Paramount’s Late Entry: Angry Birds 3, A Sequel Nobody Asked For?

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Originally a hugely successful mobile game series, it later transformed into a sequence of Paramount animated films. The latest installment was released towards the end of the 2010s, and since then, the brand has been perceived as an artifact of that era. However, surprisingly, a new film is now being developed, which appears quite unexpected given the circumstances.

It’s worth noting that Paramount is indeed planning to release a third Angry Birds movie, marking a significant gap since the first two installments. While this could signal a growing fascination with video game adaptations on the big screen, the notion seems somewhat ambiguous. To be frank, the window of opportunity for another Angry Birds film appears to have closed some time ago, and it’s questionable whether this decision aligns with current trends in Hollywood cinema.

Angry Birds 3 Is Coming Out Far Too Late

In the year 2009, the triumph of the Finnish game “Angry Birds” catapulted mobile gaming to unprecedented levels of popularity. This achievement paved the way for various spin-offs and merchandise, ranging from toys and collectibles to collaborations with other franchises. Comics by Marvel, Star Wars, and many others featured Angry Birds crossovers, demonstrating just how widespread its influence had become.

Indeed, by 2015 when Angry Birds 2 was launched, people began to feel overwhelmed with the branding associated with it. However, there wasn’t a rich storyline or anything significant driving this expansion. It was essentially a mobile game that expanded into a multimedia children’s franchise, but even young kids only saw it as an adorable thing and didn’t form any strong emotional connection to it, mainly because it lacked distinct symbolism beyond the game designs.

As “The Angry Birds Movie” premiered in 2016, it signaled the start of the franchise’s fade from popular culture. The sequel, “The Angry Birds Movie 2,” earned approximately $150 million USD on a budget of $65 million USD, which was significantly less than the initial movie’s earnings. This underperformance occurred despite the film receiving more favorable reviews than the first one, highlighting the decline in the brand’s standing. It seems that by then, audiences had outgrown “Angry Birds,” possibly explaining why the 2024 animated release, “Angry Birds: Mystery Island” (released five years after the last film), was largely overlooked.

Over time, the abundance of spin-offs and economically-driven games/merchandise associated with this franchise initially brought success, but eventually led many people to feel overwhelmed and even view it as low-quality filler content. Now, there’s news of a third Angry Birds movie set for release in 2027 – a significant delay since the first film (released over a decade ago) and the second (eight years back). Given this extended time gap and the franchise’s lack of recent popularity, generating excitement or maintaining momentum for a new installment is challenging.

Are Moviegoers and Gamers Even Nostalgic for Angry Birds?

The primary challenge in launching a new Angry Birds film in 2027 is finding the right timing. The franchise is not yet old enough to evoke genuine nostalgia, but it’s also become somewhat outdated for a brand-new movie. It’s difficult to imagine significant emotional attachment to the brand among today’s audience, despite the fact that many who first played the game are now adults with families of their own. One might expect that there would be some nostalgia associated with it, given this demographic.

While shows like those from the ’90s and ’00s animated franchises such as Shrek hold a special place in people’s hearts due to their strong nostalgia, particularly for those who were kids when they were first released, Angry Birds lacked this cultural impact. This is why it didn’t establish a lasting footing compared to the classics that continue to captivate audiences today and spark excitement about upcoming sequels or new versions, like the upcoming release of .

The Angry Birds game thrived as a low-cost, casual mobile game that drew many players. Unlike other popular franchises, it didn’t rely on character recognition or rich lore to attract fans. Instead, the success of Marvel’s Infinity Saga was built on audiences connecting emotionally with the characters and the unfolding tale of the Infinity Stones, which intensified with each new movie release.

This resembles the fan bases associated with superheroes and comic book series from Marvel and DC, as well as franchises like Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Wars, Star Trek, The Lord of the Rings, among others. Notably, the most enduring and timeless brands often undergo reinventions approximately every ten years, each new generation having its own unique take on these properties.

Unlike games like Super Mario Bros., Angry Birds doesn’t have a rich, iconic lore or compelling narrative hook because it isn’t a story-driven franchise. Compare it to Super Mario Bros., which has influenced popular culture for decades, but even Mario has had new releases on every Nintendo console since its debut, providing each generation with their own starting point into these franchises.

Angry Birds was merely a fun diversion for pastime, even for dedicated gamers. Since its primary purpose was to fill this void, overusing such a concept inevitably led to a premature end. As it didn’t offer anything substantial to hold onto as a fan at launch, there’s even less room for nostalgia when considering the brand. Regrettably, it appears that Paramount may be underestimating a recent trend in Hollywood, believing that this trend will propel the animated film into success.

Hollywood’s Confidence In Video Game Movies May Be Undeserved

In recent times, it appears that video game adaptations have been exceptionally profitable. In the 2020s, we’ve seen video game movies and series achieve considerable success, with many of these adaptations more true to the original source material compared to those in past decades. Remarkably, some of these recent hits have originated from Paramount, who managed to transform an initially disliked visual direction for a franchise, turning it into a box-office success with three installments so far, and a fourth on the horizon, along with a streaming TV series spinoff.

Indeed, it’s worth noting that the three films centered around Sega’s Sonic character, often referred to as the “Blue Blur,” have had modest financial success compared to other video game movie blockbusters. For instance, the 2023 animated adaptation of Super Mario Bros. and other successful titles have overshadowed them in terms of earnings. This has led some analysts to suggest that this could be a new trend in Hollywood, given the decline in popularity of superhero movies. However, it’s important to consider the unique histories and fanbases of these franchises before jumping to conclusions. Similarly, if The Angry Birds Movie 3 aims to cash in on this trend, the brand and Paramount might be in for an unexpected challenge.

Each significant period of superhero movie history has been ignited by a blockbuster superhero film that continues to be admired by audiences. The 2000s marked the beginning with releases like X-Men, followed by a temporary dip in quality due to subpar sequels. However, by the end of the decade, the genre experienced a resurgence with films such as Iron Man and Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Despite current waning interest, many enthusiasts are optimistic that these new DC Universe offerings will steer both the franchise and the genre back on course.

In contrast to many video game movies today, this one aims to break new ground. For example, while films like “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” and the latest “A Minecraft Movie” have been financially successful, they’ve received mixed reviews, with the latter receiving more negative feedback. The “Sonic” movies, despite slightly better reviews, haven’t managed to surpass $500 million USD at the box office, a mark that true classics often reach. Even these films are not generally considered as beloved by fans and critics alike, with most viewing them as enjoyable but far from groundbreaking. This assessment also holds for the financially successful “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” which was poorly received by many critics.

It’s important to mention that the franchises under discussion might spell further trouble for the upcoming third Angry Birds movie. Franchises like Sonic, Mario, Minecraft, and Five Nights at Freddy’s have either been around for decades or still enjoy a massive fanbase. Notably, Minecraft and Mario are among the most successful video game franchises ever created and continue to thrive today. This makes it difficult to envision scenarios where their films would bomb. In contrast, Angry Birds has not been significant for quite some time, and even during its heyday, it couldn’t compare to these other powerhouse brands.

The success of upcoming movies based on video games might not guarantee box office wins for Paramount, especially if the film’s quality isn’t up to par. For instance, the poorly received Borderlands (2024) and potential flop Until Dawn (2025) have been met with criticism from both critics and fans, indicating that video game adaptations are not a guaranteed hit at this time. Consequently, this may not boost the prospects of the upcoming movie Angry Birds 3, as it too might be released too late in the series.

The Angry Birds Movie 3 hits theaters on January 29, 2027.

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2025-04-28 02:51