Legendary screenwriter and author William Goldman once wrote, pertaining to Hollywood, “Nobody knows anything.” For as much research, analysis, and money goes into the pre-production, filming, and marketing of movies, studios ultimately have no idea what’s going to hit and what’s going to flop. Some of the greatest box office triumphs came from movies that appeared to be dead on arrival, filled with grave uncertainty and doubt within their respective studios, only to win over the public and find an audience.
In the end, moviegoing is a natural phenomenon that can’t be calculated. However, in certain cases, as with these 10 movies below, we saw these bombs from miles away. From behind-the-scenes drama to poor marketing, these films were destined to become a punchline in the trade publications.
10
‘Monkeybone’ (2001)
Henry Selick is one of our most imaginative animation visionaries living today. 30 years since its release, he is still rudely ignored as the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas, which is often erroneously credited to screenwriter Tim Burton. However, if there’s one film that the Coraline director would wish that everyone would forget about, it would be his 2001 flop, Monkeybone, a confounding cinematic experience that was seemingly made for no one.
Grossing a meager $7 million on a $75 million budget, Monkeybone was Selick’s foray into new territory, as it blends live action filmmaking with his trademark stop-motion animation. Starring Brendan Fraser as a cartoonist who falls into a coma and is transported to another universe that threatens to supply the world with nightmares, the making of Monkeybone soured Selick from ever making another live-action feature, as he has since condemned the final product released to the public. The bizarre tonal register, uncanny visual aesthetic, random humor, and bonkers story were immediate turnoffs for casual audiences. The audacious animation style was a costly endeavor for 20th Century Fox, and there was simply no way of selling the film’s idea on a poster or trailer. Monkeybone, lampooned by critics, represents the harsh reality of taking a big artistic swing that whiffs.
9
‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ (2019)
Not only is Terminator 2: Judgment Day a perfect object, its conclusion wraps the story up from 1984’s The Terminator so tightly that a sequel was never in demand. However, Hollywood has to Hollywood, and audiences were sporadically fed sequels to James Cameron‘s classics, none of which were wholly satisfying. Still, they kept performing fairly well at the box office. By the time Terminator: Dark Fate arrived in 2019, audiences were not going to be fooled again, leading to a financial failure that may have terminated the franchise altogether.
In a cruel twist of fate, the surprisingly inventive and engaging Terminator: Dark Fate, the series’ apex since Terminator 2, was the one that failed for its studio, Paramount, with its $261 million worldwide gross falling short of its whopping $185 million budget. While not the most devastating flop, Tim Miller‘s retconning of the events following T2, botched in the uninspiring Rise of the Machines, Salvation, and Genisys, immediately lacked any audience and critical enthusiasm. Even with James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger back on board as producer and star respectively, and Linda Hamilton reprising her role as Sarah Connor, Dark Fate was a victim of the world not wanting to be fooled for a fourth time. With the scope and budget continuously ballooning, it was clear that Terminator needed a factory reset rather than chasing after the glory of its first two entries.
8
‘Dolittle’ (2020)
Say what you want about modern moviegoing tendencies, but audiences aren’t dumb. Just because the world loved Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe doesn’t mean they’re going to sign up for anything he stars in, especially when his Avengers: Endgame follow-up looked as silly and nonsensical as Dolittle. Released during the brief window in 2020 before things went awry amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the new adaptation of the animal whisperer originally played byRex Harrison andEddie Murphy , carried a weighty price tag for something that was set up for failure.
On the surface,Dolittle‘s box office performance of $251 million worldwide gross is impressive but when compared to its $175 million budget these gaudy numbers were hardly worthy of celebration for Universal. Anyone who was following the news of its production directed byStephen Gaghan , knew that a stinker was in order,as the film underwent three weeks of reshoots by multiple directors after poor test screenings.. Downey’s spontaneity and improvisation were great for Iron Man but his freewheeling creative process led to a disastrous production. The chaos of the set is felt on screen—a disorganized and rudderless mess of a movie. By giving a reheated performance filled with his usual snarky quips Downey proved he was desperate forChristopher Nolan .to upend his screen persona inOppenheimer.
7
‘Lightyear’ (2022)
“This is the origin story of human Buzz Lightyear that the toy is based on,” wroteChris Evans . Emblematic of glut IP cinema Pixar stooped low for blatant cash grab inLightyearthe inexplicable spin-offToy Storyfranchise centered around fake person who spawned fake toy Buzz Lightyear here voiced by Evans instead Tim Allen. The fact Evans needed clarify its synopsis was telltale sign bomb set launch in 2022.
Grossing $218 million worldwide is relatively low for Pixar sequel standards this number even more egregious when pitted against its whopping $200 million budget.Lightyearexistence indicative Disney’s obsession milking their own properties without clever angle The film directed byAngus MacLanewas truly something nobody asked for Any ardent fanToy Storyseries will tell you interest how Buzz toy created within universe little none Expanding Buzz lore taints purity charm series makingLightyearwoefully disjointed within this beloved franchise Disney Pixar already making killing offToy Storysequels which sees fifth installment in 2026 This head-scratching spin-off born out sheer greed.
6
‘Borderlands’ (2024)
The video game movies are all rage these days In fact they may have even surpassed superhero movies most coveted IP studios wake up Super Mario Bros Movie Minecraft Still rights beloved game aren’t enough trick audiences into thinking you have next blockbuster take example Borderlands total wipeout box office in 2024 everyone saw coming from mile away.
No way spinning film’s financial performance as $32 million gross on $115 million budget flop highest order Quick research making release Borderlands starring overqualifiedCate BlanchettKevin Hart Jamie Lee Curtis Jack Black raised countless red flags Development hell often indicates impending bomb writing wall Borderlands announced in 2015 filmed in 2021 underwent reshoots in 2023 DirectorEli Rothwhose R-rated vision sanded down PG rating replaced Tim Miller during reshoots Even though two directors worked it Borderlands bereft any artistic direction The film watered-down Guardians Galaxy wannabe inert action comedy Borderlands feels trapped 2015 smarmy dialogue punk sensibilities incredibly dated decade later.
The Flash released theaters in 2023 term superhero fatigue reached lexicon This phenomenon only thing could account string underachieving comic book adaptations dating back year prior In hindsight may have been overthinking all sometimes movie outright stinker like Warner Bros failed attempt orchestrating colossal event disjointed DC saga.
The WB efforts sell The Flash cinematic event year $271 million worldwide gross fell short hefty $200 million price tag last thing audiences wanted amid collective superhero fatigue bloated film like The Flash directed<strong Andy Muschietti starring Ezra Miller titular role required casual viewers caught handful previous DC installments The movie radioactive start due behind-scenes drama involving Miller's legal issues personal scandals Two particular vices superhero genre third acts riddled cheap CGI forced character cameos reached nadir Flash leaving theaters pin-drop silence reveal Nicolas Cage George Clooney alternate Superman Batman respectively This cinematic folly signaled audiences had evolved forcing superhero properties without fresh take wasn't enough create blockbuster anymore.
They say there’s no such thing bad publicity but tell team behind Gigli they’d quickly refute adage A movie now synonymous flop Gigli such disaster put Martin Brest seemingly permanent director jail turned Ben Affleck subsequently married co-star Jennifer Lopez punchline tabloids This quintessential “so bad it’s good movie yet even irony couldn’t draw people theaters in 2003.
The grossing lowly $7 million on $54 million budget Gigli romantic-comedy set criminal underworld featuring two marquee movie stars should’ve been slam dunk but people know bomb when they see one The film dropped staggering %82 percent gross second weekend release indicating word creative ineptitude spread quickly While we’re prone reclaim movies once viewed disappointments there no redeeming Gigli shapeless poorly acted notably unforgivable Justin Bartha performance already insensitive 2003 lethargic film lacking humor romance Brest fell asleep behind director’s chair flair high-octane action comedy seen Midnight Run nowhere found Gigli even fails cult “bad movie like The Room little joy energy film’s meandering conversations between two lead stars turned couple.
The John Travolta career arc quite adventure After breakthrough 1970s soon lost reverence viability public eye early ’90s only have Quentin Tarantino revive him Pulp Fiction His unexpected comeback restored A-list credibility self-destructive nature came back haunt him sci-fi disasterpiece Battlefield Earth one most ridiculed loathed films recent history.
The general audience curiosity strange-looking mess wasn’t enough make costs as film directed Roger Christian grossed $29 million on $73 million budget A movie practically designed dominate Golden Raspberries Battlefield Earth wants us take story alien invasion enslaved human uprising seriously everything obnoxiously flashy visual language garish makeup costume design laughingstock Of course everyone had guns out this film due Travolta’s ties Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard wrote film’s source material The trailers alone made viewers long Tarantino give gifted actor worthy part You could do lot worse spend night mocking Battlefield Earth’s ridiculous script story logic but people unwilling pay price admission theaters.
The not everyone can Marvel Cinematic Universe just ask Sony’s extended Spider-Man universe They may have rights certain Marvel Comics characters but don’t have vision standard quality shepherded Kevin Feige Following lackluster whiffs Venom Morbius Sony attempts retaining control Spider-Man while Tom Holland thrived MCU reached nadir Madame Web this generation’s signature bad movie still worthy dissection.
The superhero fatigue or not Madame Web which only grossed $100 million on $80 million budget flop moment first trailer dropped featuring notorious line “He was Amazon my mom when she researching spiders right before died.” Dakota Johnson captivating romantic comedies indie dramas but superhero she’s completely out her league A peak example “gas-leak cinema something just off throughout all Madame Web from stilted acting choppy ADR lackadaisical pace frictionless stakes S.J. Clarkson’s film begging Spider-Man swing save day without marquee character presence this origin story completely aimless Sony pushed luck Madame Web who learned hard way audiences 2024 were not automatically lulled Marvel Comics logo.
A movie performed well even one billion dollars well doesn’t mean we demand sequel Joker was always designed be one-off stand-alone film starring Joaquin Phoenix directed Todd Phillips Five years after dominating box office winning multiple Academy Awards Warner Bros egregiously overstayed their welcome Joker Folie à Deux towering box office bomb source sheer audience outrage will nearly impossible top.
The Warner Bros triumph needed comeback after calamitous performance their Joker sequel grossed $207 million on $190 million budget seismic drop-off previous installment paper Phillips using cachet turn Joker sequel dark musical crossed prison courtroom drama intriguing brilliant counter formulaic nature comic book movies However ideas only get you far Joker Folie à Deux also starring wasted Lady Gaga Harley Quinn woefully executed Every scene punishingly dour without sophistication weighty drama musical numbers play distractions rather than artistic statements For such major blockbuster inexplicably condensed scope merely serving recap happened 2019 movie Laboriously paced insultingly one-note Folie à Deux let everyone know ahead time folly title After exhausting discourse controversy surrounding Joker people ready move Arthur Fleck Phoenix anarchic ways.
