3D Re-Release Forum

Still from STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH

A few months ago, it was announced that a planned 3D re-release of Independence Day was cancelled. Disney, which had been expected to reveal even more 3D re-releases of animated pictures (Toy Story, Toy Story 2, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Finding Nemo, and Monsters, Inc. had already been given the treatment, to varying degrees of success), decided to no longer go with that strategy. Now they announced that they are cancelling plans to convert Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (no word on whether the original Star Wars trilogy will be converted. The two movies had been schedules to come out in 3D and a few 2D theaters in September and October of 2013.

3D re-releases have been struggling, recently, with the Monsters, Inc. re-release being a notable flop. The 3D re-release of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace last February had not been the cash cow LucasFilm (the studio behind the Star Wars films) was hoping for, but it still made over $40 million in the US alone, and that was by far the least popular Star Wars film.

Not only is this not a good sign for the somewhat-struggling 3D industry, but it could be a nail in the coffin for the idea of re-releasing old movies in that format. I guess its up to Jurassic Park to decide whether 3D re-releases are a dead genre.

Disney seems to be doing this alot lately. They also recently canceled the 3D re-release of The Little Mermaid.

Weird. It's not like these don't make money. I wonder if it's the loss in 3D's popularity or what else could be the problem.

@FinalDasa said:

Weird. It's not like these don't make money. I wonder if it's the loss in 3D's popularity or what else could be the problem.

Well, MONSTERS, INC's rerelease was a big flop.

@Ozone said:

As long as they don't cancel the 3D Blu-rays of the films, I don't care about the theatrical re-releases.

my guess is that they will cancel the 3D blu-rays as the cost of converting it is kinda high, especially when there is no theatrical re-release money.

Yea, I think the studio heads finally figured out that people don't like 3D.

@alexpiercey said:

Yea, I think the studio heads finally figured out that people don't like 3D.

I do.

So far Disney has done right by me when it comes to Star Wars. I hope Disney pulls the ultimate fuck you to George Lucas by releasing non special editions of the original trilogy so I can finally retire my well worn VHS copies.