A few years ago, it felt nearly impossible to escape Disney’s influence. In 2019 alone, Disney was responsible for eight of the ten highest-grossing films, and with the launch of the highly anticipated Disney+ on the horizon, it seemed certain that their reign would only grow stronger.

However, after the global pandemic hit, Disney was forced to slow down its rapid production pace, loosening its grip on the film industry. In recent years, box office ranking leaders have come from a more diverse spread of companies. In 2020, for the first time since 2012, a non-Disney film became the highest-grossing movie, and the trend continued with last year’s “Barbie”.

With Disney’s new plans for the future and upcoming films, movie-viewers are left to wonder whether Disney will course-correct and return to the powerhouse of cinematography they once were, or if their dominance in the film industry has finally ended.

Disney appears to be sticking to its formula of sequels and remakes, a strategy that has paid off in the past. Recently, Disney Pixar’s “Inside Out 2″ performed extremely well at the box office, proving that there’s still an audience for sequels. Continuing this trend, the upcoming “Moana 2“ is poised to be another hit.

“Moana 2” sees Moana on another ocean adventure, responding to a mysterious call from her ancient ancestors. Like “Inside Out 2″, this film is almost guaranteed a box office success. The world of Moana resonates emotionally with both children and adults, and its concept is ripe for further sequels and spin-offs, making it an almost sure bet for box office success. 

Similarity “Mufasa” is a live-action spin-off of “The Lion King”. The film will focus on the titular Mufasa (Simba’s uncle and Scar’s brother) as a young cub, exploring his journey from an orphaned child to being befriended by Prince Taka.

However, the commercial success of “Mufasa” is less certain. Live-action remakes have been a mixed bag. The film that Mufusa is based off of, “The Lion King” remake, grossed over a billion dollars. On the other hand, films like “Mulan” and “Dumbo” have not fared as well, grossing far below expected numbers. “Mufasa” might not capture the audience’s attention the way the original “Lion King” did, due to its live-action, spin-off status, making its fate harder to predict.

In the past, the Marvel Cinematic Universe could always be counted on as a consistent money-maker. However, after the explosive finale “Avengers: Endgame”, newer Marvel projects seem to have lost box office allure. “The Marvels“ is projected to be one of the biggest flops in movie history. Although films like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and the recent “Deadpool and Wolverine” have performed well thanks to multiverse gimmicks, newer releases like “Blade”, which are without a pre-established franchise or multiverse hook, may struggle to keep up. Disney’s future remains uncertain. Without a bold new direction, the studio’s fate will likely hinge on the quality and reception of its next few films.