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"Oops!" Said the Industry Analyst

Box Office Disney News Pixar UP

In my box office posts I regularly bring up the so called analysts which come out every year spelling the end for Pixar with their next release.

As we both know, once each movie’s numbers come in they’re proven wrong. So the question is, why do they keep predicting the same thing year after year? In their defense, it isn’t so easy selling/buying a story about a rat or an old man, but it’s Pixar and with that comes a guarantee which speaks for itself. You’d think they’d know by now that the studio has established a trusted, reliable brand and that normal demographics just don’t beat a well told story. Now it’s pretty much impossible for industry analysts to correct their mistake since Up’s release is in full force (at almost $270 million in US box office) but it’s never too late to admit a mistake. A HUGE mistake!

Leading the pack in Wall Street spelling doom for Up was Richard Greenfield from Pali Research who admits to The New York Times that he was "dead wrong." Dead wrong, indeed. With Toy Story 3 landing in theatres in less than a year, one has to wonder why it had to take almost two decades for ysts to get the big picture. I can’t imagine anyone thinking TS3 will fail, but seriously, after 10 straight hits in a row will anyone be brave enough to doubt the Lamp ever again? The reason I bring it up is because I can’t imagine the shame that comes with admitting such a huge mistake after potentially scaring away Disney investors and retailers who could’ve made a bigger profit from Up. Good thing Pixar’s not all about the money, still I can’t help but think of all the CD’s, toys and other products that consumers, manufacturers and retailers are missing out on!

I do applaud Greenfield for admitting his slip up (which speaks for many others over countless years) and I hope this can make those in the industry even more confident in Pixar. Not that they’ll need it, who wouldn’t want a piece of Toy Story 3?!

Your thoughts?

Last modified: July 10, 2009