For decades, Memorial Day Weekend has been synonymous with blockbuster releases from The Walt Disney Company. This holiday window has historically seen massive hits from Disney Studios, Pixar, Marvel, or the Star Wars franchise. Iconic films such as “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” and “Solo: A Star Wars Story” have all debuted during this lucrative weekend. Just last year, Disney’s live-action “The Little Mermaid” with Halle Bailey earned a whopping $118.8 million, ranking it among the top Memorial Day earners.
Despite this storied tradition, the tables have turned in 2024. Disney, reeling from a challenging 2022 that saw widespread declines in ticket sales for their releases, decided to shake things up. CEO Bob Iger drastically altered the release calendar, eliminating a major blockbuster for this weekend. This year, cinema-goers won’t find a much-anticipated Marvel or Star Wars film gracing the screens. Instead, Disney slashed Marvel Studios’ output to just one major film – “Deadpool and Wolverine” – and there were no live-action adaptations ready for a grand holiday release.
With Disney ceding the spotlight, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Story” (2024) takes over the action genre but with modest expectations, projecting around $40 million in earnings. Another family-friendly option, the animated film “Garfield,” aims for $35 million but lacks the Disney magic many families look forward to each year.
However, Disney fans needn’t worry entirely. Looking ahead to 2025, Disney is reserving Father’s Day weekend for Pixar’s heartwarming tales. This year sees the release of “Inside Out 2,” expected to break the $100 million opening weekend barrier, followed by “Elio” in 2025. It seems Disney is betting big on bracketing these weekends with emotionally charged, family-centric films rather than high-octane action flicks.
We’d love to hear from the Disney community! What do you think about Disney stepping back from Memorial Day Weekend?Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let’s get a conversation started. Don’t forget to share this story with fellow Disney enthusiasts! [Credit @InsideTheMagic](https://insidethemagic.net/2024/05/disney-memorial-day-weekend-box-office-history-rl1/)
