Paddington Bway Transfer Possible? — Page 2

inception said: "It could take a very long time to recoup in North America. Last year's film Paddington in Perus did very well in the UK but only grossed $45.8 million in North America. It dropped out if thectop ten at the American box office in its sixth week according to Wikipedia.

Disney should just steal the puppet tech & do a Winnie the Pooh show."

To be fair, it had a very bizarre release schedule, premiering in the States three months after its release in the UK with very little fanfare. I remember seeing all the press coverage when it opened in the UK and then continually wondering about its US release until it came and went with, what felt to me, barely (bearly?) any promotion.


Update: it actually looks like Paddington in Peru made more than Paddington 2 in the US, proving everyone’s point that it’s just not a super popular property here.

Updated On: 12/1/25 at 10:49 AM

If anything it should have a short run on Broadway to see if it has a positive reception there, with extensions built in if it gets good reviews

Kad said: "It may not be as beloved an IP here, but I do think the feat and spectacle of the bear itself could be a major draw. And unlike other examples, it’s something that can leave the theater and go onto talk shows and social media and events and become its own selling point and spokesbear. It’s essentially star casting without a star."

I agree. I think the hype, plus the show would sell it very well and it would be an instant family staple.

I hope this transfers.

I think people are craving a well produced, directed, and written feel good show.

I had the opportunity to see this show. It was truly a magical show, I felt like the writing of the songs was so fresh and the songs kept the plot going unlike a lot of musicals lately where they’re just throwing in a song for throwing a song in if that makes sense.


Every single character was well developed. All the actors were incredible. Great costumes and sets! It had just a great message and it’s been a long time that I was actually that surprised on how much I love a show.

I truly felt like it was an uplifting experience of the theater that have not felt in a long time, I was impressed from start to finish, and it wasn’t just about the bear costume. I know that sounds strange, but after a moment, you really forget, it’s just a person in a costume because the story was so well developed. It just felt very natural.

I hope it comes to New York, but I agree I don’t think they’re going to rush.

Guys it is going to happen, Sonia Friedman doesn’t do small scale.

Can you imagine a billboard with Paddington on it, with the caption ‘Paddington arrives on Broadway’ or ‘Paddington lands in New York’ or ‘New York Please take Care of this Bear’ or Tom Fletcher with Paddington on the Stephen Colbert show. There was no buzz about Paddington until the first performance and Paddington as the character with a reporter on the news, then it went mental.

Finally on the downside and that is the shrinking media coverage in Journalism, the days are gone that Ben Brantley went to London and reviewed, those op-eds sealed the deal for Billy Elliot, Matilda and Groundhog Day.

Updated On: 12/8/25 at 07:53 PM

I know "who" Paddington is. I have never seen the movies or anything associated with the character, however, that performance on "Strictly..." got me, and if I have the chance, I will see the musical.

Updated On: 12/9/25 at 12:12 AM

Sonia Friedman is nothing if not a *smart* producer. She’s smart enough and has complained enough about the costs to open a show this big on NYC to say there’s a 80/20 chance she keeps this on London. Paddington is a distinctly British IP and it would be a massive risk on Broadway.

After Cursed Child floundering pre-pandemic when it was 2 parts at risk of not recouping and Stranger Things losing hundreds of thousands of dollars week in and week out, I’d put my money on this staying in London.

The first film is wonderful. The second film is perfect and the third film is less so, but still great. I can’t wait for the fourth one in a couple years.

I’m not going to say one way or another how this would do in the states. I could say (having seen it) it’s extremely British and written to be an ode to London with MANY references to cockney rhyming and things specific to London/Britain. And I know how this conversation goes - “Well they can just change those few things/people can look it up/it’s not a big deal/etc etc” so I’m not even going to try to go into my thoughts on how it would do stateside.

But no, Paddington is nowhere near as popular in the states as it is in the UK.

And the musical is absolutely wonderful.

I think the show is good enough to stand on its own. Word of mouth is so strong, it will come over with some Oliviers and the IP is enough to have some awareness already. The question will be how much it costs to run and is it Harry Potter or Stranger Things? Can it make money here? Good for them for creating something so universally loved by critics and audiences.

Jordan Catalano said: "Paddington isn’t a cultural phenomenon in America like it is in the UK. It would be very interesting to see how something like this fares in America."

Okay but was Roald Dahl and Matilda a cultural phenomenon, I don’t remember it at high school?

Timon3 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "Paddington isn’t a cultural phenomenon in America like it is in the UK. It would be very interesting to see how something like this fares in America."

Okay but was Roald Dahl and Matilda a cultural phenomenon, I don’t remember it at high school?"

I feel like... everyone grew up with Roald Dahl books? And the movies adapted from them? How old are you?

Fireplace said: "Paddington won’t do well on Broadway. Nobody knows or cares about him."

Well, Flash, if you say it, it must be true!!!!!!!!!!!!