Summary
Pixar saw massive success withFinding Nemoand its $1 billion sequel, butthe studio’s plan forFinding Nemo 3already has me worried. At the beginning of June 2024,Pixar revealed its intentions to focusmore on existing IP in an interview withBloomberg. Citing disappointing returns from movies likeTurning RedandLuca,Pixar’s new direction hopes to capitalize on proven successes by ensuring every other project is a sequel or spinoff. Movie franchises the studio hinted it could revive includeFinding NemoandThe Incredibles.
BothFinding NemoandThe Incredibleshave already seen success with sequels, so it’s surprising Pixar hasn’t already attempted to expand these franchises.The Incrediblles 2grossed a whopping $1.2 billion (viaBox Office Mojo), andFinding Doryalso passed the $1 billion mark (viaBox Office Mojo). With those numbers in mind, Pixarshouldbenefit from releasing more follow-ups. However,I can’t shake the feeling thatFinding Nemo 3is a huge risk for the Disney-owned studio.
The Highest-Grossing Pixar Movies Of All Time
The highest-grossing Pixar movies include Toy Story and Inside Out, but which movie from the studio comes out on top?
Finding Dory Was Good, But A Step Down From Finding Nemo
Finding Nemo 3 Can’t Afford To Continue A Downward Trajectory
Finding Dorymay have made slightly more thanFinding Nemo’s $941 million while it was in theaters (viaBox Office Mojo), butI’m not the only one who felt it was a step down from the original 2003 film. The first movie was a phenomenon when it first debuted, and its 99%Rotten Tomatoesscore is a testament to its popularity.Finding Nemowas masterfully crafted and unlike anything Pixar had put out before. Marlin’s quest to find his son was equal parts emotional and fun, and viewers can still recall thebestFinding Nemoquotestoday.
AlthoughFinding Doryalso holds a highRotten Tomatoesscore — 94% to be exact — it made significantly less of a splash. Pixar waited too long to release its 2016 follow-up, and I think that hurt its overall impact. Of course, it doesn’t help that Dory’s journey feels repetitive at times. I loved following Dory’s character, and the sequel had its strengths. Unfortunately, it just couldn’t live up to the original. And its inability to do so doesn’t bode well forFinding Nemo 3.GivenPixar’s recent box office woes,Finding Nemo 3can’t afford to continue this downward trajectory.
Do We Really Need Another Finding Nemo Movie?
Pixar Doesn’t Have A Ton Of Existing Storylines To Work With
AlthoughFinding Nemo 3can’t afford to flop, the fact that another sequel isn’t necessary makes this a possible outcome. When it comes to sequels and spinoffs, studios should always question whether another project is needed. In the case ofFinding Nemo,it really doesn’t feel like it. Nemo and Marlin’s journey came to a satisfying conclusion, and Dory already got her moment in the spotlight.I can’t think of any other character who’d make a truly compelling protagonistinFinding Nemo 3.Sure, there are a few great supporting players — but whether they’d attract a wide audience is questionable.
AlthoughFinding Nemo 3can’t afford to flop, the fact that another sequel isn’t necessary makes this a possible outcome.
Dory is one of the few supporting characters fromFinding Nemowho could bring mass appeal to a sequel. And given that Dory’s movie still didn’t live up to the original, another follow-up feels like asking for trouble. There’s also the question of how much more Pixar can get out ofFinding Nemo’sconcept. There are only so many ways to tell and expand on the story. I supposePixar could always go the reboot route with theFinding Nemofranchise. Unfortunately, that would be even worse than creating repetitive or gratuitous sequels.
A Finding Nemo Reboot Sounds Even Worse Than A Sequel
It Wouldn’t Recapture The Magic Of Pixar’s Original
Since Pixar doesn’t clarify whether it’s planning sequels or reboots forFinding NemoandThe Incredibles,it’s possibleFinding Nemo 3could actually be the latter. This would probably get more flack though, especially given how beloved — and recent — the original movie was. Hollywood’s insistence on rebooting properties that are only a couple of decades old is something moviegoers have criticized in recent years. There’s little room to improve onFinding Nemo,so a reboot would probably earn a similar reaction.
It would also be incredibly difficult to replaceFinding Nemo’s voice cast or recapture the fortunate circumstances of the original’s release.Finding Nemowas immensely popular because of how unique it was. I don’t think Pixar will be able to impress people as easily by rebooting it. Some fans will just watch the original rather than go to theaters. Others will compare it to the 2003 film, and it won’t come out on top. ForFinding Nemo 3’s sake, I hope it’s a sequel or spinoff of some sort. Even then, Pixar faces an uphill battle selling it to an audience.
Finding Nemo
Cast
Finding Nemo is an animated feature from Pixar and Disney, released in 2003, that follows Marlin, an apprehensive clownfish, on a journey across the ocean to rescue his son, Nemo, accompanied by Dory, a memory-challenged fish. Their adventure introduces an array of marine life, from sea turtles to sharks.
