Dismal Failure! A New Disney Movie Made Just $2 Million at the Box Office on Opening Weekend!
Disney’s latest release, Ella McCay, stumbled out of the gate with a mere $2.1 million in domestic earnings during its opening weekend, marking one of the studio’s most embarrassing theatrical debuts in recent memory.
Here’s the TL;DR...
Ella McCay, a political dramedy from veteran director James L. Brooks, grossed just $2.1 million across over 2,500 theaters, securing the fourth-worst wide-release opening ever.
Starring Emma Mackey as a young governor and featuring Jamie Lee Curtis in a supporting role, the film tackles themes of scandal, family, and politics but failed to connect with audiences.
Critical reception sits at a dismal 22% on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers calling it tonally inconsistent despite some strong performances.
When stacked against inflation-adjusted flops like Strange World and Mars Needs Moms, this underscores Disney’s hit-or-miss record with mid-budget originals.
The poor performance echoes bombs like Jem and the Holograms, potentially signaling a retreat to streaming for similar projects, limiting theatrical diversity.
What led to Ella McCay‘s disastrous box office start?
The film hit theaters on December 12, 2025, with modest expectations of $3–4 million in debut earnings. Instead, it scraped together $2.1 million over three days, despite playing in 2,500 locations across North America.
This low turnout places it among the weakest wide openings on record, trailing behind even niche releases that struggled to find footing. Early tracking suggested limited buzz, hampered by competition from family-friendly hits like Zootopia 2, which reclaimed the top spot that weekend.
Who headlines Ella McCay and what’s the core plot?
Emma Mackey steps into the lead as Ella, a 34-year-old lieutenant governor who inherits the governorship amid her mentor’s abrupt exit.
The story weaves her efforts to pass legislation aiding new mothers while juggling a cheating spouse, estranged family ties, and cutthroat politics. Jamie Lee Curtis brings grit as Aunt Helen, a no-nonsense bar owner dishing out wisdom, joined by Woody Harrelson as Ella’s dad, Ayo Edebiri as her brother’s former flame, and Albert Brooks as the retiring governor.
Brooks, known for classics like Broadcast News, aimed for a blend of humor and heart in this modern take on leadership.
How did critics rate Ella McCay overall?
The movie has earned a 22% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 89 reviews, with an audience score hovering at 52% from over 100 verified ratings.
Metacritic assigns it a 37/100 based on 32 critiques, reflecting widespread disappointment. The consensus describes it as “well-intentioned but woefully undisciplined,” praising Brooks’ optimism but slamming its erratic tone.
What specific feedback have reviewers given on Ella McCay?
Some found redeeming qualities in its dialogue and cast chemistry.
Nell Minow of RogerEbert.com deemed it “refreshing” for its endearing quirks.
Anna Stafford at Little White Lies noted the “lively performances” and steady pacing that juggle comedy and politics effectively.
On the flip side:
Adrian Horton of The Guardian called it “a clunky collection of incoherent characters.”
John Nugent of Empire Magazine labeled the effort “an odd, messy, misjudged shambles,” faulting nearly everything beyond the earnest acting.
How does Ella McCay compare to Disney’s other notorious flops?
Disney’s history is dotted with underachievers, but Ella McCay stands out for its scale.
Strange World (2022) opened to $12.15 million, adjusting to roughly $13.7 million in 2025 dollars. Budgeted at $180 million, it ended with $73.6 million worldwide.
Mars Needs Moms (2011) debuted at $6.8 million, inflating to about $10.4 million today. Its $150 million cost made it a legendary bomb.
Does Ella McCay rival non-Disney disasters like Jem and the Holograms?
Universal’s Jem and the Holograms (2015) tanked with $1.4 million from 2,413 screens, leading to an early theatrical pull.
Adjusted for inflation, that’s roughly $2 million in 2025 terms—eerily close to Ella McCay. Both suffered from weak marketing, niche appeal, and disastrous word-of-mouth.
What are some other standout Disney opening weekend failures?
The Haunted Mansion (2023): $24.1 million opening on a $150 million budget.
The Lone Ranger (2013): $29.2 million debut against $250 million spent.
John Carter (2012): $30.2 million opening with a $250 million budget.
Treasure Planet (2002): $12 million opening, later losing over $100 million.
How might this impact Disney’s strategy for mid-budget films?
With a reported $35 million budget, Ella McCay wasn’t a mega-investment, but its flop could make studios wary of theatrical gambles on originals.
Disney has leaned on streaming for safer plays, as seen with Artemis Fowl heading straight to Disney+ in 2020. This trend may intensify, favoring franchises over character-driven stories.
Could audience tastes or external factors explain the weak showing?
Post-pandemic viewing habits have shifted toward streaming for non-event films.
Ella McCay‘s political themes may have alienated some audiences, while limited marketing—focused on pedigree over spectacle—failed to spark urgency.
Ella McCay‘s belly flop at the box office serves as a cautionary tale for Disney. Even a stacked cast and a respected director couldn’t overcome mixed reviews and muted interest.
As studios reassess theatrical risk, this failure may accelerate the move of mid-tier films to streaming, narrowing the big-screen landscape—but also reopening the debate about how original stories are championed.
Hat Tips
Reddit r/boxoffice — With an estimated debut of $2.1M, ‘Ella McCay’ earned the 4th worst wide-release opening (December 14, 2025)
Variety — Zootopia 2 Box Office: Disney Sequel Returns to No. 1, ‘Ella McCay…’ (December 14, 2025)
World of Reel — Ella McCay Opens With Disastrous $2M Weekend (December 14, 2025)
Box Office Mojo — Ella McCay (accessed December 14, 2025)
Wikipedia — Ella McCay (accessed December 14, 2025)
The Numbers — Strange World (2022) (accessed December 14, 2025)
Wikipedia — Mars Needs Moms (accessed December 14, 2025)
Wikipedia — Jem and the Holograms (film) (accessed December 14, 2025)
Rotten Tomatoes — Ella McCay (accessed December 14, 2025)
CBR — 30 Biggest Disney Box Office Bombs, Ranked (July 2, 2025)
Wikipedia — List of biggest box-office bombs (accessed December 14, 2025)
Article Compiled and Edited by Ivy Adams.