Raya and the Last Dragon is a 2021 animated movie directed by Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada. The movie tells the story of Raya (Kelly Marie Tran), a warrior princess from Kumandra who has trained to protect a dragon gem belonging to the ancient dragons, and containing incredible power. An attempt at stealing the gem results in it being broken into five pieces and scattered through the five kingdoms of Kumandra, along with awakening the evil Druun spirits. Years later, after the Druun have ruined Kumandra and turned people to stone, Raya embarks on a journey to find the mythical last dragon and restore the gem, using its power to banish the evil spirits.
The movie was planned for a November 2020 release, but was pushed back to March 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It would eventually be released in theaters and on Disney’s streaming service, Disney+, at a premium cost of $29.99. Though the movie was a financial flop, it did receive positive reviews that praised its developed characters and fresh spin on the typical Disney movie. It also was enjoyed by those who did watch it, with The Wrap reporting that it had over one billion hours streamed in the week when its premium cost ended. However, the movie never really got the major release and recognition it deserved, and its low box office numbers overshadowed its strengths. Here are some of the reasons the movie was overlooked.
Its Streaming Release
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The biggest factor in the movie’s box office failure was its release. Disney released the movie simultaneously in movie theaters and on Disney+, for an additional fee of $30 – on top of the monthly fee subscribers were already paying for the streaming platform. In June 2021, after three months at the premium price, the movie would become available to all Disney+ subscribers at no extra cost. If a family or a group of people wanted to watch the movie, the $30 fee was likely cheaper than what they would have spent on an average theater trip. But for individuals, the extra cost might not have been worth it. The fact that the movie would later require no such fee also led many people to just wait. Unless you really wanted to see it and didn’t mind spending the money, there was little incentive in the premium access.
This led to the movie’s lack of financial success, but it also led to a staggered and uneven public reception. Some people watched the film right away, while others waited. Though the streaming release offered convenience in letting people watch when they wanted, it also meant there was little unity in when it was watched. Not everyone could see it at the same time, making it hard for the movie to get public momentum. There was no collective reception right on the movie’s release – especially when compared to the craze over Disney’s recent Encanto. It seems like Raya never got a huge public reception, and a lot of that also had to do with timing.
Time of Release
The movie also came at an inopportune time that made it difficult to have a large impact. With the dangers and restrictions of COVID-19, many people might have felt unsafe, and understandably so, in attending a theater showing, and instead opted to watch at home, either paying the fee or waiting. On the streaming side of things, the convenience of at-home viewing was not without its caveats. For example, the pandemic left many people out of work, with little extra income to spend on the movie – particularly one that they didn’t get to own, and that would come at no extra cost in three months. As restrictions eased, the movie was largely overshadowed by later releases like Luca, which went direct to Disney+ with no additional fee, and Encanto, which had a massive box office run before heading to streaming.
Lack of Promotion at Movie Theaters
Finally, Raya didn’t see the expected recognition and promotion at movie theaters, with some theater chains not even showing the film. According to IndieWire, the North American theater chains Cinemark, Harkins, and Cineplex didn’t show the movie due to rental cost negotiation issues with Disney. Additionally, other theaters, both on the chain and local level, might have had negotiation issues or pandemic restrictions that limited showings of the movie and how many people could see it. Numerous theaters also might have closed entirely during the pandemic. With the movie available in the comfort of viewers’ homes, its theatrical release also didn’t have much marketing. The result was that the movie received limited releases in movie theaters, with very little promotion for it.
Despite its struggles in release and reception, Raya and the Last Dragon is a strong movie that offers new perspectives and ideas. It’s a great watch for all ages, with beautiful animation, fun characters, and a moving story. It may have slipped under the radar due to its time and method of release, but it’s well worth a watch.
