It’s not just Democrats that have a male problem.
Disney is in the same boat.
Last week, Disney execs reportedly told underlings to begin the search for original material that will “bring young men back to the brand,” according to Variety.
The Variety piece claimed that every major film studio faces the same issue. Males age 13-28 aren’t buying tickets at the box office like they used to.
The magazine claims these Gen Zers aren’t going to the theaters because they are “lonely, game-obsessed” people who are not easily enticed out of their homes because many of them became too comfortable inside during the COVID lockdowns.
Those may be legitimate reasons, but the throngs of neighborhood boys incessantly zipping by my house on their electric bikes on a daily basis leads me to believe they’re not as agoraphobic as Variety would have you believe.
Has Disney considered their product may be the problem young men aren’t turning their eyes to their branded screen?
Let’s take a trip back in time through my formative years. I was 13 years old in 2004 when Disney released The Incredibles and National Treasure. These were films filled with adventure, superpowers, hidden secrets, history, and imagination.
The Incredibles focused on the family bond, with the backdrop of forgotten superheroes finding their purpose again. There was something for the whole family to enjoy. Young boys looked up to Mr. Incredible and found kinship in his son, Dash. Young girls had Mrs. Incredible as a role model while they related to daughter Violet as she struggled to socialize in school.
National Treasure created a modern, America-centered Indiana Jones as Nicolas Cage pilfered priceless artifacts rumored to be riddled with clues that led to a trove of wealth. Who doesn’t love a good Constitution caper?
There was no agenda, hidden or in-your-face, in either of these standout films from 2004. They were created to entertain. And they did just that, as each film birthed it’s own successful sequel.
So what does a 13-year-old have to look forward to these days?
We’ll stick with 2024, as there is still time in 2025 for Disney to somewhat recoup their young male audience.
The two largest features from the Mouse in 2024 were Inside Out 2 and Moana 2.
I have seen neither of these movies, but did see their predecessors as an adult.
Inside Out 2 continues the story of the protagonist from the first Disney/Pixar movie, Inside Out. The story centers on the emotions of a school-age girl as she becomes interested in boys and has trouble expressing herself to her parents. The emotions are portrayed by individual characters: Joy, Anger, Sadness, etc.
A cursory review of the sequel reveals that 13-year-old Riley is about to enter puberty and new emotions are introduced into the mix.
Does that sound like something a 13-year-old boy would be interested in seeing?
The Moana franchise faces many of the same problems. The titular character is a young girl who, in the first movie, must restore the magic to her homeland and find who she is along the way.
Moana 2, at a quick glance… I can’t even tell you what it’s about. It’s so convoluted, but I imagine contains many of the same themes as the first movie.
The point being young boys aren’t being given the variety they deserve at the theater by Disney. Both Universal and Warner Bros. have begun the about-face with features “Minions” and “Minecraft,” respectively. They capitalized on both nostalgia and video game culture.
Disney’s live-action remakes of their animated films from the 90s and 2000s isn’t going to cut it. They present too much realism to captivate any segment of imagination.
The Mouse has bled the Star Wars and Marvel universes to death with endless sequels and series offshoots. Nobody can keep up with the copious amounts of drivel that’s being pumped out under those umbrellas.
If Disney wants to bring back the male viewer, they need to realize the importance of the male story. Young men need to feel empowered and encouraged, too.
I had such entertainment when I was young. I want the same for my son, too.