In a TikTok posted to Disney-Pixar’s official page, influencer Reba Nora criticized fans for not supporting Pixar’s original movies. In the video, Nora speaks off camera: “Stop complaining that Disney doesn’t make original stories if you don’t show up to movie theatres and support them in the first place.” Nora then pretends the remark was spoken by someone else and ends the video by encouraging viewers to see Pixar’s “Elio” in theatres. The video is meant to be a lighthearted critique of the supposed hypocrisy of movie audiences, but the fact that the video was posted from Pixar’s official account raises red flags. Are audiences to blame for the surge of remakes in the modern film era?

It is clear that remakes and reboots have taken priority over original works in the film industry –especially at Disney. Take this year’s live-action remake of “Lilo & Stitch,” which grossed over $1 billion at the box office. The film’s success is due to two factors: nostalgia and marketing. New films cannot compete with the guaranteed nostalgia millennial audiences will feel being raised on Disney – and their children as well. But “Lilo & Stitch” also reeled in viewers through its marketing campaign by advertising interesting alien characters, plenty of humor and a family-focused story. Family-friendly fun with positive messaging is what Disney is rooted in, and what should be prioritized if they want a new, successful original story. 

Pixar’s TikTok post was not the first time Disney pinned the blame on their fans. In response to 2023’s box office bomb “The Marvels,” Disney CEO Bob Iger shifted his viewpoint on storytelling: “We have to entertain first. It’s not about messages.” While it may be true that the female-led and diverse cast of “The Marvels” may have turned away some conservative Marvel fans, that does not explain the failure of other original projects like “Elio.” The film follows a boy mistaken for a representative of humanity by an alien civilization – not the type of film Disney would get backlash against for pushing an agenda. Besides, Disney’s films with Pixar have always aimed for political neutrality, focusing instead on family-friendly messaging. In today’s political climate, it is easy for Iger to blame the poor reception of original projects on the audience’s politics instead of focusing on their own messaging. 

Audiences go to the movies because they are genuinely interested in the film – be it its story, animation, or characters. If Disney is truly trying to sell tickets to “Elio” and other original projects through social media, they should focus on communicating the message of the film. Instead, their TikTok post did not address the plot or characters of the movie, simply telling viewers to “go ahead and support it.” Disney’s original film problem is essentially a marketing issue, and blaming audiences for their poor performance only turns away potential viewers. In order for Disney to truly find success with their original projects, they need to focus on conveying the positive and family-friendly messages in their films to audiences.