Nick Jonas opened up about being disappointed when his band’s 3-D concert film failed to achieve the box office success of his ex-girlfriend’s film released the same year.On a recent episode of Hey Jonas, the Jonas Brothers’ podcast, John Lloyd Taylor, the band’s former lead guitarist, spoke of a pivotal “defining moment” in his friendship with Nick. Taylor recalled that Nick was visibly down about something, and when asked to elaborate, Nick clarified what had left him disappointed.
Nick Jonas admits he struggled with the comparisons after the Jonas Brothers’ 3D concert film underperformed Miley Cyrus’ 2009 film. Image Credit (Instagram)
“The 3D movie didn’t do well,” Nick revealed, referring to ‘Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience,’ released in February 2009. “The 3D movie didn’t do well, even though I think it made $25 million. It didn’t do very well,” he added.
Nick Jonas’ 3D Concert Movie Box Office Disappointment Compared to Miley Cyrus’ Movie
Taylor noted that the disappointment was compounded because they “juxtaposed it with another film released the same year”, calling it a “joy stealer”. The comparison that stung involved Miley Cyrus’ ‘Hannah Montana: The Movie’, released in April 2009, which grossed more than $150 million at the box office.
Nick Jonas reflects on how comparisons to ex-girlfriend Miley Cyrus’ hit film affected him after the Jonas Brothers concert film premiered. Image Credit (Instagram)
“We were comparing it to Miley’s movie, and it was like Miley’s movie was bigger. And if somebody was better, then we weren’t the best. And that’s a disaster in the way we were wired at the time,” Nick explained, reflecting on his competitive mindset at the time. According to Entertainment Weekly, Cyrus and Nick dated from mid-2006 to late 2007, long before their movies competed at the box office.
How Nick Jonas processed the disappointment
Instead of dwelling on the loss, Nick found an unconventional outlet for his frustration. Taylor recalled visiting the house where Nick was staying and discovering that “he had a battery installed in the laundry room.” The two spent three and a half hours playing what Taylor described as “hard-ass rock and roll.”
Nick Jonas reflects on the competitive atmosphere of his early career and the disappointment of seeing the Miley Cyrus film beat out the Jonas Brothers premiere. Image Credit (Instagram)
“It was amazing,” Nick interjected, with Taylor concluding, “We went in and pushed hard and played through the pain. So that was it.”
Details of the two films
According to the outlet, “Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience” showed footage of Nick, Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas‘2008 Burnin’ Up concert tour, along with behind-the-scenes footage as the brothers toured North America. ‘Hannah Montana: The Movie’ brought the beloved pop star to the big screen in a feature film that saw Hannah’s alter ego, Miley Stewart, return to her Tennessee roots and gain perspective on life.The $25 million vs. $150 million box office disparity represented a major gap that clearly resonated with the brothers at the time. The podcast appearance, featuring Taylor alongside Jack Lawless and Greg Garbowsky alongside Nick, Joe and Kevin, offered a rare glimpse into how the competitive pressures of her youth shaped her approach to setbacks in the entertainment industry.