Credit: DisneyThe release of Disney’sĀ Haunted MansionĀ (2023) is right around the corner, promising audiences a spooktacular time at the movies ahead of the Halloween season. So far, the new thriller-comedy has earned generally positive reviews from critics, but according to new projections, it’ll have to do a bit more heavy lifting to scare up enough numbers at the box office to break even on its staggering $150+ million budget.
Related: āHaunted Mansionā Slammed, Disney Faces Yet Another Flop
Following in the footsteps of the iconic Eddie Murphy-led The Haunted MansionĀ (2003) and the more recentĀ Muppets Haunted MansionĀ (2021), director Justin Simien’s new adaptation of the beloved Disney Parks ride is set to arrive on the big screen later this month.
Check out the official trailer for Walt Disney Studios’Ā Haunted MansionĀ below:
Related: āHaunted Mansionā Brings the Classic Disney Ride to Life
Featuring an all-star cast from the likes of Owen Wilson, LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Rosario Dawson, Danny DeVito, and Jamie Lee Curtis, 2023’sĀ Haunted MansionĀ might just be the unexpected hit of the summer box officeāunlike the lackluster performance of Lucasfilm’sĀ Indiana Jones and the Dial of DestinyĀ (2023). Despite some memorable moments, Harrison Ford’s final go-around as the eponymous adventurer generally missed the mark with audiences, with the Disney-distributed action flick barely breaking even on its reported $350 million production budget.
To avoid a similar fate,Ā Haunted MansionĀ will have to score some significant ticket sales, especially considering its surprisingly big budget of $157.75 million, according toĀ The Numbers. This tracks with Disney’s recent history of shelling out upwards of $200 million on big-name projects like Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt’sĀ Jungle CruiseĀ (2021) and even Disney+ TV series like Marvel’sĀ Secret Invasion,Ā which reportedly cost $200 million to make.
For reference of just how mind-boggling this reported $157.75 million truly is, this summer’s other top-grossing blockbusters,Ā OppenheimerĀ (2023) andĀ BarbieĀ (2023) had budgets of $100 million and $145 million, respectively. Both movies have already shattered opening weekend records, putting them on track to score big at the box office. But canĀ Haunted MansionĀ follow suit?
Well, to be considered a box office success, a film needs to make at least 2 to 3 times its production budget, meaningĀ Haunted MansionĀ needs to make around $314 millionĀ at the box office to be a hit for Disney. Given thatĀ Dial of Destiny,Ā which comes as the final installment in one of the most recognizable franchises of all time, has grossed just a little over $330 million after nearly a month in theaters, it’s not looking promising forĀ Haunted Mansion.Ā Although the ride it’s based on is famous within the Disney community, it’s hard to predict whether or not this IP has widespread appeal in a cinematic setting.
Its 2003 predecessor was also a notorious box office bomb for Disney, earning only 1.7 times its $90 million budget.Ā The Haunted MansionĀ also boasted similar star power to the upcoming 2023 film, meaning big names alone aren’t enough to tempt audiences into theaters.
So, is this $330 million haul attainable forĀ Haunted Mansion? Unless there’s some sort of miracle in store, all signs point toward no. Despite rave reviews, there’s bound to be a challenging road ahead for the latest from the House of Mouse, with the state of moviegoing still being somewhat unpredictable in the wake of the pandemic. It’ll also be up againstĀ the affectionally-dubbed “Barbenheimer”Ā and Tom Cruise’sĀ Mission: Impossible ā Dead Reckoning Part OneĀ (2023), meaning there’s some stiff competition for who can fill the most seats.
Only time will tell if this Disney underdog can scare up a decent performance in its opening weekend, or if frightful Haunted Mansion box office numbers will mean the end of ride adaptations moving forward.
Haunted MansionĀ arrives in theaters on July 28, 2023.
Are you planning on seeingĀ Haunted MansionĀ in theaters? Let us know in the comments below.
