Disney's Wish, the highly anticipated film set to celebrate Disney's centenary in 2023, had a rough start at the box office. However, the Walt Disney Company is now banking on its digital release to turn things around. According to Collider, Wish will be available on all major video-on-demand platforms on January 23, with Blu-ray, 4K UHD, and DVD releases following on March 12. As of now, there is no confirmed release date for Disney+.
Despite initially receiving mixed reviews from critics, Wish managed to garner a more positive response from audiences, earning an audience score of 81% on Rotten Tomatoes. While the movie falls short of some of Disney's biggest hits, this boost in audience reception did provide some redemption after its disappointing opening weekend. Nonetheless, Wish still struggled to recoup its massive $200 million budget.
The storyline of Wish follows the journey of Asha, a teenage girl who, in classic Disney fashion, makes a wish upon a star that leads to a series of magical adventures. The connection to Disney's longstanding fascination with the idea of wishing stars is no coincidence and sets the stage for the film's release during the company's centennial celebrations. With an impressive cast including Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, and Alan Tudyk, Wish was initially expected to be a blockbuster success over the Thanksgiving weekend. However, projections proved to be less than stellar.
Critics have pointed out Wish's reliance on familiar Disney tropes, resulting in a less favorable score of 48% on Rotten Tomatoes (at the time of writing). However, audiences found something special in the film. As a celebration of Disney's 100 years of spreading joy, it is understandable that Wish contains numerous nods to the company's past. While some critics may have missed this intent, audience reviews indicate that the film resonated with many viewers.
While Wish did not reach the heights of films like Elemental (93%) or Raya and the Last Dragon (97%), audience reception was far better compared to last year's Stange World, which only managed a 66% audience score. In recent years, there have been several instances where critics and audiences have diverging opinions. Movies hailed as future classics by critics often resonate less with cinema audiences, and vice versa. Wish continues this trend, scoring twice as high with its audience, who were not deterred by the film's nostalgic elements and familiar storytelling.
Although some reviews criticized the lack of originality in the story, with the film primarily focused on reigniting memories of Disney's past endeavors, it seems that the combination of heartfelt songs, beloved characters, and a classic Disney villain delivers precisely what one would expect from the studio. As Richard Fink of MovieWeb aptly summarized, 'Wish is precisely what you want from a Disney animated film... It feels classical but also modern, the same way that Frozen did in 2013, or The Little Mermaid did in 1989.'
As Wish prepares to make its debut on home video, fans can look forward to checking out exclusive interviews with star Ariana DeBose. Overall, while it is uncertain what the future holds for Disney amidst changing release schedules and shifting priorities, films like Wish indicate that the studio still knows how to captivate audiences and keep the Disney magic alive. Ending the 100-year celebration on such a high note leaves us optimistic about what lies ahead for this iconic entertainment company.
