‘Raya And The Last Dragon’ Filmmakers Discuss Adding An Animated Action Film To The Disney Library [The Fourth Wall Podcast]

Hollywood filmmaking is off to a sorry start in 2021 in China's huge theatrical market. Following the fourth-place debut of Warner Bros.' Tom and Jerry a week ago, Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon opened in third place over the weekend, taking in just $8.4 million.

Raya and the Last Dragon had no trouble topping the weekend box office, but couldn't match other studio family films that have played during the pandemic and despite movie theaters finally opening in New York City. The Disney film, which earned glowing glowing reviews and an A CinemaScore, took in an estimated $8.6 million in its North American debut, compared to $14.1 million a week earlier for Warner Bros.' Tom & Jerry.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefA notable launch for “Minari” lifted the South Korea box office to its second highest weekend of 2021. The Korean-language American-made drama performed 80% higher than the weekend’s other significant new release Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon.”Opening in first place, “Minari” clocked up $1.68 million over the weekend, according to data from the Korean Film Council’s KOBIS box office tracking service.

Rebecca Davis editorDespite its emphasis on Asian representation and Southeast Asian themes, Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon” failed to soar in China, coming in third with just $8.4 million, according to Maoyan data.

Refresh for latest…: Disney’s Raya And The Last Dragon didn’t exactly come roaring out of the gate at the international box office with $17.6M from 32 markets. The global bow, including domestic’s launch, was $26.2M. Double-digit million-dollar debuts for Hollywood movies in the pandemic era are still a rare positive — and we’ve certainly seen family movies excel — but while not all openings are apples-to-apples, Raya’s start is being seen as a somewhat muted affair.

Despite strong reviews, Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon” has failed to join  “Wonder Woman 1984” and “Tom & Jerry” among the films to earn a $10 million-plus opening weekend during the pandemic, instead earning an estimated $8.6 million opening from 2,045 screens.By comparison, “Tom & Jerry” opened last weekend to $14.1 million, adding $6.6 million this weekend for a 10-day total of just under $23 million.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaNew York City movie theaters welcomed back customers for the first time in nearly a year this weekend. And yet some high profile new releases still struggled to sell ticket sales, a sign that a box office revival may not be in the cards for a few months.Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon,” a computer-animated fantasy adventure, opened to $8.6 million from 2,045 screens.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor“Crazy Rich Asians” screenwriter Adele Lim never thought in her wildest dreams that she would be part of a Disney animated feature, let alone one that is set in Southeast Asia.But Disney’s newest tale, “Raya and the Last Dragon” (now streaming on Disney Plus), delivers its first Southeast Asian princess, Raya, a warrior who sets out across the mythical realm of Kumandra as she seeks out the last dragon.Lim, who is of Malaysian descent, says: “To be a part of this

The new animated film Raya and the Last Dragon is out now and we’re taking a moment to introduce you to the talented voice cast!

Refresh for more analysis Even with three new wide releases at this weekend’s box office, and New York City finally reopening, numbers still aren’t at pre-pandemic levels, but there’s a lot of drama going on.

EXCLUSIVE: Today, Disney rolls out Raya and the Last Dragon, what is arguably its first domestic theatrical hybrid release; second worldwide if you count Mulan. The animated movie which is booked at 2,045 theaters, sans roughly 250 Cinemark locations, but including the newly reopened New York City market, is on its way to grossing a notable $3M today and between $9M-$10M domestic this weekend per industry estimates and that’s with an availability on Disney+ for the extra price of $30.

In Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon, the titular character is strong, resilient, clever, has a strong bond to her community of the world of Kumandra and, above all, hopeful. That said, it’s no wonder that Kelly Marie Tran was chosen to voice the titular heroine. The Vietnamese-American actress emits those qualities and then some.

Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon.”Hollywood loves a scaly scamp. There’s “Game of Thrones,” “Dragonheart,” “Pete’s Dragon,” the much better 2016 remake of “Pete’s Dragon” and the gold standard of fire-breathers, “How To Train Your Dragon,” one of the best CGI family films ever made.There’s something so whimsical about a pet that can destroy all your enemies without lifting a claw.“Raya,” which has a lot going for it, is not as emotionally involving as any of those other  films or TV shows.

, sets up certain expectations: You know that the main character will be Raya, the warrior princess voiced by Kelly Marie Tran, and that you'd better meet a dragon sooner or later.Though the project had been in the works at Disney for six or so years, when 's core team — directors Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada, writers Adele Lim and Qui Nguyen and producer Osnat Shurer — came onboard in the past couple years, even those components were still in flux.«This idea of creating a fantasy world

EXCLUSIVE: The No. 3 U.S. exhibitor Cinemark will not be playing Raya and the Last Dragon this coming weekend as Disney makes the title available both in theaters and as a $30 purchase on Disney+ on March 5. As the major studios experiment widely with theatrical windows during the pandemic, Raya is a clear case that not all exhibitors will just swallow whatever is thrown at them.

, the new Disney animated film starring the voices of Kelly Marie Tran () and Awkwafina (,) will arrive to the Disney+ on Friday, March 5 under the streaming service's «Premier Access» tier.The film centers around Raya — Disney's first Southeast Asian princess — a warrior who embarks on a journey looking for the sole surviving dragon in order to save her kingdom.

Antonio Ferme editor“Raya and the Last Dragon” is set in the land of Kumandra, a re-imagined Earth inhabited by an ancient civilization where humans and dragons once lived together in harmony.

Reviews are in for Disney’s new animated feature Raya and the Last Dragon, and the critics aregenerally positive. Directed by Don Hall (Big Hero 6, Winnie the Pooh) and Carlos López Estrada (Blindspotting),the new animated film introduces audiences to thefantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons live together in harmony.