Have you ever wondered why recent movies based on popular IPs are so controversial? Despite being based on famous and well-known franchises, movies such as Mufasa: The Lion King, Moana 2, and the live-action Snow White have been poorly received by critics, with the latter receiving a rating of 1.7 on IMDb—one of, if not, the worst movies of the year so far.  Snow White, which has had a lackluster reception despite the whopping 240-270 million dollar budget (one of the most expensive Disney movies ever), is heading towards a net loss of at least 115 million, making it the textbook definition of a box office flop.  Interestingly enough, if adjusted for inflation, the original Snow White and the Seven Dwarves would be the highest-grossing animated film ever, the complete opposite of the 2025 remake.  This stark contrast between the two poses the question: why, despite their original IP’s popularity, are the recently released movies so disliked?

The main underlying issue is that these movies are cash grabs.  Practically nobody asked for a remake or prequel to an already great franchise.  Mufasa: The Lion King and Moana 2 have been criticized for their poor writing, leading to unimaginative and unoriginal storylines that fail to replicate the original film’s charm and success.  By contrast, however, Snow White is unpopular due to the production’s changes in the original storyline of the initial classic, with the new alterations drawing a majority of the audience’s disdain.  So, if audiences have disliked films for being too unoriginal, or for changing the source material too much, how might one still make a popular movie?  

The key seems to be striking a balance between the source material and the new project. Productions like the Super Mario Bros. Movie and Sonic 3 underscore this exquisitely.  Both films stayed true to their original IPs, keeping the core spirit and elements of their respective games, while also making an enjoyable and fresh plot.  Furthermore, the two went the extra step to appease fans, differentiating them from the aforementioned “cash grab” that failed to take the audience’s opinions and wants into account.  The Sonic movie franchise, for example, initially released a trailer with an infamously disliked design of the titular character, garnering widespread anger among fans.  After seeing the public’s reaction, the producers decided to alter the character’s look completely, even going so far as to push back the release date a year.  This incident highlights the production team’s commitment to making a good quality film rather than simply trying to release a poorly-made film for money.

Though Snow White certainly set a poor precedent for this year, there still seems to be hope for movies.  While I originally expected A Minecraft Movie to follow the aforementioned formula of a big IP being adapted into a low-effort cash-grab movie, I was pleasantly surprised to see a relatively good reception, with the film being rated 88% on Fandango (though I’m unsure if it’s only because of the memes).  Hopefully, upcoming movies will include thoughtful casting and production along with meaningful storylines to make films entertaining again.