Wish 2023

Movie · 95 min · English · November 8, 2023

Children's animated Children's fantasy Musical fantasy

Directed by Chris Buck, Fawn VeerasunthornWritten by Jennifer Lee, Allison Moore

Starring Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, Angelique Cabral, Victor Garber

Wish is a 2023 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. It was directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn and written by Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore, with voices provided by Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, Angelique Cabral, Victor Garber, and Natasha Rothwell. The plot centers on a 17-year-old girl named Asha (DeBose) who resides in the kingdom of Rosas. During a time of desperation, she makes a heartfelt wish to the stars. Her plea brings forth a magical fallen star, who becomes her companion as they confront the kingdom’s cunning ruler, the sorcerer Magnifico (Pine).

Work on Wish started in 2018 but remained hidden from public view until January 2022, when it was disclosed that Lee was developing an original film for Disney Animation. The project officially debuted in September 2022 with the title revealed along with casting details including DeBose and Tudyk. That same month, Buck and Veerasunthorn—former collaborators of Lee on Frozen (2013) and Frozen II (2019)—were confirmed as directors. Moore was later brought in to help with the screenplay alongside Lee. Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice composed the songs, while Dave Metzger orchestrated the soundtrack. The film draws inspiration from Disney’s centennial celebration and connects to a recurring theme in Disney works: the fulfillment of wishes. It also serves as the origin story for the “wishing star.” Its visual style merges computer animation with traditional animation aesthetics.

The premiere took place at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on November 8, 2023, followed by its theatrical release in the United States on November 22. Critics offered a mixed reception, and the film earned approximately $255 million globally against a production budget ranging from $175 to 200 million. Industry analysts labeled it a box-office failure, leading to an estimated $131 million loss for Disney after factoring in revenue from streaming and home media. On Disney+, it ranked as the third most-watched film premiere from Walt Disney Animation Studios. Additionally, Wish received multiple award nominations, including one for the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film.