Mulan (Live-Action)

[Sotiris]

Disney's attempt to appeal to the Chinese government ended up blowing up in their face every step of the way.

China bars media coverage of Disney's 'Mulan' after Xinjiang backlash
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-film ... SKBN2611FP

U.S. lawmakers quiz Disney CEO over Xinjiang connection to 'Mulan'
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-disn ... SKBN2630AZ

‘Mulan’: U.S. Senator Blasts Disney For “Whitewashing Genocide” In China
https://deadline.com/2020/09/mulan-us-s ... 234574308/

[UmbrellaFish]

It’s just been a spectacular disaster. Lots of movies have faced challenges this year due to COVID-19, but Mulan just seems to have had the deck stacked massively against it (in large part due to Disney’s own mismanagement). I can’t believe it will see a sequel... any talk about that has to just be PR bluster.

But methinks this will make fodder for a good Disney+ documentary one day.

[Tristy]

Something akin to The Sweatbox perhaps?

Maybe with everything going on, this remake might end up being another Song of the South.

[Sotiris]

Wow, Disney actually admitted it. They're still trying to underplay it though and wash their hands of any responsibility.

‘Mulan’: Disney CFO Christine McCarthy Concedes China Uproar “Has Generated A Lot Of Issues For Us”
https://deadline.com/2020/09/mulan-disn ... 234574761/

[Disney's Divinity]

I wonder if UmbrellaFish is right that the sequel plans are in jeopardy at this point. To think they could've had a billion-maker here and then a sequel that did around 500-700 million if they'd played their cards right. They probably could've weathered through the hurricane of controversy if they'd had audiences on their side, but most seem unsatisfied with the product.

Hopefully they'll take this as a learning lesson and TLM hews more closely to the original because of it. Just a shame for the Mulan property though, because it deserved better.

[Sotiris]

The remake is underperforming in China. All of Disney's efforts to ingratiate themselves with Chinese audiences were for naught.

Mulan, Disney’s live-action update on its 1998 animated classic grossed an estimated RMB 52.5M ($8.26M) on its opening Friday in China. The figure includes midnights, and portends a three-day weekend around $26M. This is a disappointment for the Niki Caro-directed movie which has faced mounting controversy in recent days, and will have suffered from piracy as it was released elsewhere on Disney+ last week.

Reviews site Douban is giving Mulan a low 4.7 while ticketing platform Maoyan has it graded at 7.7, lower than the norm for live-action Disney titles. It is early days, but now looks like the $200M production could finish its China run in the mid-$40Ms.

Source: https://deadline.com/2020/09/mulan-chin ... 234575329/

The situation is not looking up for Mulan in China with a Saturday that saw a small 11% increase versus Friday. The Disney live-action update on its 1998 animated classic is now at an estimated $17M cume through two days in the Middle Kingdom, and including Thursday midnights. This points to a three-day launch in the low $20M range.

Across Saturday, the Niki Caro-directed Mulan jockeyed with local juggernaut The Eight Hundred for first position and ultimately edged it out, per ticketing platform Maoyan where it is carrying a 7.6 audience score. Maoyan has also lowered its final prediction on the film to about $40M.

Source: https://deadline.com/2020/09/mulan-chin ... 234575329/

Disney’s Mulan ultimately settled for a $23.2M three-day opening in China, including previews. This is about where we saw it landing yesterday after downgrading projections for the Middle Kingdom launch. The movie from director Niki Caro ended up in the No. 1 spot for the session there, but was bested on Sunday by local title The Eight Hundred.

The full weekend on Mulan was $29.1M from 17 offshore markets for a $37.6M international cume. That’s a hold of -37% (excluding China). IMAX repped $1.75M of Mulan‘s China bow on 636 screens.

Source: https://deadline.com/2020/09/mulan-tene ... 234575940/

Disney’s Mulan saw a 72% drop in its sophomore China frame, adding $6.5M to bring the local cume to $36.2M. The live-action update on the 1998 animated classic was No. 2 for the weekend there, where it has been battling piracy, a low reviews score and poor word of mouth.

Mulan, which debuted on Disney+ September 4th in markets where the streaming service is available, has grossed an estimated $57M through Sunday in its international box office theatrical plays. The full weekend from 20 markets added $10.9M. New hubs included Korea where Mulan did $1.2M from Thursday through Sunday.

Source: https://deadline.com/2020/09/tenet-mula ... 234580379/

After holding 2nd place in China throughout its third low-grossing frame last weekend, Disney’s live-action Mulan slipped down to 4th position this session, bringing the market cume to $40M. This is about where Maoyan sees the run finaling, which seems likely given the influx of big National Day titles this week.

In total overseas, Mulan added $3.3M from 20 markets and has an international cume of $64.4M. China leads play, followed by the Middle East at $5.8M, Russia ($4.4M), Thailand ($2.8M) and Taiwan ($2.4M). The film is still No. 1 in Malaysia and had a good hold in Poland (-19%), but overall the mega-production’s offshore theatrical business is disappointing.

Source: https://deadline.com/2020/09/tenet-mula ... 234585913/

In those markets where Disney doesn’t have a streaming service, Mulan has made just over $67M during the pandemic.

Source: https://deadline.com/2020/10/soul-relea ... 234594147/

In regions where the streaming service isn’t available, such as Asia, Mulan was made available to theaters. That included China, where the movie was a major disappointment after topping out at $40.8 million. All told, Mulan has grossed only $66.8 million internationally.

Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ ... ks-of-pvod

Shi Wenxue, a film critic and professor at the Beijing Academy, told the Global Times on Friday that the poor box office performance of Mulan in the Chinese mainland is not surprising because it failed to tell a Chinese story in an accurate and attractive manner. The movie is just a mixture of oriental elements and symbols in the eyes of Westerners.

"For instance, in the film, Mulan from the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) lived in the earth building - a type of construction using raw earth invented during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The general in the movie played Taichi - which was created in the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368)," Shi said. "It also blended conventional settings of traditional Western fairy tales incompatible with Chinese historical stories. Disney failed to do enough research on non-Western elements and stories. That led to many silly mistakes in the movie," he said.

Source: https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1200622.shtml

[Sotiris]

Early projections of the remake's performance on Disney+.

According to exclusive figures provided by analytics research firm 7Park Data, nearly 29% of U.S. households that subscribe to Disney+ purchased the $30 “Mulan” film through September 12th — far surpassing other popular (and free) titles on the platform. During the company’s last earnings report, Disney said that the streaming platform has amassed over 60 million global subscribers. Assuming that U.S. households make up 50% of that total base (Disney has not yet broken out the exact number of U.S-based subscribers), 7Park’s data suggests that roughly 9 million users purchased the “Mulan” film for $30 a pop (29% of our estimated 30 million users.) Under that scenario, net profits would pile up to $261 million for U.S. markets alone — and that’s on the conservative side.

Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nearly-o ... 10961.html

[Disney's Divinity]

Well, I've always said that it would have done a billion at the box office regardless of the finished product, just off the back of nostalgia for the original. I wouldn't be surprised if they make back the budget and then some even with all that's happened.

[Marce82]

This movie was never going to make a billion dollars (unless it was a MASSIVE hit in China).

Though the original Mulan has a very loud fanbase, it was never the cultural icon that the early renaissance movies were. So the nostalgia-driven crowd would have been considerably smaller... probably comparable to Maleficent or Cinderella.

[Farerb]

This movie was never going to make a billion dollars (unless it was a MASSIVE hit in China).

Though the original Mulan has a very loud fanbase, it was never the cultural icon that the early renaissance movies were. So the nostalgia-driven crowd would have been considerably smaller... probably comparable to Maleficent or Cinderella.

From what I see Mulan is extremely popular and nostalgic for a lot of people, especially here in my country. I guess the same goes for some post Lion King films, but even so they never reached the classic status of the four early Renaissance films or the other Vault films.
I agree that Mulan wouldn't have made more than a billion, mainly because I don't see why would anyone rewatch the film in theaters, but then I never understood why people did it for Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King as well.
I do think that it could have done better with the songs because that's what people want regardless of the quality of the film.

[Disney's Divinity]

I disagree, naturally. This was easily going to do a billion or right up to the edge of it, and I'm sure even Disney expected as much otherwise they wouldn't have already been planning a sequel. They wouldn't have done that on Cinderella numbers and I doubt even with Maleficent numbers, considering Maleficent's sequel doing as well as Cinderella still wasn't considered "good" to them and that's all they would have been expecting a Mulan sequel to do if they were assuming the first made would be around Maleficent-level.

I think the truth is actually the reverse, that those who hate the original Mulan are very vocal. I've never heard of anyone who disliked the movie before the last year of this film's being made. Most people were excited when this was first announced. And, honestly, even many of those individuals from later in this film's development came across more as simply wanting to disagree for the sake of it disguised as anti-Mulan anyway.

I'm curious, btw--maybe Sotiris will know--did the other Disney re-makes that made a billion (Alice, TJB, B&tB, Aladdin) need to do extraordinary numbers in China in order to make it there? As I understand, that's a hope Disney pinned specifically onto this movie because the characters / setting are Chinese, not because it necessarily had to smash in China-only otherwise it would fail.

[Marce82]

Actually, TJB did not make a billion... it got close, and I suspect it had to do with it's technical novelty more than anything else.

The only remakes which did cross the billion mark are the ones based on the early renaissance movies AND ALICE. And I think there is a reason for the latter: it was the first 3D film released after Avatar, which had made the 3D thing a big novelty, and that really drew in a big crowd. I suspect that had Alice been released in 2014/15 or later, it would not have made nearly that kind of money.

As far as the original Mulan goes... yes, a lot of people are nostalgic for it, but it's usually Disney fans. The thing with the fab-4 is that they reached beyond the Disney-fan audience, and became general cultural icons. If you go to non-Disney fans and ask them who Timon and Pumbaa are, they will know. Will they know who Mushu is? Yeah, some will, but not nearly as many.

I actually dont know any people who dislike the original Mulan. I do however know plenty who have never seen it, and plenty who think it's meh, along with many do love it. The "never seen it" is the part that applies here.

As far as Disney's hope for success (and a sequel)... that's just hopeful thinking. It's like when Netflix shows have a season 2 green-lit before season 1 is released.

[Farerb]

I actually dont know any people who dislike the original Mulan. I do however know plenty who have never seen it, and plenty who think it's meh, along with many do love it. The "never seen it" is the part that applies here.

He's talking about me (again) even though I honestly like Mulan (and I even plan to get it on 4K something I'd never do with the likes of Chicken Little). He probably thinks I hate it because I said that it doesn't have the same status as the four, or that its music isn't as good as its Renaissance predecessors (understandably because it's Menken). Maybe I even said something negative about the way it ends with a 98 Degrees song IDK. I like Mulan's character growth and I think it has a good script (I think I even said as much in the Mulan vs Pocahontas thread but I can't recall) so I don't know why I'm labeled as a Mulan hater, but I've come to learn that for him it's either you unconditionally love a film or you completely hate it, no middle ground, which is fine if that's how he wants to see it, I just wish he kept me out of his posts and comments because at this point it's tedious and tiring.

[Marce82]

Wait... Fareb... when you say "he", are you referring to me??

If that is the case, we have a misunderstanding here. I was not talking about you at all, and I don't think you hate Mulan... and I 100% agree that it doesn't have the same status as the fab-4. I actually share your same impressions about Mulan (1998). And I don't either love or hate movies, there are plenty of middle ground.

And I did say I don't know any people that dislike the movie, myself included. I like it, but I don't love it (def middle-ground).

I'm surprised to read this, you and I have always been very cordial, specially in the "home video covers" thread...

[Farerb]

Wait... Fareb... when you say "he", are you referring to me??

If that is the case, we have a misunderstanding here. I was not talking about you at all, and I don't think you hate Mulan... and I 100% agree that it doesn't have the same status as the fab-4. I actually share your same impressions about Mulan (1998). And I don't either love or hate movies, there are plenty of middle ground.

And I did say I don't know any people that dislike the movie, myself included. I like it, but I don't love it (def middle-ground).

I'm surprised to read this, you and I have always been very cordial, specially in the "home video covers" thread...

I wasn't referring to you, I'm explaining to you that I'm the person whom Divinity is referring here:

I think the truth is actually the reverse, that those who hate the original Mulan are very vocal. I've never heard of anyone who disliked the movie before the last year of this film's being made. Most people were excited when this was first announced. And, honestly, even many of those individuals from later in this film's development came across more as simply wanting to disagree for the sake of it disguised as anti-Mulan anyway.

So "he" is Divinity. I'm sorry if that wasn't clear.

[Marce82]

Ooooh.... thanks for the clarification, Fareb.

Since you had quoted me, I thought you were talking about ME dissing you or something. Ok ok... Sorry for the misunderstanding. Glad there is no animosity between us.

Btw, my BIGGEST issue with the original Mulan is that stupid 98 degrees song playing when the film is still going... so anachronistic AND dated. Ugh.

But again, I like the original Mulan.

[Farerb]

Ooooh.... thanks for the clarification, Fareb.

Since you had quoted me, I thought you were talking about ME dissing you or something. Ok ok... Sorry for the misunderstanding. Glad there is no animosity between us.

Btw, my BIGGEST issue with the original Mulan is that stupid 98 degrees song playing when the film is still going... so anachronistic AND dated. Ugh.

But again, I like the original Mulan.

No animosity between us Marce82 I like discussing with you and I really enjoyed our discussion in the covers thread.
I agree about the 98 Degrees song, I personally prefer musical films to end with a reprise or at least some sort of a musical note, that's one of my issues with Tangled as well even though I think both films are good.

[Marce82]

Glad we are on good terms.

Oh, I agree with your preference as to how Disney movies should end. I think Tangled is a really good movie, but I find both the opening AND ending narrations to be unfunny, and kinda cringe-worthy. And they don't really fit the tone of the film. Still a good film overall.

I guess we'll never know how much money Mulan would have made. But it seems the reception is pretty mediocre... and I can say that most of my friends have shown very little interest in it. The ones that did, are happy to wait till December to watch it.

[Farerb]

Disney's next investors meeting is on October 7th, which is when we might hear about Mulan's numbers.

[Disney's Divinity]

Actually, TJB did not make a billion... it got close, and I suspect it had to do with it's technical novelty more than anything else.

It’s right at a billion so I included it. It was what, 40 million from hitting the mark? It’s still in the same class as them. I also forgot to include TLK in that list.

I still don’t agree with you. Although you may be very vehement that only Disney diehards know of Mulan's existence, I think that couldn't be further from the truth. Mulan's popularity comes mostly from casuals who usually don't like Disney movies in general, in my experience.

As far as Disney's hope for success (and a sequel)... that's just hopeful thinking. It's like when Netflix shows have a season 2 green-lit before season 1 is released.

I pointed out Disney’s own expectations simply to make it about more than just opinions. I'm sure they base their calculations on more than just personal opinions.

I guess we'll never know how much money Mulan would have made. But it seems the reception is pretty mediocre...

Yes, very. A worse-than-usual remake, definitely.