In the world of Hollywood, the saying “Go woke, go broke” seems to be ringing true louder than ever. Recently, Disney and other major studios have been learning this lesson the hard way. The talk of the town these days often revolves around movies that have tanked at the box office, and it seems activism is a shared suspect in these cinematic flops.

Take for instance Disney’s new live-action rendition of Snow White. This iconic fairy tale, which once upon a time was a goldmine for Disney, took a nosedive. Cast in the leading role was a Guatemalan actress who’s been quite vocal about her political views. It turns out, audiences aren’t thrilled about being lectured, especially when they’re trying to escape into a magical world of dwarves and singing forest animals. While her comments, which criticized the original storyline, were controversial, the movie’s performance at the box office reflects this, with dismal numbers leaving many scratching their heads at the decision-making up in those executive suites.

The overarching theme seems to be a clash between what Hollywood thinks audiences want and what they actually do. While it’s great for actors and producers to have freedom of expression, it seems incorporating too much of this into films might alienate ticket-buying folks. Studios might need to take a step back and rethink whether the message is overshadowing the movie magic.

As these cinematic ships continue to sink, perhaps the stars at the center could take a page from Cruise Control, otherwise known as Mr. Tom Cruise. While promoting “Mission Impossible,” he dodged political questions like a true action hero, focusing solely on the film. Maybe that’s the secret sauce Hollywood needs—a return to entertainment pure and simple, without the guilt trip package.