Disney Q1 Reports: Just How Important is Star Wars?
First quarter reports are not the greatest read, but there are some interesting facts for us Star Wars fans. Let’s have a brief look at those numbers, shall we?
First of all, Disney is huge, with theme parks, TV stations, and some brands like Marvel and Star Wars. Q1 is pretty much focused on Star Wars.
Just as a comparison to last year’s first quarter, we can see an increase of ca. 30%, but that’s the whole company, it get’s more impressive when we take a look at Star wars related segments. The studios income was up to 86% the merchandise segment grew by 23%.
Even the theme parks are doing well, like Variety reports:
Led by its domestic destinations, Disney also reported big growth in its parks and resorts operation, where operating income grew 22%.[..] Another revenue driver for the company comes online June 16, when Disneyland Shanghai is set to open its doors for the first time.
All impressive numbers, but what does that mean for Star Wars as a brand? Brand Finance, a brand evaluation company, estimated a total worth of Star Wars around $ 10 billion. Not that shabby, when you keep in mind that Disney bought Lucasfilm for $ 4 billion.
As the researchers point out, the seventh episode of the saga made Disney the most influential brand.
Since 1977, the merchandise is crucial to the brand.
For nearly 40 years, toys and games based on “Star Wars” were a big business: sales since 1977 are estimated at $ 12 billion, not counting additional estimated $ 5 billion, which the epic’s last part, released on the screens on 18 December, brought to the brand’s owners.
Looks like one movie alone paid for Disney’s expenses and they can start printing money after 2 months. Nasdaq.com says it all:
It was the quarter during which Walt Disney Co. released a movie that grossed $2 billion at the box office and drove $ 3 billion in merchandise sales.
Looks like those 4bil, Disney once paid, were quite a bargain. There are 2 more Saga films coming, at least two Anthology films, plus Indiana Jones 5.
I wonder if George Lucas is regretting his decision to sell for 4.05 billion?
I mean, granted, half was cash and the other half was shares in Disney… But still…
Disney has more than made money off their purchase from Lucas already!
Keep in mind that was an _initiatial_ 4 Bil. There is _no way_ that he doesn’t have a rider in there for an additional “percentage-over-time”. Like a 2% royalty on all profits.
Disney prospers, so does Lucas… That’s where those 2.025 Billion in shares comes in.
Christ, with 4.05 billion burning a hole in his back pocket his great, great, great grand kids are going to be set up for life.
I would imagine its even better, he’s probably got points on gross revenue, not gross profit. Probably somthing equivalent to 0.1 – 0.25%. He probably made over $5m personally on TFA alone, plus the $2B in cash sitting in his bank account, plus the $2B in Disney stock he probably has already made $100m’s off of on the back of this Q1 earnings report….and he doesn’t have any of the stress or responsibility…
Nah…I seriously doubt he regrets anything…the guy needs and deserves a break, a real retirement. He created a legacy that will live on long after he is gone…I hope he’s enjoying just being a dad and spoiling the living s*%# out of his daughters.
Please cancel Indiana Jones 5. Please.
Only if they cancel this Han Solo film thing.
That too.
Something has to be done about the last Indy movie… It was sooo terrible. Ending with that one would live a bad taste in our collective mouths for all eternity!
Boom
Critically acclaimed means jack. In fact, if it has good critical ratings, I wont waste my money on it. It’s usually crap. I trust the feelings of those who are not paid and thus have nothing to gain from giving an honest assessment of a movie. This is a large reason why I prefer Yelp to find a good restaurant.
True. But then again, Indy 5 could be even worse. It could be like Alien 3 and Alien 4.
It just show how Disney truly helped Star Wars. Before purchase Star Wars was stagnating. Old Republic turned into mediocrity MMO. Several questionable project on the way. And post ROTJ EU full of ridiculous garbage which on many places contradict each other.
Only good thing was then Clone Wars.
Now, Star Wars is again on the Rise.
Direct to BD films is where this will all end someday.
Lol.
Hayden Christensen may get his shot at being in the saga again after all.