In a surprising turn of events, Pixar’s latest film, “Elemental,” featuring the studio’s first non-binary character, faced a lackluster opening weekend at the box office. According to The New York Times, the movie earned a mere $29.5 million, making it the worst opening weekend ever for the renowned animation studio.
Despite receiving creative direction from Pixar, known for its exceptional storytelling, and the backing of Disney, the parent company, “Elemental” fell short of already-low expectations. Various outlets across the country reported on the movie’s underperformance, with headlines such as “Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ Falls Flat” from The New York Times and “Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ Falls Short of Box Office Projections” from Variety.
The film’s lackluster reception is noteworthy, given its attempt to break new ground with the inclusion of a non-binary character named Lake. The voice actor for Lake, Kai Ava Hauser, took to Twitter to express their excitement, announcing their involvement in the groundbreaking role. The tweet quickly went viral, accumulating over 51,000 likes. However, Hauser has yet to comment on the film’s disappointing box office results.
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT I got to play Pixar’s first nonbinary character! Meet Lake!
I voice Lake in the new movie #Elemental! I’m seeing it in theaters tonight with my friends, so you can catch it in theaters too if you wanna see them. 💙 pic.twitter.com/6kBPGvCATE— 🛸 Kai Ava Hauser 🛸 (@JustAVoiceActor) June 16, 2023
“Elemental” finds itself amidst a series of controversial decisions made by Disney this year. The entertainment giant had previously announced a 2.4-million subscriber loss for its streaming service, Disney+, which faced backlash over shows like “Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” incorporating elements of Critical Race Theory and criticizing historical figures like Abraham Lincoln.
Pixar Studios also faced challenges earlier this year when it eliminated 75 positions, marking the first significant job cuts at the studio in decades. This move came in the wake of another Pixar film, “Lightyear,” underperforming at the box office. It was suggested that certain movies, including “Lightyear,” struggled in overseas markets due to their depiction of same-sex relationships, while not resonating well with audiences in America either.
The disappointing reception of “Elemental” and other recent Pixar releases raises questions about the studio’s direction and the demand for progressive storytelling in the current market. Pixar’s chief creative officer, Pete Docter, acknowledged that the studio may have asked too much of the audience with certain creative choices, leading to lackluster results.
Pixar and Disney have yet to comment on the disappointing box office performance of “Elemental” or address the wider concerns raised by their recent endeavors.
