MovieChat Forums > Treasure Planet (2002) Discussion > Why did it fail at the box offices?

Why did it fail at the box offices?

posted 16 years ago by Szabu
28 replies | jump to latest

I don't understand, because everything was great about this movie.

[–] number1212 14 years ago

I think that the second Harry Potter stole some of it's thunder.

[–] Li-1 14 years ago

I think there were a variety of reasons:

1. There was definitely more excitement for Harry Potter.
2. At the time, Disney typically only released one animated theatrical release per year. There simply may not have been enough room for two in the same year.
3. Disney's previous animated sci-fi action/adventure, Atlantis, was ho-hum at best, and Titan A.E. was no great shakes, either. Audiences simply may have been put off by sci-fi animation (as I type that, I realize Lilo & Stitch, which was a big hit, also counts as sci-fi, though that film's emphasis on the Hawaiian setting and family themes definitely has a broader appeal).
4. Much as I love the movie, the concept of Treasure Island in outer space honestly sounded like a disaster if poorly executed, and maybe the trailers just weren't any good (I can't remember).

[–] djensen1 13 years ago

I just watched the trailer. If this is a good movie (I haven't seen it), you can't tell from the trailer.

PROS
1. Animation style and quality is good.
2. Characters look engaging.
3. Pirates and robots could be fun.

CONS
1. Rock and roll is not adventure music. Terrible choice.
2. Skateboarding-pirate-kid-in-space is trying WAY too hard.
3. None of the dialog was funny or frightening.

Combined with the demographic's focus on Harry Potter, I think the cons killed it. In particular, the commenter who mentioned "Poochie" is right on the money.

However, since people seem to like it, I'm committed to checking it out.

[–] hapalife52 12 years ago

There is a variety of reasons why it bombed at the box office.

For one, poor timing:
1) Treasure Planet was released around the same time as HARRY POTTER & CHAMBER OF SECRETS. If Treasure Planet was released at a different time of the year, it would have fared better.

2)Better yet, Disney already released 3 cartoon movies that year! There was LILO & STITCH in the spring, Disney's "cheapquel" PETER PAN IN RETURN TO NEVERLAND and then Disney distributed the japanese animated Film "SPIRITED AWAY. By the time TREASURE PLANET in the fall, I think people had their fill of cartoon movies.

3) CGI became really took off by this time, especially with SHREK and the more adult oriented type of humor. People were starting to get distracted and pay less attention to Disney.

Second, poor marketing: Just because Disney spent $40 million dollars on marketing this movie doesn't mean they SPENT THE MONEY WISELY AND MORE EFFECTIVELY. I mean I watched the trailer of the movie when I saw LILO & STITCH and I felt excited and wowed but at the same time confused because I don't think the trailer did the movie justice mostly. I was like Treasure Island and Space?? HUH? and also they didn't give a clear explanation of the story or the characters in the advertisements. Plus I think this movie was just simply ahead of its time. Today Sci fi movies geared towards teenage boys and guys like TRANSFORMERS and REAL STEEL are in!

Now what Disney should have done was waited to release this movie in 2003 during a less crowded time of the year where it wouldn't face stiff competition like HARRY POTTER or LORD OF THE RINGS. Market this movie letting people know that this was Treasure Island set in space and Jim Hawkins was a teenage outcast. Marketing should have focused on Jim Hawkins a teeange boy whose always in trouble, in need of guidance and finds it all in a treasure hunting expedition in space and finds guidance from a tough space pirate. As for BROTHER BEAR, Disney could have moved it to fall 2004 and HOME ON THE RANGE in spring 2005. Disney should learn from this mistake and never release 2 cartoon movies in the same year (not including PIXAR).

I love this movie to DEATH! I fell in love with this movie when a family friend brought it over and we watched it. I was amazed by it. This is my 2ND FAVORITE DISNEY MOVIE OF ALL TIME 9( BEHIND PETER PAN )!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE JIM HAWKINS, I CAN TOTALLY RELATE TO HIM AND WHAT HE'S GOING THROUGH AND THE ANIMATION IS BREATHTAKING AND CERTAINLY PROVES THAT ANIMATION ISN'T JUST FOR KIDS!!!!!!!!!