Can Onward Break Even At Box Office? Last updated on March 14 2020 by Cooper Smith

In the movie business, things are tough right now. Really, really tough. All box office numbers are relatively low, and fear of getting the Coronavirus is driving fans away from movie theatres. That's why upcoming films have been delayed, such as Mulan, Peter Rabbit 2, or New Mutants. And films in theatres currently are not doing too well. Pixar's Onward is struggling, money-wise. Can it break even at the box office? And what does that mean for Pixar? Read on to find out.

Onward's Budget and Box Office

First things first, we have to look at the numbers. When was Onward released? What was its budget? And what is its box office at? So, Onward released March 6, right before most companies started postponed their films due to COVID-19 concerns. Onward's budget is not confirmed, but estimates range from $100-$200 million. Most of Pixar's films' budgets are somewhere in that range. Since Coco, Pixar's last original movie, had a budget of $175 million, we'll be conservative and say $150 million. Now, onto the money this film has made. The most recently updated box office numbers show that domestically, Onward has made almost $50 million. In total, it has grossed $78 million. The question is, at this rate, can it break even?

Can Onward Break Even?

If we assume Onward's budget was something like $150 million, it will be difficult for Pixar to regain that money they put into the movie. In most countries, Coco opened November 22. In that weekend alone, domestically, that movie made about $73 million. Coco breezed past its budget to make $807 million worldwide. To compare, Onward made $39 million domestically in its opening weekend. So, the contrast is clear. Whether it is due to the coronavirus or it just being a movie that didn't really draw many people to theatres, it is not doing well relative to past Pixar films. Onward is still dominating at the box office right now, with no other movie coming close, but it might not be enough. Onward might be able to break even if COVID-19 dies down within a couple weeks. But if not, it is unlikely that it'll make back $150 million.

Did it Deserve This?

Onward is a fantastic movie. Does not break from the Pixar formula, but is quite heartwarming. Starring Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Octavia Spencer, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the voice cast is full of well-known names and good actors in general. The animation is spot-on, getting so many details right. A beautiful motion picture. Did Onward deserve a lower box office than the rest of Pixar films? No, of course not. It just goes to show the far-reaching impacts a virus like COVID-19 has. Not just on people, but on industries and businesses like Pixar. Onward was well-made, but just happened to come out at a time where fear is driving audiences away.

It will take a while for the stigma to wear down around movie theatres. People just don't want to be in an enclosed room with many more people. This is why audiences aren't flocking to the movie theatres, and this is why box office numbers, even for Onward, who is currently dominating, are low. Onward is a good movie. But even good movies can't stop the Coronavirus.

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