Nick Jonas opened up about being disappointed when his band’s 3-D concert movie failed to match 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 former lead guitarist of the band, discussed a pivotal “defining moment” in his friendship with Nick. Taylor recalled that Nick was visibly dejected over something, and when asked to explain, Nick clarified what had left him disappointed.
Nick Jonas admits he struggled with comparisons after the Jonas Brothers’ 3D concert film underperformed against Miley Cyrus’ 2009 movie.Image credit (Instagram)
“The 3-D movie didn’t do well,” Nick revealed, referring to ‘Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience’, released in February 2009. “The 3-D movie didn’t do well, even though I think it made $25 million. Didn’t do very well,” he added.
Nick Jonas’ 3D concert film box office disappointment compared to Miley Cyrus’ movie
Taylor noted that the disappointment was compounded because they “juxtaposed it with another movie released the same year,” calling it a “thief of joy.” The comparison that stung involved Miley Cyrus’ ‘Hannah Montana: The Movie’, released in April 2009, which grossed over $150 million at the box office.
Nick Jonas reflects on how comparisons with former girlfriend Miley Cyrus’ successful film affected him after the release of the Jonas Brothers’ concert movie.Image credit (Instagram)
“We were comparing it to Miley’s movie, and it was like Miley’s movie was bigger. And if somebody was one better, then we weren’t the best. And that’s a disaster in the way that we were wired at the time,” Nick explained, reflecting on their competitive mindset at the time. According to Entertainment Weekly, Cyrus and Nick had dated from mid-2006 until late 2007, long before their films would compete at the box office.
How Nick Jonas processed the disappointment
Rather than dwelling on the loss, Nick found an unconventional outlet for his frustration. Taylor recalled visiting the house where Nick was staying and discovering he “had a drum set set up in the laundry room.” The two spent three and a half hours playing what Taylor described as “loud ass rock and roll.”
Nick Jonas reflects on the competitive atmosphere of his early career and the disappointment of seeing Miley Cyrus’ film outperform the Jonas Brothers’ release.Image credit (Instagram)
“It was awesome,” Nick interjected, with Taylor concluding, “We dug in and we went hard and we played through the pain. So that was that.”
Details of both films
As per the outlet, ‘Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience’ showcased footage from Nick, Joe Jonas, and Kevin Jonas’ 2008 Burnin’ Up concert tour, along with behind-the-scenes material as the brothers toured North America. ‘Hannah Montana: The Movie’ brought the beloved pop star to the big screen in a feature-length film that saw Hannah’s alter ego Miley Stewart return to her Tennessee roots and gain perspective on life.The box office disparity of $25 million versus $150 million represented a significant gap that clearly resonated with the brothers at the time. The podcast appearance, featuring Taylor along with Jack Lawless and Greg Garbowsky alongside Nick, Joe, and Kevin, offered a rare glimpse into how the competitive pressures of their youth shaped their approach to setbacks in the entertainment industry.