10 Biggest Box Office Flops of the 2020s So Far

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As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time and money at the movies, I must say, the past decade has been quite a rollercoaster ride. From the highs of record-breaking blockbusters to the lows of monumental flops, it’s a testament to the unpredictable nature of Hollywood.

As we approach the end of another decade in the 2020s, it’s clear that this period has brought us some fantastic movies, but also its share of both critical and financial flops. Many films released in 2020 had staggering budgets, with Hollywood studios investing hundreds of millions of dollars in an attempt to entice audiences into theaters. Such large sums of money attracted big-name stars and allowed for high-quality filmmaking.

At times, the risks taken by producers don’t yield the desired returns. Box office receipts might be lower than anticipated – even substantially so – making these movies flops instead of successes. In such instances, their production studios suffer significant financial losses, sometimes equal to or even surpassing their initial investments. This could be due to the film being panned by critics and failing to connect with audiences, or because its commercial failure was caused by poor timing and factors beyond their control. These are some of the biggest box office flops of the 2020s…to date.

10
‘The Matrix Resurrections’ (2021)

Lost $146 million

The Matrix, often hailed as one of cinema’s finest productions, gained immense popularity and led to a trilogy based on its innovative science-fiction premise. However, after 18 years, a sequel was released that seemed unnecessary to both audiences and creators alike. The Matrix Resurrections, in an attempt to revive the original narrative, put fresh actors into familiar roles. Unfortunately, it fell flat. The film appeared to dismantle Neo (Keanu Reeves), significantly redefining him as Trinity (Carrie-Amme Moss), and lacked several actors who had made the initial films legendary. For many fans, The Matrix Resurrections felt like a pale imitation of the original Matrix.

Despite earning a moderate 63% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s important to note that “The Matrix Resurrections” didn’t perform well at the box office. It managed to bring in just $159 million globally, which is significantly less than its production budget of $190 million. Accounting for inflation, this film ended up losing an estimated $146 million. Many fans had expected these disappointing figures to put an end to any further sequels, but it seems that Hollywood hasn’t taken the lesson to heart. Reports suggest that a fifth installment in the Matrix series, tentatively titled “Matrix 5,” is currently being developed.

9
‘Onward’ (2020)

Lost $153 Million

Pixar, renowned for its iconic, successful, and critically-adored films, released “Onward,” a movie set in a contemporary fantasy suburban landscape. Unlike their usual hits, “Onward” tells the story of two elf brothers on a quest to revive their late father for twenty-four hours using a magical artifact. Starring big names like Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Octavia Spencer, this film showcases Pixar’s signature heart and creativity. However, critics criticized it as too peculiar and less inspiring than other Pixar masterpieces. Despite the mixed reviews, it was not this perceived lack of quality that led to “Onward” underperforming at the box office.

As a film enthusiast, I eagerly awaited the theater release of “Onward” back in February 2020, little did I know that this month would turn out to be a game-changer for us all. The COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, causing movie theaters and many other businesses to close their doors temporarily. Unfortunately, “Onward” couldn’t escape the pandemic’s financial impact, raking in only $142 million worldwide against a budget of $175–200 million. By 2024, this box office shortfall added up to a staggering loss of around $153 million for Disney and Pixar, making “Onward” yet another casualty of the pandemic.

8
‘The Flash’ (2023)

Lost $155 Million

There was a great deal of excitement surrounding “The Flash” prior to its debut. This marked the character’s initial solo appearance within the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The movie featured Ezra Miller, a promising actor at the time, as the swift superhero, who accidentally journeys back in time and becomes stranded in an alternate past.

In a twist, the movie managed to reintroduce Michael Keaton’s legendary Batman character in a secondary role. Regrettably, The Flash found itself unable to outpace its numerous obstacles. Continuous changes in direction and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic pushed back the release of The Flash, inflating the film’s production costs. Furthermore, Ezra Miller’s legal issues and James Gunn’s upcoming revamp of the DC Universe didn’t aid The Flash’s performance at the box office. Ultimately, it earned a mere $271 million globally against a budget of $200–220 million, resulting in an estimated loss of around $155 million.

7
‘Wonder Woman’ 1984

Lost Between $118 and $161 Million

The much-awaited sequel to the 2017 hit, Wonder Woman, titled Wonder Woman 1984, made its appearance. Starring Gal Gadot once more as the legendary Amazonian heroine, this film finds her facing off against two fresh adversaries following her reunion with an old flame. Unfortunately, like many others affected by the pandemic, Wonder Woman 1984 had to postpone its release several times. It eventually premiered in December 2020, but due to ongoing closures, most theaters were not open for screenings. The film was also available on HBO Max at the same time.

2020 saw Wonder Woman 1984 as the year’s leading streamed film, but unfortunately, it failed to impress at the box office. The movie raked in a total of $169 million globally, which pales in comparison to its swelling production budget of $200 million. Today, it’s estimated that the film has lost somewhere between $118 million and $161 million. As a result, plans for another Wonder Woman movie were shelved, along with the rest of the DCEU. It remains unclear whether Wonder Woman will make an appearance in Gunn’s DCU reboot.

6
‘Mulan’ (2020)

Lost $166 Million

The movie “Mulan” is Disney’s live-action version of their 1998 animated success, transforming this well-known Chinese tale onto the cinema screen. Unlike the initial Disney production, this film didn’t do well at the box office, and it wasn’t entirely Mulan’s fault. The COVID-19 pandemic postponed its initial release from March 2020 to September 2020, which didn’t help much since the pandemic was still intense at that time. In a difficult situation, Disney opted to debut Mulan on Disney+ and provide it with a limited cinema screening, resulting in an ideal combination for a box office disaster.

Although receiving mostly favorable feedback and maintaining reasonable viewership figures, the film Mulan ended up costing Disney around $166 million (when accounting for inflation). Surprisingly, this financial loss didn’t deter Disney from planning a sequel to Mulan, although there has been no recent news on its development. One might wonder if Disney secretly scrapped this project?

5
‘Jungle Cruise’ (2021)

Lost $169 Million

Disney achieved great triumph when they transformed one of their renowned theme park attractions into a film – “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Since then, Disney has been attempting to replicate this success with other theme park rides, but many have failed. Regrettably, “Jungle Cruise” is no different. Starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, “Jungle Cruise” combines thrilling adventure with a touch of the mysterious as a riverboat journey carries passengers through the heart of a treacherous jungle.

Similar to numerous other titles on our roster, Jungle Cruise initially delayed its premiere due to the global pandemic. Eventually, it made its way to cinemas and streaming platforms like Disney+ Premier Access in 2021; however, this distribution method may have played a role in its financial struggles.

Regardless of the ongoing pandemic, the Jungle Cruise movie was far from enjoyable. It aimed to be like Indiana Jones or Jumanji, but what we ended up with was described as a “drenched disaster” by the New York Times. The film struggled at the box office, making $220 million globally against a production cost of $200 million. This means it lost around $169 million, a significant financial setback. Despite this poor reception, reports suggest that a sequel is being planned, though whispers indicate Disney may have secretly scrapped the film. Here’s hoping those rumors are true for our sake.

4
‘Turning Red’ (2022)

Lost $174 Million

The movie titled Turning Red has sparked a divide among critics and viewers alike. While it received high praise from critics, earning a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it didn’t resonate as much with audiences, scoring a lower 67%. This animated film from Pixar tells the story of a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian student who transforms into a giant red panda whenever she experiences intense emotions. Interestingly, Turning Red marks a significant milestone as it’s the first Pixar feature film to be directed solely by a woman.

The animated film “Turning Red” sparked controversy upon its release due to its depiction of mature topics such as puberty and menstruation. This was one factor contributing to its poor performance at the box office. Another key reason was the ongoing pandemic, which affected all movies. Released on Disney+ in 2022, it was shown theatrically only in countries without the streaming service. Despite this, “Turning Red” managed to earn just $20 million globally against a production budget of $175 million. Even with the pandemic, “Turning Red” was a massive flop at the box office, resulting in a loss of approximately $174 million for Pixar and Disney in 2024.

3
‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ (2024)

Lost $200 Million

As a movie enthusiast, I eagerly await the release of “Joker: Folie à Deux,” the sequel to the 2019 masterpiece, “Joker.” This time around, Joaquin Phoenix reprises his Oscar-winning role as the Clown Prince of Crime, alongside a fresh interpretation of Harley Quinn, portrayed by the talented Lady Gaga. However, despite the star-studded cast and Todd Phillips’ return to the director’s chair, “Joker: Folie à Deux” didn’t quite live up to its predecessor in terms of both commercial success and critical acclaim.

The impressive performance of the original film prompted Warner Bros. to go above and beyond for its sequel, transforming it into a grand spectacle. They granted Phillips an astounding $200 million budget for Joker: Folie à Deux. However, the movie only managed to earn a paltry $206 million at the box office. Many viewers were put off by its musical sequences and prolonged courtroom scenes. Even the devotion of Lady Gaga’s fans, known as “Little Monsters,” couldn’t fill cinema seats. In the end, this unnecessary sequel ended up costing Warner Bros. between $125 to $200 million. Joker: Folie à Deux isn’t just the biggest flop of 2024; it’s one of the biggest flops of the 2020s thus far.

2
‘Strange World’ (2022)

Lost $197 Million

“Strange World” tells the tale of the renowned Clade family of adventurers who embark on an expedition to a mystifying land to rejuvenate the power source sustaining their civilization. Notable cast members include Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Gabrielle Union, and Lucy Liu. The movie garnered favorable comments from critics. However, some viewers perceived Disney as overstepping boundaries with the film’s narrative and characters. Estimated to cost between $135–180 million, the production expenses outweighed its box office earnings of $73.6 million, resulting in a significant loss for Disney, placing “Strange World” among one of the most monumental flops in film history.

Have you noticed a pattern emerging? A significant number of these explosive box office failures can be traced back to Disney. From animated classics, Pixar productions, live-action remakes, even comic book adaptations – it appears that the legendary studio is stumbling in all areas. It seems as though Disney has misplaced the imaginative spirit that once defined its success. They urgently need to rethink their approach as a string of flops is hardly a sustainable strategy.

1
‘The Marvels’ (2023)

Lost $237 Million

Stepping into the spotlight once more, I find myself reprising my role as Captain Marvel alongside two other characters bearing the same moniker – another Captain Marvel and one known as Ms. Marvel. Together, we’re thrust into a mission to safeguard the universe. Unfortunately, the box office earnings of The Marvels can’t seem to match those of its precursor, Captain Marvel. The original film, with a staggering gross of $1.1 billion globally, ranks as the 11th highest-grossing film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Compared to other movies, “The Marvels” brought in a relatively small amount of $206 million worldwide, yet it had a production budget of $374 million. This translates into a significant loss of approximately $237 million. Notably, this places “The Marvels” as the lowest-grossing film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and one of the rare instances where an MCU film failed to recoup its costs during its initial release. Moreover, it currently holds the title of the biggest box office flop of the 2020s thus far. Ouch!

Is it evident that superhero films are dominating the cinematic landscape of the 2020s, a trend that was also prevalent in recent years? However, it’s not just DC movies that are underperforming; even Marvel productions have started to falter. This suggests that viewers might be growing weary of the saturation of superhero content. While exceptions like Deadpool & Wolverine demonstrate that success is still achievable, for the most part, revitalizing the superhero genre will require innovative ideas and compelling narratives to pique audience interest once more.

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2024-12-17 04:32