So here's the data on the top US movie franchises, from Box Office Mojo. I'm including franchises that have grossed more than $1 billion, with an average of at least $200 million per film. That eliminates franchises such as James Bond and Star Trek, which have earned huge grosses over their life-spans thanks to having so many titles, but that don't move the needle much with each release.
This list is incomplete in that it doesn't include other entertainment income that supports a franchise, such as toys and books. Toy revenue is what helped drive Disney to develop Cars Land, which did well at the box office, but absolutely killed in the toy store. But the list gives us a good place to start a discussion.
The list shows why the Marvel deal is such a BFD for Universal Orlando. It effectively keeps two of the country's top 10 entertainment franchises out of the hands of its archrival, the Walt Disney Company - which owns Marvel, the creator of Avengers and Spider-Man. Given that Avengers and Spider-Man are both active franchises, with new films in development, these figures convince me that Disney's going to have to make a billion-dollar offer to Universal to have any hope of getting those Orlando-area theme park rights.
The franchise data also explain many recent moves in the theme park industry. We all know at this point what a game-changer Harry Potter has been, and can see why Universal's is hot to bring Potter to its Universal Studios parks in Japan, Florida and Hollywood, too. But Universal also made a great call in bringing Transformers into its Singapore and Hollywood parks. (The data explain why some of us believe that Transformers will be coming to Orlando soon, too.) The list also explains why Universal just dropped that money to upgrade The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal Orlando, and why Shrek isn't going anywhere in its parks anytime soon (and why Universal gave Shrek an entire land in its newest park, in Singapore).
So should Disney and Universal make a play for Twilight or Lord of the Rings? Perhaps, but I see a couple bigger targets higher up on the list. First, Six Flags has in no way maximized the theme park income potential of the Batman franchise. It simply lacks the capital to build the immersive Gotham environment, with high-tech attractions, that could rival Harry Potter and Cars Land in popularity. I can't believe that Six Flags' rights deal for the DC Comics franchises, including Batman - a remnant of the days when Six Flags was also owned by DC's parent, Warner Bros. - is so costly and iron-clad that neither Disney or Universal could make a play to wrest it away. (Heck, if I ran Disney, I would buy the DC rights out from under Six Flags and give them away to Universal as part of a deal to get the Florida theme park rights to Marvel. But if I ran Universal, I'd still demand a billion-dollar check in addition to the DC rights. This is why I can't negotiate with myself.)
The big target here is the franchise sitting at number two - Star Wars. One ride and a few fan-fest weekends don't come close to realizing the theme park potential of this franchise. Yesterday, we wrote about Disneyland's two options for expansion. One of them was in Tomorrowland. Given the commercial potential of the Star Wars franchise, I'm going to make a seemingly radical proposal - that Disneyland rebuild all of Tomorrowland as Star Wars Land.
Star Tours remains. Space Mountain gets a Star Wars overlay. But everything else goes - even Buzz Lightyear (there's a Toy Story-themed shooter over at California Adventure now. That'll do.) Make Tomorrowland an immersive physical visit to the Star Wars universe, using all the space from the Hub back to It's a Small World. Then use that as a template to remake the southern end of Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando.
Who here would pay up to visit that? I know I would.
At this point, from all I've heard in the industry, Disney's not yet decided for certain what it will do next in Disneyland. But I'm a big fan of the late Buzz Price, the consultant for Disney who helped select the locations for Disneyland and Walt Disney World. He devoted his life to the study of data and wrote, "Guessing is dysfunctional. Ignoring prior experience is denial. Using valid numbers to project performance is rational."
The box office data provide clear, rational data to guide the theme park industry. They've worked for Universal, and they can work for Disney, too. Whatever else Disney might consider for its theme park properties, it'd be most rational for Disney to do something new - and big - with Star Wars.
Tweet
Hunger Games has a huge following, and I wonder if anybody is trying lock it up.
Other factors include the practicality of a franchise. Twilight just wouldn't make good rides or a land. Hunger Games...who wants to visit a totalitarian land where forcing kids to fight to make memories and a good vacation? Lord of the Rings, though did well in the box office, and still has films coming out, probably won't draw a crowd like Potter or Cars.
Franchises like James Bond may make more sense. Everyone knows who he is, grew up with him and as chances go, he will not go away for a long long time. So if you can give him a ride, that makes sense to me.
The trick, in my opinion, is to find a budding franchise and exploit it from the beginning like Disney and Avatar, with practically 4 more films guaranteed or a franchise that will be timeless, like Harry Potter who's popularity ferver will drop with the lack of movies, but no one is going to forget about him a long time.
Or, forget the franchise. All you need is one powerful movie to inspire a great attraction, like Jaws or E.T..
Replace the Comminsinary with Mos Eisley Cantina with Blue Milk
Have the ABC sound studio with a full JTA and a year round Carbon Freeze Me experience
Replace American Idol with a demonstration show that isn't similar to anything at SWW.
Turn Indiana Jones and the Catering Co. into a coaster
But unlike many of the franchise's listed it's biggest feature is coming with the two Hobbit films forthcoming. Which for most is the signature novel in the collection.
The main problem I see with LOTR is that most of it is so over the top in its scale that it could make Cars or Harry Potter look cheap by comparsion to buid.
It also while I'm sure could draw guest it wouldnt be the merchandise machine that Star Wars, Marvel, Cars or Harry Potter are, unless you could create a demand for Gollum engagement rings.
That being said the best option to ever see a LOTR land is a retheme for Jurassic Park in IOA, as WB might sign off for the synergy.
How to do it:
River Adventure becomes Long Lake and your battle with Smaug replacing the TREX and the building overlayed to become the Lonely Mountain.
Discovery Center is demoed and Rivendale takes it's place
Triceratops Trail Rethemed for the Shire Family Ride
Camp Jurrasic becomes ruin of Gondor
The Flyers get a second track and are rethemed to be the Eagles
Thunder Falls gets expanded and becomes a Great Hall for dining
Thoughts?
Can Disney at least just open the Canteen Bar adjacent to Star Tours, create some "out of this world" drink and us guest will buy it like Butterbeer.
When I went to Disney Hollywood Studios last fall, the brand new Star Tours had one of the shortest lines in the park, well behind Toy Story Mania, Rockin Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror.
I have a feeling that people who fly from around the world to WDW mainly want to see DISNEY characters which is why the Florida parks have seem apprehensive about putting Star Wars, Indian Jones and Marvel in.
Disneyland has a lot of regional visitors who visit the park a lot and they're more interested in seeing stuff that is new than getting the "magical Disney family experience".
Ultimately, the success of a new theme park attraction lies with its execution more than the box office success of the franchise that spawned it. But a huge box office legacy can help launch a new attraction with a massive publicity buzz that can ensure its immediate success, should the attraction designers pull it off. It's harder to get that initial buzz for a new property.
Hoever, if Disney was hesitant about bring outside characters, then why have Avatar?
The reason why Star Wars would take the entire land is the placement of Star Tours in DL's Tomorrowland. Assuming you want Star Tours to be part of the Star Wars Land (duh...), since it's on the opposite side of Tomorrowland from the Innoventions/Autopia space, you pretty much have to devote the entire land to Star Wars to make the concept work.
You don't have that issue with Avatar, which could exist by itself in the rather large Innoventions/Autopia space, leaving Space Mountain, Star Tours, and Buzz alone.
But I still think that when you look at the entire picture - movies, toys, books, TV, etc. - Star Wars will remain a bigger franchise than Avatar, and a safer bet for a major new land in a Disney theme park.
This assumes that George Lucas would be on board and helpful to the effort, of course. If Lucas doesn't want a Star Wars Land, Disney's not going to make one.
Replacing everything around Echo Lake isn't a bad concept however I think DHS needs to add rides not just replace them. I think the backlot area where Lights, Motors, Action is provides the greatest opportunity. New infrastructure, technology, and theming will help and be a more straight forward implementation instead of trying to make it fit into an existing area. Plus it gives them a basic blank slate.
Imagine entering the town of Tatooine with the Mos Eisley Cantina serving frosty beverages as well as a restaurant. Jawas and Stormtroopers running around. Droids here and there making noises, carrying on, etc. The "Death Star" gift shop. And two new rides, the first a coaster similar to Expedition Everest in scale and style. Make it a Death Star escape or Pod Racing or similar. The second a dark ride on the Harry Potter scale. Something like Naboo Underwater or just a Star Wars based adventure with all new story.
Then have a hub/plaza in the middle for a 360 stage that they can do stunt shows, music, or a laser light/pyro show at. Similar in size to the main plaza at MK's Tomorrowland.
The space back there is big enough for a town bigger than two Hogs Meade, a dark ride the size of HPFJ, and a coaster the size of Everest. So it's all doable and would b
On the other hand, I don't think that these great creative minds and designers necessarily need (or perhaps even want) the latest multimillion dollar franchise all the time. The idea that an attraction has to be based on a blockbuster movie places a lot of limitations on park projects. It puts creative minds, imagineers, and artists in a box. Immersion and quality (and profits) can be created without expensive movie rights. One can't blame Disney and Universal for cross marketing their products, but that doesn't mean they need them to design a good successful theme park attraction. They have a ton of drawing power already with the big franchises they have. Why not dig into the giant filing cabinet of rights to movies/tv/etc they have and find something that lends itself well to an attraction. It doesn't really matter that much if the franchise was a hit, it's all about the design, implementation, and rider experience.
I still can't imagine a counter service in Pandora or a gift shop in Degobah.
The audience must be one that is desirable for a theme park; generally families or younger people who are willing to spend money on merch and tickets. The audience also has to be able to suspend disbelief in a theme park environment, something that more serious films would not be successful at, such as Lord of the Rings. Surely many would come to see this hypothetical LOTR land, but much of the fan base would likely turn their noses up at a such a commercial venture, and stick to meet-ups conducted entirely in Elvish. The Hobbit films offer an opportunity to expand the audience to a younger generation, with a more accessible story. I for one would absolutely die for a LOTR land, but realistically, I don't think it's feasible. Harry Potter and Disney are both brands that attract and audience that is very merch driven, but has a sense of humor about their respective IP's, therefore having no problem visiting a theme park based off of them.
The brand also must have a distinctive setting, Disney castles, Radiator Springs, Hogwarts, the Death Star, and even Far Far Away to a certain extent, feature fantastical locations that make the audience want to visit them. LOTR does this as well, but the audience just isn't there. For this reason, superhero movies are less feasible, visiting a large scale Gotham as a hard core Batman fan would be less awe-inspiring than being able to visit Hogwarts as a Potter-phile, simply because we have cities in our world, whereas magic castles are decidedly less common.
Star Wars has both a feasible audience, and iconic locations, but it should not replace Tomorrowland. Disneyland has emerged as its on brand and does not need brand recognition to draw visitors, single-IP lands have their place in secondary parks that lack the same identity, a Star Wars land in the rumored 3rd park, perhaps, there will be.
I agree with the suggestions of having SW land at DHS. It's currently a half day park at best and could use some new attractions.
PS adjusted for inflation star wars blows away the other franchises.
-Build the Tron Lightcycle ride using the peoplemover track (new track could be built, but the layout would be the same)
-Retheme Innoventions to Stark Expo if they really want to get Marvel into the parks quickly
-Remove Finding Nemo: Submarine Voyage and Captain EO
-Shorten Autopia to clear up space
-Add a new E ticket attraction based on Wall-E, as it doesn't yet have an attraction and would fit in Tomorrowland.
This would be a great project to coincide with Disneyland's 60th anniversary in 2015.
As for other lands, I think it would be great if Disneyland's third park was a collection of movie based lands, and could include Marvel Land, Star Wars Land, Avatar Land, and others.
One on the list that surprises me, and that they haven't exploited further is Pirates of the Caribbean. I know they already have an attraction at both U.S. parks, and they have added some elements from the movies to those attractions as tie-ins. But, why not a stunt show or special effects presentation or something of the sort at DHS or DL/DCA? Seems to me it would have been a great fit in DHS at the Backlot replacing the tank scene, or even Lights, Motors Action. Since nobody mentioned it though, it leads me to believe that ship has sailed (pardon the pun), and perhaps their over-reaching with the last movie has diminished the public's fascination with this story and characters.
As for Twilight and LOTR, I really dont see those as being good theme park entities.
I have mixed feelings on the future of Avatar, but I think it has potential in that there are 3 more films on tap and James Cameron has a pretty good track record with story telling and blockbusters. I'm holding out hope for the unkown aspects of Avatar/Pandora and that it will fuel some theme park creations unlike any we've seen before. Wishful thinking perhaps, but for this Disney fan, I think it's our best hope for the short-term.
Gotham at Universal though sounds like an amazing idea. I think it would be particularly popular if it was based on the Nolan trilogy, but unfortunately I don't know whether he'd want to be involved. I think after Dark Knight Rises he doesn't want to do anymore work to do with Batman. It's possible without him, I just think it would be really special if he was involved in it too.
After eleven hours, we watched the saw back of people's heads for the Grand Opening Ceremony. Buena Vista Street was packed to capacity, and we were in the middle of it. We saw the morning fireworks and heard Mickey Mouse.
Once the official opening was complete, the crowd surged toward Cars Land. We held back and picked up fast passes for "Radiator Springs Racers". A 9:20am-10:20am time...not bad.
A quick ride on Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, which had no line, at all, and then then a fly through Luigi's Flying Tires, who's line was about fifteen minutes, and it was time for the Racers.
We got in the Fast Pass line and the ride went down...
With Cars Land packed to the rims, we headed back out to explore Buena Vista Street. Some photos with Mickey, Chip and Dale and a bag filled with secret 'treasures' from the Imagination Studio (Opening Day Pins and such) and we headed back to Cars Land, again.
The Fast Past line wove out past Stanley's Statue into the main stretch of Route 66 toward the Cozy Cones. Getting into the end of the line, we waited for about ten minutes before the Racer's ride went down, once again.
With reluctance, we decided the "Radiator Springs Racers" would be experienced on another day. Our DCA opening day fast passes for the Racers will be unique souvenirs for our Disney scrap book.
So, you could say we waited over 20 hours to NOT ride the new "Radiator Springs Racers" on June 15, 2012.
Star Wars Land at DHS is a no-brainer. That park needs more attractions, and movie-themed rides obviously fit in there. I had posted a while back about a Pirates of the Caribbean dark ride at DHS that is based on the movies and I would be in 100% agreement for it. A walk through is not enough. I know it's popularity isn't what it used to be, but there is talk of two more films, so if something was done well, it could be around 10-15 years easy.
Now I also am surprised that more Pixar films weren't turned into rides. Almost every Pixar film does well at the box office or in merchandise or both. And up until Cars land, Pixar is almost non-existent as for major rides. Pixar is today's version of classic Disney cartoons and their characters are just as recognizable as Mickey or Minnie! Toy Story could have been used more in the U.S. and tuned into a land like in Hong Kong. Or I really like the idea of a Pixar Land like at DHS, but have more than 1 ride!!!
Now for Universal, I don't know if it was on this site or on screamscape, but I remember seeing a concept drawing of Gotham City/DC land that was a possible idea instead of Marvel at IOA before it was built. Universal Creative could easily knock that out of the park and make a great immersive world! If that were to happen, I would do like they did with Marvel and base it on a comic / generic level and not strictly on the movies. That way if there is another reboot of the movies, you aren't stuck with a world based on one series of films.
And lastly after a novel and a half of comments, I'm a little surprised that Universal hasn't used a few more of their own successful franchises recently. Kudos to Harry Potter and Transformers, but I could see a Bourne ride / show / attraction do well to replace T2-3D or a Fast & Furious attraction in USF. At least one more film is on the way for each movie, they already own the rights, and they are proven franchises. I would also go with something a little more generic than basing an attraction solely off of one film in particular, thus giving the attractions a longer life span! Again sorry about the novel, but a writing spree came over me at 4AM local time! LOL :-P
Also, I love the Star Wars Land idea. Re-theming DL's Tommorrowland would be great. Star Tours would stay. U could turn Buzz Lightyear into like a Death Star Dark ride where u could be Han Solo and shoot Storm Troopers and end with an encounter with Vader's Tie fighter as u are Luke in his X-wing. Also, I would love a Swoop Bike or Pod Racer attraction.
Star Wars land will not replace Tomorrowland and Space Mountain (the most iconic mountain of all-time and still the #1 attraction in the park) will not be re-themed. Will Tomorrowland see some upgrades in the future? Without a doubt, but the article includes words that almost suggest there is something seriously wrong at Disneyland that needs to be fixed. That's hardly true.
George Lucas has collaborated with Disney to create some attractions based on his movies, but that doesn't give them free reign to use his franchises for whatever they desire. This article and the comments infer that Disney has that right. Disney would have to get George Lucas on board before it could proceed.
shdgjdhgsdughshjkniasmls
Sorry, had to wipe the vomit off my keyboard.
That being said..... Don't you want to go on the Hunger Games Dark Ride? Where you are constantly being shot at by kids with bows?
I am putting together a Google Earth overlay similar to the one I did for the location of Gringotts in Universal. I will post that later tonight.
The IOA is designated Project 3641 and the Universal side is 7689 according the filings with the water management district.
They outline "de-watering" of both areas and the IOA permit shows the location of the train station.
This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.
