The first reviews for Wish are in and the Disney Animation film has a surprisingly low score.
Despite intriguing trailers and a catchy theme song performed by a Broadway star, Wish currently sits at a 55% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 60 reviewers, with an aggregate score of 6.1 out of 10. That's significantly lower than 2022's Strange World, which currently has an approval rating of 72%.
IGN gave the film a 5 out of 10: "Wish’s visually appealing celebration of Disney’s 100th anniversary mostly lacks inventiveness and gravitas but features some memorable music."
In its review of Wish, Looper wrote: "Wish tries to split the difference between classic and modern, and fails on both fronts."
Empire Magazine was a little more forgiving, scoring the film 3 out of 5: "An appropriate tribute to Disney, by itself. It hardly breaks any ground — it’s simply there to celebrate the ground the studio was built on."
The Hollywood Reporter's review says the film felt a bit flat: "Even during its more successful moments, Wish’s magic falls flat. The film is weighed down by its purpose: to revel in Disney nostalgia while soaring into the future."
When tracking for the film first emerged a few weeks ago, Wish was headed toward a $50 million domestic opening, but now the early tracking numbers have the film opening between $45-$65 million in North America.
Still, a low Rotten Tomatoes score isn't the end of the world.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie has a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating from critics of only 59%, yet audiences love the film and give it a 95% approval rating. That film overcame poor reviews to become the second highest-grossing movie of 2023 behind Barbie, having earned $1.361 billion at the worldwide box office.
While we aren't saying Wish is going to join the billion-dollar club, don't be surprised if the movie's Rotten Tomatoes score doesn't match its box office earnings.
Wish opens in North American theaters just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday on November 22.
Wish is believed to make references to several previous Disney Animated classics as part of the celebration of Disney's 100th anniversary.
For example, when the movie moves to King Magnifico's workshop, viewers should look out for a shot of the Evil Queen's poison apple, as revealed to Entertainment Weekly by co-directors Christopher Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn. There are several other easter eggs strewn throughout the movie, this being only one.
The first ten minutes of the movie were shown to the audience during Wish's special presentation earlier this year at the Destination D23 Event at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Wish was hailed as a must-see movie on social media even though the footage was not released.
WISH Synopsis: In Wish, Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy called Star.
Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe—the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico—to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.
Featuring the voices of Academy Award-winning actor Ariana DeBose as Asha, Chris Pine as Magnifico, and Alan Tudyk as Asha’s favorite goat, Valentino, the film is helmed by Oscar-winning director Chris Buck (“Frozen,” “Frozen 2”) and Fawn Veerasunthorn (“Raya and the Last Dragon”), produced by Peter Del Vecho (“Frozen,” “Frozen 2”) and co-produced by Juan Pablo Reyes (“Encanto”).
Jennifer Lee (“Frozen,” “Frozen 2”) executive produced and also co-wrote the script alongside Allison Moore (“Night Sky,” “Manhunt”).
With original songs by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Julia Michaels and Grammy-winning producer/songwriter/musician Benjamin Rice, plus a score by composer Dave Metzger.
Wish opens only in theaters on Nov. 22, 2023.