There's More to Disney Than Snow White This Year

It's not what Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS) was hoping for, but Snow White's lackluster theatrical debut over the weekend still leaves room for shareholders to go from Grumpy to Happy. The film grossed $43 million in domestic ticket sales and $87 million worldwide. Industry watchers were targeting at least $100 million in global box office receipts, and that figure had been pared back in recent months.The market's first take on the live-action reboot's debut wasn't a dealbreaker. Disney shares actually moved higher on Monday, closing above $100 for just the second time in the past two weeks. It was a generally buoyant day for stocks, but for the media giant's shares to rise despite a potential matinee misfire is a good sign that investors are looking beyond this film. This is still likely to be a good year for Disney's studio business. You just have to disregard the occasional poisoned apple.Snow White reportedly cost a hefty $250 million to make, and that's before marketing and distribution costs. Disney will probably have to take a sizable financial hit on the the production once all of the beans have been counted. Optimists can point to Mufasa: The Lion King that came out three months ago to an even softer debut, and it still managed a fairytale ending. It collected just $35.4 million in stateside ticket sales for its opening weekend, only to top $719 million worldwide by the end of its cinematic run. Still, that's the exception and not the rule when an established franchise faceplants out of the starting gate.Continue readingWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei MotleyFool Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei MotleyFool