Disney’s Gay Character-Led ‘Strange World’ on Track to Lose $100 Million

A screen shows the logo and a ticker symbol for The Walt Disney Company on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, on Dec. 14, 2017. Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Disney’s newest animated science-fiction movie “Strange World,” which features an openly gay teenage relationship, is on track to lose $100 million, according to reports.

Variety reports that the movie was expected to earn $30 million to $40 million over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend which ran from Wednesday through Sunday.

However, it instead pulled in just $18.6 million over the five-day holiday period.

On a global scale, it earned $9.2 million from 43 markets at the international box office, according to Variety. The movie is not being shown in China, Russia, parts of Africa, and all of the Middle East due to issues over the gay content and geopolitical tensions.

The movie’s young male character, Ethan, voiced by Jaboukie Young-White, has a crush on another boy in his friendship group and a series of flirtations between the two are shown in a number of scenes.

The movie is directed by Don Hall and stars a voice cast that includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Gabrielle Union, and Lucy Liu.

‘Weak Opening by Disney Animation Standards’

The movie appears not to go have been received well by some viewers, receiving a rating of 74 percent among critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an audience score of 61 percent.

Among some of the complaints on Rotten Tomatoes are those in which viewers reveal their “disgust” at the movie which they say “blatantly and unscrupulously encourages homosexual relationships between young school-aged boys.” Others share their outrage at having to explain to their children why “that boy likes another boy.”

The movie also has a “B” rating on CinemaScore from opening day audiences, according to The Wrap.

According to Variety, the movie is on track to register as of one Disney’s worst opening weekends in current times.

“This is a weak opening by Disney animation standards,” David A. Gross, head of movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, told Variety. “At a cost of $180 million, plus marketing expenses, the film will finish in the red, even with good ancillary income.”

Although it is unclear what prompted the dismal earnings, some moviegoers have suggested that the poor performance was due to Disney’s failure to market the movie effectively.

The Epoch Times has contacted Disney for comment.