{
  "id": 10695970,
  "title": "Rave Reviews, But Just a $20 Million Opening: Is There Any Hope for ‘Forgotten Island’? | Analysis",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/rave-reviews-but-just-a-20-million-opening-is-there-any-hope-for",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-29T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TheWrap",
    "slug": "thewrap",
    "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/forgotten-island-box-office-bomb-what-happened/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The animation studio DreamWorks, led by Margie Cohn, had been releasing critically acclaimed and commercially successful films in recent years. One such film was \"Forgotten Island,\" an original fantasy adventure comedy set in the Philippines, featuring a unique visual style and a mix of humor and mythology. The movie was well-received at major film festivals and received significant buzz before its release, leading to high hopes from DreamWorks and Universal Pictures. Despite an $80 million budget, the film only managed to open at $13 million domestically and $20.6 million worldwide, marking one of the lowest openings in DreamWorks Animation history. This disappointing launch raises concerns about the industry's ability to generate interest in original animated films, which are crucial for creating new franchises and driving growth. While there have been instances where post-release buzz helped boost the performance of films like \"Elemental,\" the situation for \"Forgotten Island\" seems more challenging due to its lower opening and the lack of a strong franchise connection. The marketing campaign, which included a San Diego Comic-Con panel and a premiere at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, may have failed to effectively target the right audience. The film's teen millennial protagonists and pop music soundtrack may not have appealed to younger viewers, limiting its potential reach. Ultimately, it appears that \"Forgotten Island\" will likely recoup its costs through post-theatrical revenue sources, such as premium video on demand (PVOD), but it remains unclear whether the film will achieve profitability or become a significant success in the long run.",
  "summary": "DreamWorks' original animated film hit theaters with massive audience scores and studio excitement. It will likely need post-theatrical revenue just to break even The post Rave Reviews, But Just a $20 Million Opening: Is There Any Hope for ‘Forgotten Island’? | Analysis appeared first on TheWrap .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}