DreamWorks' Biggest Fantasy Release Before 'Shrek 5' Officially Makes a Splash at the Box Office

Forgotten Island has hit theaters, and audiences love it. Since its release, the latest DreamWorks animated feature has earned a 95% Certified Fresh Critics Score and a 95% Verified Hot Audience Score. But despite demand from moviegoers for original storytelling, its box office performance said otherwise.

Forgotten Island follows Jo (H.E.R.) and Raissa (Liza Soberano), who are sent to the mysterious Forgotten Island, where various mythological creatures thrive, and any mortal's memories are at risk of being, well, forgotten. Both girls must find their way back home before the island's most dangerous beings, the Dreaded Manananggal, catch them. This film features a large voice cast from those with a Filipino background, including Manny Jacinto (The Good Place), Lea Salonga, Dolly De Leon (Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender), and Jo Koy (Easter Sunday), along with other notable names like Dave Franco (Hoppers), Ronny Chieng (M3GAN), and Jenny Slate (Adventure Time).

It was reported that Forgotten Island has earned $20.6 million worldwide after its opening weekend in North America, with $12.8 million coming from its domestic box office. Forgotten Island also opened early in some countries, including Australia, and had an advance screening in the Philippines before its global release date. These latest box office numbers show that Forgotten Island has earned less than its reported $80 million budget and recorded one of the lowest DreamWorks films, despite its high praise. One possible reason for its low box office numbers was that its release date coincided with Avengers: Endgame: Encore, which reportedly earned around $86 million worldwide, along with other features like Resident Evil, and in some regions, Coyote vs. ACME.

Did 'Forgotten Island' Captivate Its Target Audience?

According to critics, one of the things that made Forgotten Island appealing was its showcase of Filipino culture and mythology. It celebrated Philippine culture while sharing a "memorable" original story about friendship. While Forgotten Island's opening box office numbers aren't as huge, it's not all bad news, though, as the feature appealed to its target audience.

Philippine news outlet ABS-CBN reported that Forgotten Island broke a box office record, earning around ₱97.2 million (~$1.5 million USD) during its opening weekend, making it the "Biggest opening for a DreamWorks Animation film of all time in the country." It also became "the biggest opening weekend for a non-franchise animated film in the Philippines." Philippine critics also praised the feature for its depiction of the Philippines and how it was a "love letter" to the culture.