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Wall Street worried about Pixar’s UP
Wall Street investors are worried that Pixar’s upcoming movie “UP” doesn’t have enough retail merchandising appeal according to a recent article in the New York Times.
Richard Greenfield of Pali Research downgraded Disney shares to sell last month, citing a poor outlook for “Up” as a reason. “We doubt younger boys will be that excited by the main character,” he wrote, adding a complaint about the lack of a female lead.
While Wall Street worries about money, Disney CEO Robert Iger sees the need to first make a great movie. “We seek to make great films first. If a great film gives birth to a franchise, we are the first company to leverage such success. A check-the-boxes approach to creativity is more likely to result in blandness and failure.”
I remember a similar cry regarding Over the Hedge that did well in theaters.
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April/7/2009
@ 10:58 am
i.e., A good-natured boy scout is no role model for today’s children?
April/7/2009
@ 11:02 am
A studio exec who puts quality above merchandising? There’s a refreshing change.
April/7/2009
@ 11:30 am
I can’t imagine speculating on a film for $175 M to make, but seems like Pixar does it all the time and has a good track record. Seems like Wall Street would have other priorities than creating a negative buzz on a film.
April/7/2009
@ 11:32 am
weren’t they saying the same thing about Wall-E?
Pixar is going to make so much money off of Toy Story 3, they can afford to take “risks” with movies like this.
April/7/2009
@ 12:55 pm
This story reads like a premise for a Pixar movie.
Wall Street has enough on its plate trashing the global economy. Leave animation to the experts.
April/7/2009
@ 12:59 pm
who cares about wall street.
pixar worries about telling great stories.
i’m worried that wall street doesn’t have enough honest and integrity appeal.
get over yourselves wall street.
April/7/2009
@ 3:31 pm
UP yours, Wall Street!
April/7/2009
@ 4:02 pm
It’s always nice to see capitalism attempting to ruin art. I’m glad that Pixar responded appropriately.
April/7/2009
@ 9:07 pm
LT – Actually capitalism has everything to do with Pixar spending $175M to make a movie that will net far more than that. Without capitalism you would not have a Pixar … however, I agree with you on Wall Street’s opinion on animation being seemingly clueless in this case, with an appropriate response as summarized so well by Stacy!
April/8/2009
@ 3:17 am
When has Pixar made a bad movie? It’s not like these “Troubled Times” will have any effect on the ability to create a good story.
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