Tom Holland and Will Smith's animated spy comedy, Spies in Disguise, was a missed opportunity for a potential franchise. Despite positive reviews and a strong cast, the film underperformed at the box office, earning just $171.6 million on a $100 million budget. This underperformance, coupled with the Disney-Fox acquisition and the subsequent closure of Blue Sky Studios, meant that the film's sequel dreams were dashed. The pairing of Holland and Smith was an inspired choice, with their chemistry and comic timing delivering expressive and complimentary performances. However, the film's box office performance was less than encouraging, making it another stalled franchise for Holland, who has struggled for hits outside of his Marvel Cinematic Universe projects. The film's positive reviews and 76% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes suggest that it had the potential to be a success, but the box office results tell a different story. The underperformance of Spies in Disguise highlights the challenges of launching a new franchise in the highly competitive animation industry, where even a strong cast and positive reviews may not guarantee success. The film's legacy is a reminder of the importance of strong box office performance in the animation industry, and the potential consequences of underperforming at the box office.
