Pixar film Elio flops after removal of queer themes

In the United States, Pixar's animated film 'Elio' released recently has faced significant box office challenges, grossing only $20 million in its opening weekend. Following its disappointing start, the film saw a 50% drop in ticket sales the subsequent weekend, bringing its total to a mere $41 million. Behind the scenes, internal discussions revealed that initial creative plans included portraying the 11-year-old protagonist, Elio, as a queer-coded character. However, after a negative test screening, major changes were made that eliminated these themes, sparking discontent among staff at the Pixar Animation Studios. Reports indicate that the character was originally shown collecting trash for environmental purposes and wearing apparel that included a pink tank top, which contributed to his queerness. These aspects of Elio's character were largely removed during production reshoots, leading some Pixar employees to claim that this alteration contributed to the movie's financial failure. Furthermore, former staff members reported feeling aggrieved by these creative changes, resulting in a loss of talent from the studio and a sense that the initial vision for the character was compromised. The subsequent backlash and box office results have provoked discussions about the broader implications of identity politics in Hollywood and whether such changes reflect a deeper shift in audience preferences and company strategies. Observers have noted that the film's narrative suffered significantly after losing those original queer elements, making it less engaging and more generic, a sentiment echoed by employees who felt that the film lacked substance after the revisions were made.