The New York Times has a story by Brook Barnes discussing the success Alan Horn, Chairman of the Walt Disney Studios, has had since taking over the troubled division in 2012 following the failed tenure of Rich Ross.
Mr. Horn in 2012 became chairman of Walt Disney Studios, which he has helped turn into Hollywood’s most formidable movie operation, at least in the eyes of Wall Street. At a time when investors dismiss most film companies as footnotes, Mr. Horn’s studio, which includes Marvel, Pixar and Lucasfilm, on Thursday reported a record $1.55 billion in profit for its last fiscal year, up from $661 million in 2013.
Over the weekend, “Big Hero 6,” Disney’s animated follow-up to “Frozen,” was No. 1 at the domestic box office, taking in $56.2 million to rout the space epic “Interstellar.” “Maleficent,” starring Angelina Jolie, was the No. 1 nonsuperhero movie of the summer, taking in $757.6 million worldwide. “Guardians of the Galaxy,” a Marvel film, ranks as the year’s No. 1 movie over all, with global ticket sales of $768 million.
Moreover, Disney’s pipeline is overflowing with potential blockbusters. Disney will release 21 big-budget movies in the next three years; it released 13 in the last three.