Wrecking the Box Office

'Wreck-It Ralph' Smashes Way to Top of Box Office

By ERICA ORDEN

Updated November 4, 2012, 2:59 p.m. ET

      In the article written in the Wall Street Journal, Erica Orden discusses the success of Wreck-It Ralph in its debut weekend. The Walt Disney Co. earned 49.1 million this past weekend, topping Denzel Washington and Flight, as well as, Ben Affleck's Argo. 


      The movie which tells a tale about a video game villain turned superhero attracts more than just the typical Walt Disney target. This movie opened as the biggest Disney Animation movie to date because of its appeal to a widespread of demographics. The combination of the retro feel and the resonance of historic disney characters allows adults to be intrigued by the youthful story.


      According to Erica Orden: "'Wreck-It Ralph,' which features the voices of John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch, attracted an audience in which 25% of the people were under the age of 25 and 68% attended with their families."

    Without any emerging competition in the near future, Wreck-It Ralph will steadily continue to garner the attention of families. In turn, leading Walt Disney Co. into an positive beginning to the holiday season.



      In the past few months I have seen several previews to Wreck-It Ralph. Every time I found myself surrounded by different demographics. I see know that Disney wanted it that way. Although, Wreck-It Ralph on paper is a PG film, it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The simple, sweet, and uplifting tale of a bad boy gone good is one that everyone is fond of. The cartoons attract the children, while the arcade setting sends adults into a flashback of the hundreds of quarters they spent on Saturday afternoons as a kid playing Pac-Man. 

      This move like so many by Disney shows the strengths of the company. Their uncanning ability to interest so many diverse groups allows them to achieve more success than most Fortune 500 companies. Personally, I am not a big fan of cartoon movies, but somehow I can never deny a good Disney flick. Maybe it is the brand, maybe it is the product, whatever it is, Disney has me and millions more hooked.



Wall Street Journal Article
Topics: Demographics,  Competition