The latest science fiction movie released by Disney proves that a 2015 decision to steer clear of the sci-fi genre was a big mistake. In 2015, Disney suffered one of its biggest box office bombs with the release of Tomorrowland, based on the futuristic “themed land” of the same name from Magic Kingdom. The movie stars George Clooney as a grizzled inventor whose passion for science is reignited when he teams up with a teenage genius to explore an alternate dimension.
After Tomorrowland bombed at the box office, Disney’s executives made the decision to avoid the science fiction genre, considering it to be commercial poison. Instead, Disney focused on remaking its animated classics in live-action and stuck to popular franchises like Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (which, at least back then, were guaranteed box office success). However, the Mouse House’s recent success with a new original sci-fi movie suggests that it was a mistake for the studio to avoid the genre for almost a decade.
The Creator Got Solid Reviews For An Original Sci-Fi Movie
The success of Gareth Edwards’ The Creator earlier this year has shown that Disney should rethink its post-Tomorrowland decision to avoid the sci-fi genre, because it can find success with sci-fi movies. While it wasn’t universally acclaimed, The Creator did earn a solid “fresh” Rotten Tomatoes score of 66%. The lackluster critical response to 65, Fingernails, and Hypnotic has proven that it’s not easy for an original sci-fi movie to win over critics. That makes The Creator’s success with critics even more impressive.
The Creator deals with the timely theme of the threat of artificial intelligence in a fresh and inventive way. Set in the midst of a war between humans and A.I. in the year 2070, The Creator stars John David Washington as a soldier sent to assassinate the “Creator,” who has developed a weapon with the capability to end the war. The film has been praised for its stunning visuals, exciting set-pieces, and the pairing of thought-provoking A.I. themes with a heartfelt emotional storyline.
It Didn’t Do Great In Theaters, But Is Doing Really Well On Home Release
While The Creator didn’t make a huge splash at the box office, barely making back its production budget, it has been doing really well in its home release. It topped the digital streaming charts in the UK last week, and it’ll likely become even more popular when it’s dropped on Hulu and Disney+ around the world. The success of The Creator has proven that Disney doesn’t need to avoid making sci-fi movies; it just needs to avoid making mediocre sci-fi movies.
