Decoding Disney’s Domination: 5 Key Moves That Shaped the 2010s

As the 2010s come to a close, it’s hard to imagine that a decade ago, Disney’s presence in the movie industry was far from dominant. Fast forward to 2019, and Disney’s market share has skyrocketed from 11.33% to 31.96%. So, how did the House of Mouse become the biggest movie studio in the world? Let’s dive into five key moves that shaped Disney’s domination in the 2010s.

Marvel Joins the Disney Family

The 2010s will be remembered as the decade when superhero movies went from niche to mainstream, largely thanks to the rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Disney’s acquisition of Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion in 2009 was a game-changer. With the MCU grossing a staggering $22.585 billion across 23 films, this purchase might be the bargain of the decade.

Disney Acquires Lucasfilm

George Lucas, the visionary behind Star Wars, sold his company to Disney for $4.05 billion in 2012. Disney quickly developed a new Skywalker trilogy, with The Force Awakens becoming the fourth highest-grossing movie of all time. The Star Wars universe continues to expand with spin-off films and the Disney+ flagship show, The Mandalorian, featuring the internet sensation Baby Yoda.

A New Golden Age of Animation

The 2010s saw a resurgence in Disney’s animated features, with hits like Wreck-It-Ralph, Moana, and the cultural phenomenon Frozen. Grossing $1.2 billion on a $150 million budget, Frozen marked a return to the glory days of Disney animation. Its sequel, released this year, is quickly approaching the $1 billion mark.

Nostalgia Strikes Back

Disney’s live-action remakes of their animated classics have proven to be a lucrative venture. Starting with Cinderella in 2015, the trend continued with The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo, Aladdin, The Lion King, and Lady and the Tramp. Despite their often redundant nature, these remakes have been box office hits, with both The Lion King and Aladdin in the top ten grossing films of 2019.

The Fox Acquisition

Disney’s $71.3 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019 was a monumental move. With control over properties like Avatar, The X-Men, Deadpool, FX, ESPN, Fox Networks Group International, National Geographic, and 30% of Hulu, Disney has eliminated a key competitor and secured even more screens in cinemas. As Disney+ challenges Netflix’s dominance, the 2030s could see Disney as the last major multimedia company standing.