As someone who has spent countless hours at movie theaters and even more watching movies at home, I must say that the dynamics of cinema have certainly changed over the years. The stories of these films, from “The Fall Guy” breaking streaming records to “Madame Web’s” surprising success on Netflix, are fascinating examples of how audiences consume content today.
Currently, being a movie in the traditional sense presents challenges due to the significant shift in viewing habits towards streaming platforms. These technological advancements have dramatically changed the landscape of Hollywood, causing physical media such as Blu-rays and DVDs to wane in popularity, and for some, even the cinema experience itself. In today’s world, unless a movie event is particularly enticing, many opt to save money and time by waiting for its release on streaming services or rentals, enjoying it from the comfort of their homes instead. With an abundance of content competing for attention, there’s also a possibility that some movies might never be watched at all by their intended audience.
These elements have resulted in disappointing box office earnings, even causing some films to flop completely. While it’s true that some of these failures were genuinely poor productions, even high-quality, critically acclaimed movies are struggling at the box office nowadays. Interestingly, some of the biggest box office bombs from 2024 have managed to find a second life on streaming platforms, capturing the attention of viewers who had no intention of purchasing a cinema ticket but were intrigued enough to watch the movie at home. Despite their poor box office performance, these seven movies have at least found success in the streaming market.
7 Lisa Frankenstein
“Lisa Frankenstein
Just like Jennifer’s Body, Lisa Frankenstein struggled to find success in the box office. It earned only $9.9 million, falling short of covering its modest production cost of $13 million. Perhaps its fortunes would have been different if it had been released during the 2024 Halloween season, a time when it might have resonated more with audiences seeking scary movies.
In February 2024, it seemed as if the release of Lisa Frankenstein was a fatal blow. However, this production was resurrected on streaming platforms, where it gained immense popularity. It attained remarkable success on Max, ranking among the top 10 in nearly 20 countries globally.
6 If
In a fascinating twist, the movie IF presents a world where we find that many of us have unseen companions – imaginary friends from our childhood, who were abandoned as we grew older. The film was creatively crafted, with John Krasinski directing and an ensemble cast featuring stars like Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carell, and Krasinski himself. Remarkably, despite these strong elements, the movie earned a global box office revenue of $190.3 million.
Initially, it seemed the film might fail financially, as Variety reported that it needed to earn $275 million globally just to break even, making it a box office flop. However, against all odds, the movie eventually found its audience on streaming platforms. It soared into the top ten most-watched movies during the week of July 4, 2024, and claimed the number one spot the following week, becoming the most streamed release in the US.
5 Horizon: An American Saga
“Horizon: An American Tale” is the initial part of an intended collection of Western dramas, penned and directed by actor-filmmaker Kevin Costner. This series, initially envisioned in 1988, unfolds against the backdrop of the American Civil War, focusing on various characters living in the Midwest. Over time, these characters’ lives intertwine as they navigate through this era. However, the project seemed to languish in development limbo for decades, and maybe it should have remained there. The long-awaited “Horizon: An American Tale” was finally released in 2024, but it struggled at the box office, generating only $38 million globally against a production budget of $50 million.
It appears that Westerns aren’t as captivating to audiences as they once were, at least not in movie theaters. However, a modern take on the genre, titled “Horizon: An American Saga,” proved to be a success on Max streaming platform, ranking as the tenth most-watched movie of August 29, 2924. Notably, four sequels are currently being developed. The second installment, “Chapter 2,” premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, though its theatrical release date remains undetermined. Production for “Chapter 3” started in May 2024, and “Chapter 4” is currently being planned.
4 The Fall Guy
I couldn’t help but feel that the immense buzz surrounding “The Fall Guy” was setting it up for a fall. Regrettably, that seemed to be the case. This series follows the journey of a stuntman entangled in a conspiracy, all while working on his ex-girlfriend’s action film directorial debut. It sheds light on an often overlooked aspect of filmmaking and gives due credit to the hardworking stunt performers.
Although the film, “The Fall Guy,” received positive feedback, it underperformed financially, earning only $181 million worldwide compared to its production budget of between $125-$150 million, resulting in a loss of approximately $50 million for the producers. Interestingly, when it was released on the streaming platform Peacock later in the year, it unexpectedly shattered Oppenheimer’s all-time streaming record and became the most streamed movie on Peacock. This is quite remarkable given Oppenheimer’s immense success and popularity. It seems that people were keen to watch this film; they just preferred to do so from home rather than at a cinema, an issue that studios and producers will need to address moving forward.
3 Argylle
The film titled “Argylle” garnered significant anticipation but fell flat upon release, generating more of a whisper than a roar. This spin-off from the “Kingsman” series focuses on a solitary author who unwillingly ventures into the realm of espionage as her fresh spy novel inexplicably mirrors actual occurrences. Apple TV+ acquired the movie rights for an astounding $200 million. Despite its hefty budget, the film, which received unfavorable reviews, earned a disappointing global box office revenue of just $96 million. However, there’s a slight ray of hope for Apple. In April 2024, “Argylle” became the second most-watched title on AppleTV+ in the U.S., suggesting that its streaming success might maintain the prospect of a potential franchise.
2 Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
2015’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” was a massive blockbuster that left audiences craving more. In 2024, Warner Bros. attempted to capitalize on this success with the spin-off prequel, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.” Starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, it was expected to shine. However, despite positive critical acclaim, “Furiosa” unfortunately flopped at the box office, earning a meager $173 million worldwide compared to its production cost of $168 million.
However, Furiosa unleashed fierce determination on streaming services and topped the home viewing rankings. The movie dominated charts on iTunes and Fandango Now, and was one of the most-watched films on Max.
1 Madame Web
The movie titled “Madame Web” (2024) has been labeled as one of the worst films of that year, earning a dismal 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This film narrates the backstory of Madame Web, portrayed by Johnson, who embarks on a mission to protect three upcoming Spider-Women from a menacing, time-traveling antagonist resembling Spider-Man. Unfortunately, it follows yet another unoriginal pattern in superhero origin stories. This film is just another Sony production attempting to capitalize on the Marvel property of Spider-Man, and despite the star power of Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney, it failed to attract audiences at the box office.
In a surprising turn of events, Madame Web, despite earning a meager $100 million globally (an extremely low figure for a superhero movie given its production budget of $80 million), found its redemption in the hands of the streaming titan Netflix. This box office flop, which had seemingly plunged into obscurity, resurfaced as the year’s most-watched streaming release on Netflix’s Top 10 Movies list. Over the course of its first week, it accumulated a total of 1.16 billion minutes watched, indicating that despite many likely watching out of curiosity to gauge how poor the movie truly was, Madame Web managed to transform from the most anticipated bomb of 2024 into the year’s streaming sensation.
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2024-10-22 00:02