69-year-old lost his role in Toy Story and sitcom Last Man Standing due to his politics despite some reports to the contrary.
'Tim Allen' trended on social media Monday, as Lightyear critics take victory lap following the movie flop. Many mocked Evans who last week smeared critics as homophobic "idiots" who will "die off like dinosaurs."
As one social media user put it to Evans, "your movie was beaten by dinosaurs literally;" referencing Jurassic World: Dominion.
The 'Go woke go broke' meme also briefly trended on social media. Many pointed to recent non-woke box office hit Top Gun: Maverick, as an example of the type of movie the viewing masses crave.
Top Gun: Maverick in its fourth weekend, dropped only slightly, bringing in an additional $44 million to take third place. This brings its domestic total now at $466.2 million, and grossing over $885 million globally.