DreamWorks is betting on originality with 'Forgotten Island'
DreamWorks Animation has released 'Forgotten Island,' an original film that deviates from the studio's recent reliance on sequels. Despite a modest box office opening, the film has received critical acclaim and is viewed as a significant creative gamble for the studio.
Why it matters
The film's performance serves as a bellwether for whether major animation studios can successfully pivot back to original storytelling in a market dominated by franchises.
Several years ago, DreamWorks Animation veterans Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado pitched the studio an original story centered on friendship and steeped in Filipino culture. That draft became the animated film "Forgotten Island," which opened in late September and counts singer H.E.R., Liza Soberano and Dave Franco among its voice cast. The movie focuses on best friends Raissa and Jo, who will soon be separated when Raissa goes to college in the U.S., and the final adventure they take to the fantastical island of Nakali. The movie opened to a softer $13 million in the U.S. and Canada and has so far made $23.6 million at the domestic box office over two weekends. Globally, "Forgotten Island" has brought in $38.5 million on an $80-million production budget.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in