Has the reign of Pixar on the animation circuit come to an end? The turnout for the latest film, Elio, sure makes it seem that way… Film Consultant Rick Lyman reflects on the disappointing turnout for the latest from the studio known for films like Toy Story, The Incredibles and Inside Out.
Elio is finally out — and apparently, no one actually cares. Rick Lyman, Film Industry Consultant, has to be honest: he hadn’t even heard about Elio until it received such scathing reviews. While he’s not much of an animation buff overall, he can find an appreciation for the incredible film technology utilized in these pictures. As an early proponent of 3D and IMAX screenings, Lyman became better acquainted with animated movies. Pixar became a familiar name to him. In the late ‘90s and early 2000s, the studio absolutely dominated. Even in recent years, they’ve continued to do the same… until now, with Elio.
Elio is a children’s Adventure/Sci-Fi animation that follows Elio, an underdog with an active imagination. After being inadvertently beamed up to the Communiverse, Elio embarks on the ultimate adventure, transcending galaxies far and wide. After he’s mistakenly identified as Earth’s ambassador, he forms an unexpected bond with eccentric aliens. While it sounds cute enough and has received a 7.1/10 ranking from IMDb, 84% from Rotten Tomatoes and 66% from Metacritic, the box office turnout left much to be desired.
Elio: Opening Weekend — Not a Box Office Smash
Elio has had the weakest debut out of any Pixar film since 1995. Rick Lyman sees very little momentum with this film, at least at the box office. Yet it continues to receive reasonably high rankings on platforms such as Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb. Why is that?
Rick Lyman, Movie Industry Consultant, believes that the performance of Elio at the box office is simply a sign of the times, rather than a sign of Pixar’s success (or lack thereof). Unfortunately, people are not racing to the cinema like they used to.. And with the advent of streaming platforms that stream pictures upon release, there’s becoming less and less of a reason to head to the box office.
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