Moviemaking is a risky business. While there are multiple ways of landing a successful movie—high-profile stars, sequels to a major franchise, or instating a famous director—there still are many films that perform underwhelmingly at the box office. Here’s a compilation of 20 such movies that had the perfect ingredients for a successful movie and still flopped at the theatres.
1. The Matrix Resurrections
Hopes were high that the reboot of the hit Matrix trilogy would bring ardent fans back. Yet, the decision to release a new movie after many years and a paper-thin plot led to The Matrix Resurrections being a bomb. Additionally, the decision to release the movie both on screens and streaming platforms, hampered the sales instead of bolstering it. The absence of Laurence Fishburne was the final nail in the coffin.
2. Joker: Folie à Deux
A heavily anticipated sequel to the blockbuster hit Joker, the movie Joker: Folie à Deux, was awaited with bated breath by its fans. But when the movie was released, it turned out to be a sore disappointment. Panned by critics and audiences alike, the Todd Philips directorial featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, could not reach the heights of its predecessor. The plot was deemed a mess and the musical aspect was also panned.
3. Blade Runner 2049
Even though Blade Runner 2049 has impressive visuals and deeper themes, it was a box-office failure. Critics even praised Ryan Gosling’s acting and versatility, but the assumption that long-standing fans of Blade Runner would be enough to tide the film over turned out to be incorrect. The movie is an important part of the sci-fi genre and it is hoped that much like its predecessor, its repute will grow in time.
4. Black Adam
Discussions about making a Black Adam film have been circulating since the early 2000s. And when the film was finally released in 2022 after a long wait, the movie failed. Dwayne Johnson gives a “rock-solid” (pun intended) performance, but his charm is lost due to the long waiting time of the film. The movie was not unique, even though it was hyped as a reimagining of the DCEU. By this time, the MCU had increased audiences’ expectations phenomenally.
5. Godzilla
In 1998, Godzilla was one of the most expensive projects that was based on the Japanese monster. Heralded by director Roland Emmerich, who had garnered rave reviews for the massive hit Independence Day, just two years earlier, it was believed that this movie would be a blockbuster. However, the opposite happened and the movie was disliked by both critics and audiences.
6. Babylon
One of the most expensive and grandest movies made, Babylon was a box office bomb. Director Damien Chazelle had received good reviews for La La Land, but there were a few reasons that led Babylon to not achieve the same level of success. First, the topic of the movie was about exploring Hollywood history and filmmaking, which didn’t interest audiences. Next, it was released around the time of Avatar: The Way of the Water, which had better marketing and hype.
7. Wonder Woman 1984
Wonder Woman 1984’s predecessor, Wonder Woman, was a huge hit. Therefore, DC lost no time to come out with a sequel. The film was also hotly anticipated. Yet, the poor timing of the film’s release during COVID-19, made fewer people go to the cinema. Plus, the movie had a weak plot and the coming back of Chris Pine’s character from the dead made it worse.
8. Ghostbusters: Answer the Call
The lack of an original plot is one of the biggest factors that make a film flop at the box office. And this was the prime reason that led to Ghostbusters: Answer the Call’s downfall. Even though the movie is a reboot of the successful Ghostbusters franchise and adds an inclusive all-women cast, it was the same story as the original, which disappointed the audiences.
9. The Last Airbender
With a combo of one of the most popular animated TV series and experienced director M. Night Shyamalan, the release of The Last Airbender was touted as a sure-shot success. And yet, the movie was a shocking disaster. Fans of the original TV series disliked Shyamalan’s interpretation and critics lashed the film for including white actors in roles that were portrayed as Asian in the cartoon show.
10. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Harrison Ford returned to the Indian Jones franchise in 2008 for The Crystal Skull. And even though the movie did not have positive reviews, it still earned a handsome amount. In 2023, Harrison’s final return to the franchise in The Dial of Destiny was hoped to bolster hype and make the movie a success. Instead, the movie failed to earn profits even though the reviews were better this time.
11. West Side Story
The original West Side Story from 1961 has earned its place as one of the most celebrated musicals in cinema. So, when Steven Spielberg decided to direct a reboot of the musical which is based on Romeo and Juliet and had a fantastic cast, people were excited for it to hit the screens. But when the movie was released, moviegoers did not enjoy the new version as much as they had the predecessor.
12. Steve Jobs
Director Aaron Sorkin had tasted success after The Social Network. This made it lucrative to explore the life of another tech founder in Steve Jobs. Even though Fassbender and Winslet’s performance was appreciated, the movie failed. A few reasons were the telling of a well-known story. People were aware of Jobs’ life and Apple’s origins, which failed to pique interest. Plus, people did not care about the backstory of a wealthy genius that exploits its employees.
13. The Mummy
Universal Studios decided to create a “Dark Universe” that included movies on its classic characters like The Mummy and Frankenstein. Therefore, as a reboot of the hit Mummy franchise, the 2017 The Mummy was made with grand plans and included Tom Cruise. Yet, the star-studded movie failed to capture audiences and critics. The movie was panned and Universal decided to cancel its “Dark Universe” plans entirely.
14. Jurassic World Dominion
Jurassic World Dominion is one of the few movies that earned a billion dollars and was still considered a flop! After the success of the previous two Jurassic Worlds, everyone hoped that as the only sequel to bring together Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, and Laura Dern, the movie would be a smashing success. However, the movie got harsh reviews for multiple aspects that slowed down the financial success that Universal Studios was hoping for.
15. The Flash
The Flash was immensely publicized prior to its release as the movie brought back Michael Keaton’s Batman after 30 years. The movie was also made on a huge budget and included multiple Flashes and even Ben Affleck’s Batman. With so much going on, it was predicted that the movie would be a treat for fans. But the movie turned out to be a flop and earned a dismal amount.
16. The Dark Tower
Starring Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba, and based on Stephen King’s popular book series, The Dark Tower was deemed to be a successful film. The movie had various failed attempts to start and when it finally hit the screens, people were less than impressed by director Nikolaj Arcel’s adaptation. The director’s unique approach of adapting and creating a sequel at the same time disappointed the fans.
17. Justice League
Even though DC’s Justice League is more popular than Marvel’s The Avengers in terms of comic history, the opposite is true in films. While movie lovers were being pampered by MCU’s hit movies, DC decided to bring together its superhero tribe in expectations of similar results. But the movie was tragically in the news for its negative side. Director Zack Snyder left midway and Joss Whedon’s end result of Justice League crashed the hype with its dismal performance.
18. John Carter
The John Carter book series suffered years of start-stop treatment as many filmmakers failed to adapt the books. So, when a proper John Carter adaptation was announced, fans were extremely excited. Helmed by Andrew Stanton, who directed Finding Nemo and WALL-E, it was a no-brainer that the movie would be successful. Yet, the movie’s release was a disappointment as it was panned for its plot and became one of the biggest flops in cinema.
19. Cowboys & Aliens
Many factors were in favor of Cowboys & Aliens at the time of its release. The movie had popular actor Daniel Craig, who is the face of James Bond. It also had Harrison Ford, who is a cinema veteran. Plus, the movie was directed by Iron Man director, Jon Favreau. Based on a graphic novel, the movie was hyped to no end and was pumped with major marketing. Still, the movie was a flop, barely making any money.
20. Speed Racer
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Helmed by the Wachowskis, who was responsible for giving the hit Matrix trilogy, Speed Racer was an international co-production starring names like Emile Hirsch and Susan Sarandon. Riding high on its star power, the movie is based on a manga and has expensive visual effects. But when the movie was released, it was a dud and got negative reviews. Still, the movie has gained a cult following over the years.
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