‘Pocahontas’ Is No ‘Lion King’

Barely edging “Batman Forever” from the No. 1 spot among the week’s top money grossers, Disney’s new animated feature “Pocahontas” still managed to disappoint some industry observers.

According to figures compiled by Exhibitor Relation Co., “Pocahontas,” despite earning $29.5 million, came nowhere near to matching the opening of Disney’s last animated blockbuster, “The Lion King,” which recorded a $40.9 million take just last year.

And it barely outearned the third installment in the “Batman” series, which grossed a reported $29.2 million in its second week.

Though predicted to eventually earn some $200 million, “Pocahontas” is receiving mixed reviews. And it has drawn critical fire from some Native American groups, which claim that it rewrites history and promotes sexual stereotypes.

One report even had Disney stock dropping by 4.2 percent.

Meanwhile, “Batman Forever” became the first movie of 1995 to surpass $100 million. Featuring a new cast, the batfeature has grossed $106.6 million in its first two weeks.

Surprisingly, three romance films continue to do strongly in the midst of an overwhelmingly action-oriented slate: “The Bridges of Madison County” (No. 4, $6.2 million), “Forget Paris” (No. 9, $1.8 million) and “While You Were Sleeping” (No. 10, $70.8 million).

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo