'Elio' has worst-ever box office opening for a Pixar film

Key Concepts:

• Pixar's box office performance
• Original IP vs. existing IP
• Sequels vs. original stories
• Disney's strategy with Pixar
• The role of creativity and leadership at Pixar
• Comparison to Universal's "How to Train Your Dragon"
• The "Barbie" movie success as a model

Pixar's Recent Box Office Struggles

• Pixar's new animated feature, "Elmo," had a disappointing opening weekend, taking in only $21 million in North America.
• This is described as the worst opening ever for a Pixar film.
• The film had a significant production and marketing cost of at least $250 million.

Comparison to Universal's Success

• Universal Pictures' "How to Train Your Dragon" topped the box office with $37 million.
• "How to Train Your Dragon" has grossed close to $360 million worldwide.
• Comcast owns Universal Pictures and NBCUniversal, the parent company of CNBC.

The Debate Over Original IP vs. Existing IP

• Matt Belloni raised the question of whether Pixar, known for its original films and IP, should consider using existing IP from Disney's library.
• Pixar has struggled to create a massive new hit with original stories in recent years.
• The idea is whether Pixar should follow the "Barbie" route and leverage existing, well-known properties.

The Challenge of Replicating Past Success

• The discussion touches on the difficulty of replicating the success of Pixar's earlier films like "Toy Story," "A Bug's Life," and "Ratatouille."
• There's a sentiment that the creative "lightning in a bottle" that Pixar once had may be gone.
• The argument is that it's harder to create new, original hits than to leverage existing IP or create sequels.

The "Barbie" Model and Sequels

• The success of the "Barbie" movie is presented as an example of leveraging existing IP for a major hit.
• The question is raised whether Pixar should consider doing something similar or focusing on sequels to existing franchises.
• The discussion acknowledges that Pixar's strength was not just in animation technology but also in creativity.

Changes in Leadership and Creative Talent

• The departure of key creative figures like John Lasseter is mentioned as a potential factor in Pixar's recent struggles.
• The argument is that the creative talent that drove Pixar's early success may no longer be there.

Conclusion

The main takeaway is that Pixar is facing challenges in replicating its past success with original films. The discussion explores whether Pixar should consider using existing IP from Disney's library or focusing on sequels to existing franchises, similar to the "Barbie" movie model. The departure of key creative figures is also mentioned as a potential factor in Pixar's recent struggles.