“Wish” centers on the sharp-witted Asha, who makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force called Star. Together, they must confront the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico, to save her community. It’s not lacking for star power as Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”) and Chris Pine (“Wonder Woman”) lead the ensemble, with Chris Buck (“Frozen”) co-directing alongside Fawn Veerasunthorn, who makes her feature directorial debut following her work on movies like “Raya and the Last Dragon” and “Zootopia.”
At first glance, this looks like another blow for big-budget original cinema in the pandemic era. Disney (particularly via Pixar) was one of the most reliable studios when it came to delivering original hits pre-pandemic, despite the studio’s reliance on franchises. However, those franchises originated from animated originals much of the time. That’s why “Frozen 3” and “Frozen 4” are in the works as we speak. But let’s not cry over spilled milk just yet as another Disney release from earlier this year suggests that “Wish” could still have a path to success.
Pixar’s “Elemental” was released over the summer and, against a similarly big $200 million budget, opened to just $29 million and seemed dead on arrival. Yet, in the weeks that followed, even in the face of major competition, the film sprouted long legs, holding incredibly well week-to-week. It’s now earned $495 million worldwide and stands as the ninth biggest movie of the year overall. It’s one of the feel-good film industry stories of the year and one that suggests the right family-friendly movie can outperform traditional expectations. There are other paths to potential, long-term success as well.