A mostly forgottenJohn Cenamovie has charged up the globalNetflixchart – one in which he voices an animated bull. One of the last movies produced by Blue Sky Studios, which was best known as the production company behind theIce Agefranchise,Ferdinandwas a flop domestically on its release in 2017, and now it is getting a new life on the streaming platform.
Ferdinandis based on the 1936 children’s bookThe Story of Ferdinand, which was previously adapted by Disney as a short animated movie in 1938, and tells the story of a peaceful bull who is unwittingly thrown into the world of matadors and bullfighting. Despite his pacifist ways, Ferdinand ends up facing off against the world’s greatest bullfighter in a fight that will make him question his own beliefs.
The movie features an ensemble cast, with Cena being joined by Kate McKinnon, Bobby Cannavale, David Tennant, Peyton Manning, and Anthony Anderson. It also brings the usual high-quality animation that Blue Sky made their hallmarkbefore they were shut down in 2021following Disney’s merger with Fox. The film’s release met with favorable reviews from both critics and audiences, but it struggled to find an audience in the U.S. However, internationally, the film was enough of a hit to end its run with a worldwide gross of $296 million against its $111 million budget. The film also became the last Blue Sky Studio release to earn nominations at both the Academy Awards and Golden Globes.
Ferdinand is Challenging SpongeBob for Netflix Supremacy
Unsurprisingly, the summer vacation period has upended the usual suspects in the global Netflix chart. While the likes of Tom Cruise’s Jack Reacher movies are doing well domestically, the international markets have seen a huge number of animated movies jumping into the Top 10 as parents look to pacify their weary children with something bright and colorful.
Currently,the new offering from the world of SpongeBob SquarePants,Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movieis narrowly leading the chart, withFerdinandin second place. Other animated offerings appearing on the chart are the 2022 Sam Rockwell and Awkwafina-starringThe Bad Guys, andMinions: The Rise of Gru, which has seen a surge in popularity since the arrival ofDespicable Me 4in cinemas last month. Both of these movies were huge crowd-pleasers when they were released in theaters, even ifThe Bad Guysdid not fare too well in ticket returns. Thanks to the unquestionable power of Netflix, it seems that all of these movies are getting a chance to shine.
What Blue Sky Studios Was and Why it Shut Down
Studios come and go, but the artistry that Blue Sky Studios had isn’t found every day. What was the studio and why did it shut down?
The top two movies have quite a lead over any others being watched by viewers around the world, and it seems that the SpongeBob movie is going to hold onto its position at the top of the global chart for a while yet. However, the biggest draw on Netflix right now isthe new seriesA Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, which starsWednesday’s Emma Myers and has been the streamer’s most viewed show around the world since its release on August 2.
