DreamWorks’ 'Forgotten Island' Fails to Break Even Despite High Ratings
DreamWorks Animation’s 'Forgotten Island' opened with $12.8 million, a significant underperformance for a major studio release. The film, which blends Filipino mythology with a buddy-comedy plot, received high audience ratings but failed to attract sufficient ticket sales to justify its wide release. Critics noted the film’s frenetic pacing and lack of emotional depth, while industry observers pointed to strong competition from re-releases like 'Avengers: Endgame' and new thrillers. Despite the box office disappointment, the film’s cast, including H.E.R. and Dave Franco, and its cultural focus on Filipino folklore, have generated positive buzz among niche audiences.
Key points
- The film opened with $12.8 million, far below expectations for a major animated feature.
- It received high audience ratings but struggled to convert them into ticket sales.
- The plot centers on two best friends, Jo and Raissa, who are transported to a mythical island called Nakali.
- The film features a voice cast including H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, and Jenny Slate.
- It faced stiff competition from 'Avengers: Endgame' re-release and A24’s 'Primtime'.
Background
The film’s release coincided with a strong performance for re-releases, as 'Avengers: Endgame' topped the box office with $26 million. This trend, noted in our archive, suggests that audiences may be favoring familiar titles over new releases. Additionally, the film’s underperformance contrasts with the strong opening of 'Practical Magic 2' earlier in the month, indicating a possible shift in audience preferences for animated family films.
How outlets are covering it
Cartoon Brew reported the $12.8 million opening as a clear failure, emphasizing the gap between high ratings and low ticket sales. The Guardian’s review criticized the film’s 'frantic' and 'over-energized' pacing, comparing it to 'The Hangover' but noting its lack of emotional depth. Deadline focused on the film’s cast and cultural significance, highlighting the involvement of Filipino actors and the use of Filipino mythology, which may have contributed to its niche appeal. The outlets differ in their emphasis: Cartoon Brew and The Guardian focus on the film’s commercial and critical shortcomings, while Deadline highlights its cultural and casting strengths.
Why it matters
The underperformance of 'Forgotten Island' signals a potential shift in audience preferences for animated family films, with re-releases and thrillers outperforming new animated releases. It also highlights the challenges of marketing culturally specific content to a broad audience, as the film’s Filipino mythology and voice cast may have limited its appeal to a wider demographic. This could influence future studio decisions on the types of animated films they greenlight and how they market them.
What to watch
The film’s performance in subsequent weeks will be crucial in determining its overall box office success. Studios may need to reassess their marketing strategies for culturally specific animated films, potentially focusing on niche audiences rather than broad releases. Additionally, the success of re-releases like 'Avengers: Endgame' may encourage studios to invest more in re-releases of popular titles rather than new animated features.
- ‘Forgotten Island’ Forgotten At Box Office With $12.8M Opening Cartoon Brew
- ‘Forgotten Island’ Review: An Animated Filipino Fantasy WSJ
- H.E.R. Reflects on the Joy and ‘Struggle’ of Growing Up Black and Filipino (Exclusive) People.com
- Forgotten Island review – best friends forever trapped in frantic DreamWorks animation The Guardian
- ‘Forgotten Island’ Cast Guide: Who Voices Whom? Deadline
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