Disney Has Only Launched 10 New Franchises in the 21st Century

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In the past two decades, Disney has launched ten new movie series: Frozen, Tangled, Encanto, Pirates of the Caribbean, Maleficent, Alice in Wonderland, Lilo & Stitch, Moana, Wreck-It Ralph, and Zootopia. This has created a sense that Disney is a remarkably efficient engine for creating products – from merchandise to theme park attractions and streaming content – all working together seamlessly. However, a closer look reveals a more complex picture. While Disney is incredibly productive, very little of it is entirely original. By “original,” we mean new franchises created from the ground up, rather than those based on existing nostalgia or properties they’ve acquired, like Marvel or Star Wars.

It’s become a pattern: when a Disney movie does well, it’s turned into a series of sequels and spin-offs. Lately, Disney seems to mostly rely on re-making its animated classics in live-action, or creating more of the same franchises. True originality has become uncommon. It begs the question: how did Disney, once known for groundbreaking, original stories, end up in this situation?

Disney Hasn’t Created Any Original Franchises In Years

Creating a new franchise is a big gamble. It’s uncertain whether people will like it, if it will be profitable, or if marketing can generate enough interest. It requires a lot of money, effort, and carries significant risk. That’s why Disney has generally preferred to play it safe. For example, films like Tomorrowland, John Carter, and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice all tried to launch new franchises – Tomorrowland aimed for a sci-fi universe, John Carter hoped to become a saga like Star Wars or Avatar, and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice envisioned a larger fantasy world – but ultimately weren’t successful.

When Bob Iger led Disney, the main focus was on acquiring successful franchises like Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox and then profiting from them. It’s logical to invest in established universes with built-in fan bases, like those behind Toy Story, Cars, Monsters, Inc., The Incredibles, and the worlds of superheroes and Jedi. Because of this approach, creating entirely original content became rare. This isn’t simply a financial decision; it reveals Disney’s current philosophy regarding creativity.

The result of this approach is noticeable to anyone who follows movies and pop culture. While it keeps profits up, the spark of originality and surprise that once defined Disney is fading. Films like Moana and Zootopia demonstrate what Disney can achieve when it’s at its best, but they also show how unusual truly innovative movies have become. We hear about these projects for months, sometimes years, before they’re released, and it’s disappointing. Disney, a studio that once led the way in family entertainment and built successful franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean, now seems more focused on revisiting existing ideas than creating new ones.

What will people remember most about Disney in ten or twenty years? What will truly become iconic?

How Disney Got So Lost in Innovation

It’s ironic, but the studio’s reliance on proven formulas actually makes sense – it’s what delivers results. When original movies or new franchises don’t perform well, it’s tempting to stick with what’s safe, but that comes at the cost of creativity. If Disney wants to recapture its former glory, it needs to start taking chances again. This isn’t just about funding big-budget films; it’s about investing in genuinely new stories and well-developed characters – something many original projects currently lack. Pixar has shown us that fresh ideas can succeed, as films like Inside Out and Coco demonstrate.

The company’s recent growth – through big acquisitions, mergers, and the launch of Disney+ – may be part of the issue. Now, there’s a lot of demand from streaming, merchandise, and movie theaters, which is leading to a cautious approach where leaders tend to avoid taking chances. While this might work in the short run, it could be disastrous for the future. The question is, how can the company break this cycle?

Fixing Disney’s current challenges isn’t easy, but it’s possible. The key is finding a better balance between creating safe, reliable content and taking creative risks. To do this, Disney should create separate teams specifically for developing new and original stories, perhaps even operating more independently. This would allow ideas to be explored without needing an immediate promise of profit. It means trying out different types of stories, writing scripts that are more daring and appeal to younger audiences, and, most importantly, giving opportunities to stories that aren’t just predictable, family-friendly successes.

It’s obvious the studio is trying to stay relevant with current trends and what audiences want, but they frequently miss the mark. This leads to new movies attempting to appeal to younger viewers or prove Disney is current, yet they often lose the special qualities that define the brand. Encanto succeeded because it balanced these elements, but other films that try to be modern just don’t seem to connect with viewers.

The studio often struggles to find its footing, attempting to capture the classic Disney magic while also appealing to modern audiences. Finding the right balance between honoring tradition and embracing new ideas is a real tightrope walk. Ultimately, success requires careful planning, a willingness to take chances, and unwavering dedication, because truly original work is what establishes a studio as a leader in the industry.

As a longtime Disney fan, I’m starting to worry about where things are headed. It feels like the magic that defined Disney for so many of us – that special feeling you got from their movies – is fading. Honestly, I fear future generations won’t quite get what made Disney so special, and we’re seeing the beginning of a real break from tradition. It’s a sad thought, but that’s how I see it right now.

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2026-03-12 00:13