Disney’s latest family film, “Haunted Mansion,” has hit theaters, and the early reviews are less than enthusiastic.

The PG-13-rated fantasy/comedy, based on the Disney theme park attraction, is struggling to impress audiences and critics alike.

As of Thursday morning, the movie holds a disheartening 44 percent positive rating on the movie review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, in stark contrast to other successful recent releases.

Unfortunately, the film’s challenges extend beyond reviews.

The movie’s star-studded cast, including LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Jamie Lee Curtis, Chase Dillon, Daniel Levy, and Jared Leto, was absent from the Disneyland premiere due to their participation in the SAG-AFTRA strike.

The absence of prominent actors left the event with influencers and cosplayers in attendance, a stark contrast to the glamour and star power that audiences were expecting.

The Los Angeles Times reported that some attendees at the premiere dressed in period-specific garb, resembling characters from the attraction, “Haunted Mansion.”

However, the absence of key cast members was a significant disappointment for fans and critics alike.

Reviews for the film have been less than kind, with critics pointing out its lackluster execution and failure to capture the magic of the Disney attraction.

While some have given faint praise, such as Entertainment Weekly’s Maureen Lee Lenker, who described it as “an enjoyable, if somewhat sedate experience,” most reviews have been quite scathing.

Lindsey Bahr of The Associated Press observed, “What should have been a lighthearted, entertaining romp is instead a rather dreary, unfunny, two-hour dud.”

Similarly, Jeanne Kaplan at Kaplan vs. Kaplan wrote, “Resembling a kids’-birthday-party remake of 1973’s ‘The Legend Of Hell House,’ this suffers from being not that funny or spooky.”

Despite this version being an improvement over the 2003 Eddie Murphy attempt, the film’s $157 million budget has raised eyebrows, especially considering the negative reception and the need for a minimum of $314 million to break even, accounting for distribution and promotion costs.

Box Office Pro estimates a lackluster opening of between $22 and $36 million domestically, with foreign receipts unlikely to provide a significant boost.

This disappointment adds to Disney’s list of recent failures, including Pixar’s “Elemental,” which experienced a record-low opening for Disney’s computer-animation division.

Disney’s streaming service, Disney+, has also faced challenges, losing subscribers and taking a $1.5 billion tax write-down by eliminating programming, including some prominent IPs, due to negative feedback on their perceived “wokeness.”

While there may be elements of “wokeness” present in “Haunted Mansion,” critics are primarily concerned with the film’s overall lackluster execution and lack of appeal.

Moreover, with strong competitors like “Barbenheimer,” “Mission: Impossible,” and “Sound of Freedom” in theaters, the film faces an uphill battle to attract audiences.

In conclusion, “Haunted Mansion” is a costly misstep for Disney, failing to impress audiences and struggling to justify its significant budget.

The film’s lack of magic and appeal raises questions about Disney’s current creative direction and its ability to connect with audiences in today’s competitive film landscape.

RELATED: Disney’s Biggest Nightmare: Red State Building $2 Billion Theme Park That Rivals Magic Kingdom