Despite making multiple lists for “failed Disney films,” Tomorrowland (2015) directed by Brad Bird, is a visually stunning, ambitious, and hopeful film that inspires young women into the STEM field, as well as calling a question that becomes more relevant everyday: How can we fix our planet?
Tomorrowland follows Frank Walker, an older fellow, reminiscing on his childhood at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. As a boy, he has been attempting to create a jetpack but hasn’t succeeded yet. He draws the attention of a young girl, named Athena, who, impressed with his potential, gives him a pin with a “T” symbol. Frank follows Athena onto the ride “It’s a Small World,” where his pin is scanned, and he is transported into the magical cityscape known as Tomorrowland. The story then shifts to the present, where a teenage girl named Casey Newton is caught sneaking onto a NASA launch site to sabotage machines. After she is arrested, she finds a pin in her belongings – placed there by Athena, who hasn’t aged a day. When Casey touches the pin, she gets a glimpse of Tomorrowland, a place full of life with new inventions around the corner. But she soon learns the real Tomorrowland has fallen into decay and was abandoned by a society that gave up on innovation. Casey and Frank eventually team up with Athena to stop a global catastrophe that will destroy Earth in 100 days. In the end, Athena sacrifices herself to help them succeed. Casey and Frank decide to rebuild Tomorrowland by seeking out new “Dreamers” – creative, hopeful people who believe in building a better future.
Anthony Lane, a film critic for The New Yorker, said that “although ‘Tomorrowland’ never runs out of objects or ideas, its supply of dramatic fuel soon springs a leak” (The New Yorker, 2015.) Other complaints about the film included the plot complexity for children, the pacing of the story, and the lack of depth the plot faced. Disney also lost around $140 million, making it a complete box office fail. Many assume this is why so many projects around Disney have become sequels and live actions; after taking this hit, they turned to things they knew would produce money, rather than a good story.
Regardless, I believe Tomorrowland to be one of the most exciting and adventurous tales Disney has put out in a long time. While some critics couldn’t decide whether this film was for adults or kids, I can proudly say I enjoyed it when I was 10 just as much as I have at 20. At 10, I wanted to be a Dreamer, I wanted them to come find me, invite me to Tomorrowland, and let me be as innovative as I could ever imagine. At 20, I want to make the world better, our future is still at risk because of the damage we are doing to it and my thoughts of being a Dreamer haven’t changed. Being a Dreamer is holding onto hope, even when the world feels broken, it’s believing that change is possible and that we can be a part of it. I would go so far as to say that film is a way to reflect the future I want to see, stories that are driven through hope and innovation. Becoming a Dreamer, seeking out others who want to make a change, is a way to inspire others to think as big as possible.
The world-building is an incredible takeaway, we learn about where Tomorrowland started and how it’s fallen completely away. Strong performances from George Clooney and Britt Robertson make the film. It takes a young, science-loving nerd to heroic status, it’s inspiring and creative and all I wanted was a little “T” pin that would transport me there with them.
Nostalgia makes this film; the fallen future being taken over by an optimistic one through love and hope makes a Disney film come full circle. The focus that my younger self had about dreaming big, becoming a Dreamer, and seeing the world become better heightens the emotion I have. The media focuses on a dystopian world, but what if we take things in a different direction? Where things aren’t cynical, where they are beautiful, and everyone has imagination.
As for this film, it’s more than just your average Disney film, it’s a thrilling look into two worlds that come together and attempt to restore faith in the future.
Author Biography
Alyssa Faylin Pope is a junior at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. She is double majoring in Film Studies and Communication Studies, with a minor in Digital Arts. Her passions lie in filmmaking, writing, and design. She currently plans to graduate in the spring of 2026.
