Disney’s newest film, Wish, was created to celebrate Disney’s 100 year anniversary of storytelling. With its release date on November 22, 2023, the opening weekend made $19.5 million in the box office. By the end of the second weekend, Wish had received $50.7 million in the box office. Although it was meant to be a celebratory Disney film, it has been “flopping on the internet,” as many users criticized. In January 2024, there were not many comments about the movie at all.
The main character, Asha, embarks on a journey when the kingdom of Rosas is threatened by its ruler, King Magnifico. Although he has the power to grant his citizens’ wishes, King Magnifico never grants them, betraying his citizens’ trust. When Asha realizes his villanous mindset, she wishes upon a star and attempts to save her beloved kingdom.
With its advertisements on social media platforms, users were commenting on the graphics and the overall plot of the story. Some complained that the story was too vague and seemed uninteresting to watch. One person commented, “…the animation of the movie just makes the entire thing much more insufferable, as it’s just so unsatisfying to look at while trying to keep your focus on a mediocre plot that feels AI generated and rushed.” Another viewer argued, “During the [boring,] forgettable songs and uninteresting plot, I just stared at the star…while waiting for the movie to end. The movie had today’s usual forced diversity and political undertones that annoyed me…so I wasn’t able to emotionally connect with the characters.”
Although most comments online voice their dislike of the movie, there are many that compliment the movie’s structure. One user expressed, “Absolutely enchanted by the captivating visuals and heartwarming storytelling, this movie is a beautiful masterpiece that effortlessly captures the essence and magic of Disney.” The film brought back some of the nostalgia of old Disney classics, while evoking emotions and being sweet and charming. However, in addition to the positives of the movie, users added in many flaws. The same user added in their review, “The story, characters, and music [sic] didn’t seem super original, and there were some cheesy and confusing parts…as the story did feel a bit rushed.”
Four WSHS freshman students shared their insights on Wish. Isabella Torres, a hardcore Disney fan, decided she did not want to watch the movie. She stated, “I never want to watch it. The animation looks a little weird.” Alyssa Goad protested her upsetting thoughts on Disney films: “They don’t put any effort into the Disney movies anymore. It’s like they whip up a script in two weeks and don’t make a legacy anymore.” Only watching the trailer, Alyssa Green opposed the film, “It looks like they copied it off of Frozen. It’s very confusing and I can’t understand what the point of the movie is.” Angel Gonzalez said, “I heard it looks really bad and the Disney movies are getting worse and worse.”
Wish has not received the same treatment as many other Disney movies. Although most Disney films are loved by families, not many talk about Wish with the same enthusiasm. Even Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney, stated, “Creators lost sight of what their number one objective needed to be…we have to entertain first. It’s not about messages.” Although there are many great upsides about the movie, the downsides have a greater impact on the viewers.
