U.S. movie “Tomorrowland” will lose US$120-140 million by the time it finishes its global rollout, becoming Disney’s first major financial misfire since “The Lone Ranger” prompted a US$190 million write-down two summers ago.

    “Tomorrowland,” which cost US$180 million to produce plus a marketing spend of US$150 million or more, had earned US$76.4 million in the United States and US$93.5 million overseas for a global total of US$169.9 million as of June 8. It might not gross much more than US$200 million, far from enough to cover Disney’s costs.

    China, ravenous for American event movies, has been a particularly harsh blow. “Tomorrowland” bowed to US$13.8 million there in early June, getting trounced by the US$38.3 million opening of the Japanese animated title “Stand by Me Doraemon.”

    “Yes, they took a miss with ‘Tomorrowland,’ but there are so many things working for Disney,” says analyst Eric Handler of MKM Partners, noting that Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” has earned nearly US$1.35 billion worldwide since May.

    That’s why “Tomorrowland” hasn’t stirred media or shareholder uproar as did “Lone Ranger” and “John Carter.” But it has raised the issue of whether studios will spend at this level on original tentpoles. (SD-Agencies)