10 Superhero Movie Flops That Didn’t Surprise Anyone

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The genre of superheroes continues to provide an endless stream of content… and more content… and even more, regardless of whether there’s a demand for it or not. Despite the claims about superhero saturation and caped crusaders being passé, production companies keep churning out these narratives with substantial budgets. Although superhero movies may no longer guarantee the massive box office success they once did, it seems that this trend isn’t fading away anytime soon.

10
‘The Flash’ (2023)

The story of The Flash centers around Barry, a character whose mother was tragically murdered in their childhood home. Despite this, Barry’s father was wrongly accused and punished for the crime. Determined to clear his dad’s name, Barry embarks on a journey to prove his innocence. Overwhelmed by emotions, an extraordinary event occurs – Barry is thrust back in time to the very day of the murder, giving him a chance to prevent it from happening.

The Wrong Lead

The tale is appealing, the scripting is satisfactory, and gifted performers are on board. However, despite these positive aspects, the production was widely anticipated to falter due to one key factor: Ezra Miller. This actor has been embroiled in several serious controversies, such as allegations of physical violence and a relationship with a minor. As a result, many members of the public found it difficult to overlook these legal issues associated with Miller.

9
‘The Marvels’ (2023)

Despite Marvel Studios’ continued success, they too experience the impact of superhero saturation. The movie titled The Marvels focuses on Carol Danvers, who is better known as Captain Marvel. Brie Larson returns to portray this contentious character. In this film, Danvers finds herself teaming up with two other women, as their powers unexpectedly intertwine.

An Uphill Battle

In an unexpected turn of events, “The Marvels” failed to make history in a less favorable way, posting the lowest box office earnings for any film within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). While it’s important not to overlook the pattern of female-led superhero films facing challenges historically, it was evident that several factors contributed to its disappointing performance. These factors included the less-than-positive response to Brie Larson’s character Danvers, unfortunate timing coinciding with the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, and an overly expansive budget, all of which pointed towards a box office flop.

8
‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ (2023)

In Shazam! Fury of the Gods, we follow along as Billy Batson continues his adventure, a young man who gains the power to transform into a powerful superhero. This time, Billy and his foster family team up to confront the Daughters of Atlas, who possess a powerful wizard’s staff.

Done with the Capes

By 2023, when it was launched, there had been a prolonged saturation of superhero movies, leading to a sense of fatigue among audiences. Given this context, its underperformance wasn’t unexpected. The film garnered approximately $134 million, but its production budget is estimated to be around $125 million, which means it fell short of covering its costs. Despite the initial movie in the series performing relatively well, it didn’t achieve the box office success enjoyed by other DC Universe films, leaving this sequel lackluster in comparison.

7
‘Superman IV: The Quest for Peace’ (1987)

Superman IV: The Pursuit of Peace”

This film revolves around the famous superhero Superman, who faces a looming nuclear threat to Earth. In an attempt to defeat him, Lex Luthor creates a powerful being with nuclear abilities. This version saw new producers stepping in, which some fans believe led to a decline in quality. Nevertheless, there were indications that this movie might not meet the expectations set by its predecessors.

Follow the Money

Due to budget constraints, the production team was forced to make significant reductions. Although some movie genres can manage with less funding, big-budget productions are often associated with superhero films. Also, initial previews indicated a predominantly negative response, leading the director to trim thirty minutes from the film and eliminate a subplot, as reported by the AFI Catalog.

6
‘The Suicide Squad’ (2021)

In a nutshell, “The Suicide Squad” is a movie about a gang of lawbreakers uniting to annihilate an unusual fish-like alien race in South America. But make no mistake, they’re not doing it for altruistic reasons; instead, their goal is to have their jail terms lessened.

A Poor Strategy

This movie is filled with a diverse group of actors, from Margot Robbie to John Cena, making it an enjoyable watch. However, despite its numerous advantages, this film faced a significant challenge: COVID-19. Initially, it wasn’t released in 2020, but the following year when studios were still figuring out how to adapt. Warner Bros. opted for a unique approach, releasing it both on streaming platforms and in cinemas. This decision seemed to have been vindicated by its box office success.

5
‘Steel’ (1997)

Shaquille O’Neal, a former basketball player and occasional actor, portrays John Henry Irons in the movie “Steel“. Initially, John designed military equipment, but he left his job following an accident that left a coworker paralyzed. However, upon discovering that a former associate was selling weapons to criminals, John decides to metamorphose into a superhero.

Not a Jack of All Trades

Many adored seeing Shaq excel on basketball courts or make brief appearances in movies like “Good Burger” and “Scary Movie 4”. However, when it came to playing a Superman-like character without any reference to Superman, his performance fell short of expectations, with many predicting subpar acting based on his past roles and the mediocre script not improving the situation.

4
‘Green Lantern’ (2011)

Green Lantern features Ryan Reynolds portraying the title character, Hal Jordan, who is a skilled test pilot chosen for an extraterrestrial law enforcement agency. The ring bestowed upon him imbues him with extraordinary abilities that he must learn to control in order to vanquish his new foes.

No Clear Direction

People familiar with the origins of this movie are aware that it faced numerous obstacles at the start. It lingered in a creative limbo for years, being handed off to various directors and screenwriters who each had distinct ideas for the film. Some critics argued that the final product lacked emotional depth. However, luckily for Reynolds, this underperformance didn’t prevent him from continuing his career in superhero films (as evidenced by the success of Deadpool and Wolverine).

3
‘Fantastic Four’ (2015)

The storyline of Fantastic Four revolves around four exceptionally intelligent teenagers named Reed, Johnny, Ben, and Sue. They work together to create a gateway for a research facility, but are initially overlooked as the initial team to use it. Disregarding regulations, they venture through this gateway, finding themselves in another dimension where they acquire superhuman powers.

Director vs. Studio: Neither Won

It’s clear that the movie isn’t good when not even its director is praising it positively. Tensions between director Josh Trank and 20th Century Fox had been growing steadily, leading to reshoots being necessary. This creative conflict was obvious in the uneven pacing, puzzling editing decisions, and overall lack of enjoyment despite an intriguing concept.

2
‘Black Adam’ (2022)

In the film titled “Black Adam“, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson assumes the role of the main character who possesses superhuman abilities. Known as Black Adam, this figure was confined within a tomb for countless years but is subsequently freed to aid a nation. However, it’s crucial to note that revenge holds the forefront of his intentions.

Time for a Hiatus?

As a passionate cinephile, I must admit that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s films have been experiencing a bit of an overexposure problem lately. While some fans continue to embrace him wholeheartedly, others seem to be growing weary of his frequent appearances, particularly in roles that share certain similarities. To add fuel to the fire, Warner Bros. opted for a limited theater release followed by a streaming debut, which, unfortunately, seems to have been a recipe for disaster.

1
‘Madame Web’ (2024)

Madame Web revolves around Cassie, a paramedic who undergoes a near-death incident, resulting in her acquiring psychic powers. As she discovers that the individual responsible for her mother’s demise intends to take the lives of three teenagers, Cassie takes action to prevent any further casualties.

A Bad First Impression

Without even waiting for its release, Marvel fans were convinced that this movie would disappoint due to its overly dramatic, uninspired, and cheesy appearance in the trailer. Not even Sydney Sweeney, who was part of the cast, could boost its popularity with the positive hype surrounding her film, Anyone But You, at that time.

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2025-01-06 00:02