Why Disney's Haunted Mansion Reboot Became a $117 Million Box-Office Bomb

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Despite a star-studded cast and a $150 million budget, the 2023 adaptation of Disney's iconic attraction struggled to find its audience. Plagued by a mid-summer release, intense competition, and a lack of promotional support, the film ultimately failed to capture the magic of its source material, resulting in significant financial losses.

The journey of the 2023 Haunted Mansion film was long and fraught with development challenges. Initially conceived in 2010 by Guillermo del Toro, the project was envisioned as a heightened reality experience. However, after years in development hell, the script was eventually overhauled by Katie Dippold to better suit family audiences, as the original draft was deemed too frightening. Justin Simien was confirmed as director in 2021, and principal photography took place between October 2021 and February 2022.

When the film finally premiered in July 2023, it faced a perfect storm of obstacles. The 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike prevented the cast from participating in promotional events, leaving Disney characters to walk the red carpet instead. Furthermore, the film opened in the shadow of the massive cultural phenomenon surrounding Barbie and Oppenheimer. These factors, combined with mixed critical reception and complaints regarding excessive product placement—such as a notable mention of Burger King jalapeño poppers—contributed to a lackluster opening weekend of $24.1 million.

Ultimately, the film grossed $117.5 million worldwide against a $150 million production budget. Deadline Hollywood estimated the final net loss to be $117 million. Despite its theatrical struggles, the movie found a second life on streaming platforms, becoming the most-watched film on U.S. television screens during the week of October 2–8, 2023, with 992 million minutes viewed. While critics remained divided, citing a lack of genuine scares or humor, the film's ensemble cast was frequently highlighted as its saving grace.

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