Walt Disney Animation Studios' 61st animated film, Strange World, did not perform well over its opening weekend–despite critics and moviegoers giving it mostly positive reviews.
Homophobic conservatives, however, are claiming the animated adventure film tanked at the box office for being too "woke" by featuring a gay teen character.
Inspired by pulp magazines and sci-fi novels like Journey to the Center of the Earth, Strange World follows a family of legendary explorers on a subterranean expedition into a world full of alien life forms in an attempt to save their own world.
One of the main characters, Ethan–voiced by Jaboukie Young-White–has a crush on another male character his same age and is teased by their mutual friends and even encouraged by Ethan's father to pursue his romantic interest.
The normalization of LGBTQ+ youth in the film, which had nothing to do with the film's major plot, was the point of contention among conservatives like far-right political commentator Ben Shapiro who called for a boycott of the film.
The representation in the film is a reflection of real life, giving moviegoers a sense of relatability when experiencing the journey along with a cast of characters with diverse backgrounds–including a biracial couple and a disabled dog.
Unfortunately, Strange World essentially bombed over the Thanksgiving weekend–causing Disney to have a projected loss of about $147 million.
Bigoted critics blamed the disappointing numbers on Disney, claiming most American audiences didn't want the family-friendly studio forcing a "radical agenda" on them.
\u201cDisney's new movie "Strange World" failed at the box office. They introduced a OPENLY gay character to kids! Great job christians for NOT supporting it. This agenda will not be forced down our kids throats. This is unaceptable.. \n\u26d4\ufe0f\ud83d\udeab\ud83d\ude45\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\u201d— Crystal Peacock (@Crystal Peacock) 1669646235
\u201c@precious_callum @Variety Families don\u2019t need to see gay characters. Period \ud83d\ude21\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1669358700
\u201cDisneys movie Strange World bombed. It cost 180 million to make pulled in 24 million last weekend. Stop making woke movies. We don\u2019t want your crap.\u201d— @Dltimber488 (@@Dltimber488) 1669707167
\u201cDisney\u2019s \n\u201cStrange World\u201d BOMBS at the box office because parents are sick of the woke content being pushed down our childrens throats!!!\nIf you want to groom and indoctrinate a child!!! Do it to your own child and leave everyone else\u2019s children alone! https://t.co/WIj6MJwRHs\u201d— IhateHYPOCRITES (@IhateHYPOCRITES) 1669527340
\u201c@Variety Because people are sick and tired of the agenda. It really is that simple.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1669358700
Strange World made a disappointing $11.9 million from 4,174 North American theaters over the weekend and $18.6 million over the five-day holiday frame, according to Variety.
Despite a new Disney film being a big family draw this time of year, senior Comscore analyst Paul Dergarabedian cited the disappointing numbers due to much of the country still "recovering and adapting to the constraints of the pandemic."
Some analysts think Disney's recent strategy of debuting feature films like Pixar's Luca and Soul directly on Disney+ inadvertently backfired as it made it preferable for families to pay the premium upcharge and watch new releases from home instead of in theaters.
Others believe Strange World failed due to Disney's poor marketing strategy or lack thereof.
\u201cStrange World didn't do poorly in theaters because of "Woke" \n\nIt's because Disney did a horrible job actually marketing the film. \n\nThat and review bombs on RT from ignorant conservatives\u201d— Eric:Slapping Terfs\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf0a (@Eric:Slapping Terfs\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf0a) 1669597744
\u201c@Variety They sacrificed sure fire hits like Soul, Luca and Turning Red but brought Strange World and Lightyear to theaters. Sci-Fi in animation has a complicated story at the BoxOffice\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1669358700
Here's the trailer for the film.
Strange World | Official Traileryoutu.be
Regardless, the majority of Twitter gave a collective eye roll at conservatives for their unfounded claim.
\u201csaying that Strange World is woke just because there's an openly gay character is just straight-up homophobic \nthe amount of videos criticizing it only because it's "woke" baffles me\u201d— koshi madrigal\ud83d\udcab (@koshi madrigal\ud83d\udcab) 1669596539
\u201cHomophobic content creators are so predictable, as soon as Strange World flopped, they just had to cash in\u201d— Reecee (@Reecee) 1669501207
\u201cLove how anyone with half a brain cell can put together that Strange World bombed at the box office cause Disney barely marketed it, and yet there's still morons out there who think it bombed solely cause it's "woke". Never ceases to amaze me how willfully stupid homophobes are\u201d— Goro Akechi Enjoyer (@Goro Akechi Enjoyer) 1669597524
\u201cStrange World didn't do poorly in theaters because of "Woke" \n\nIt's because Disney did a horrible job actually marketing the film. \n\nThat and review bombs on RT from ignorant conservatives\u201d— Eric:Slapping Terfs\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf0a (@Eric:Slapping Terfs\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf0a) 1669597744
\u201cI watched Strange World with my 6 year old and it was good, don't let people tell you it's "woke garbage" because one of the characters are gay. It's a coming of age story about parents accepting their child's interests instead of forcing them into what they want them to do. \ud83d\udc4d\u201d— Roxly (@Roxly) 1669568321
Strange World was directed by Don Hall and written and co-directed by Qui Nguyen.
It features the vocal talents of Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union and Lucy Liu.
Young-White who voiced Ethan praised Disney for not making his gay teen character a coming-out story or about him "looking for acceptance of his identity" or "coming to terms with his identity."
Said the actor:
"I thought that was amazing and a beautiful thing to be a part of and show and something I wish that I had seen when I was that age."
Walt Disney Animation experienced a similar fallout with conservatives over Lightyear–an animated sci-fi adventure film focused on the titular hero that inspired the Toy Story action figure Buzz Lightyear.
The movie which was released in June had a blink-and-you'll-miss-it same-sex kiss.
It was enough for pearl-clutching conservatives to strongly advise against parents taking their kids to see the film.
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social
@islamoradalover/Bluesky
@hillbillybluedog/Bluesky