5 reasons Disney’s ‘Dumbo’ failed at the box office

Disney’s “Dumbo” fell short in its debut at the box office.

The live-action re-imagining from director Tim Burton opened to an estimated $45 million domestically over the weekend. With another $71 million overseas, the roughly $119 million weekend total didn’t meet the $179 million budget the movie had, not including marketing to bring the CGI baby elephant to life.

Here’s what went wrong with “Dumbo’s” debut:

1. The original movie is nearly 80 years old:

Children who grew up with the story of “Dumbo” would be more than 78 years old so there is little to no attachment for young fans now.

2. The dark story and somber appearance may not have broad appeal:

The story is also not a joyful one. Dumbo is bullied by humans for his big ears and the circus animals are treated poorly. The movie deals with animal abuse, war, and death. Some of the material may be too heavy for children.

3. Poor reviews may have swayed potential viewers:

“Dumbo” is currently sitting at a 49% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics of the movie say the film lacks heart and is weighed down by additions to the plot, including an added focus on the humans in the movie.

4. The marketing doesn’t capture the film’s magic:

Though the trailers showed the baby elephant whose big ears gave him the ability to fly, they didn’t explain the new characters who fans of the original won’t recognize or what new plot points would be. The film’s marketing was unable to fully feature the magic of the flying pachyderm.

5. With the start of spring, people might have made time for the outdoors:

The weekend wasn’t a particularly special one to drop a movie. Disney may find more success with “Dumbo” come Easter weekend.