10 Most Predictable Recent Box Office Flops

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In today’s era of streaming platforms, movie studios are finding it increasingly challenging to rely on theaters as a consistent revenue source. Films such as Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Deadpool & Wolverine demonstrate that cinema culture persists, but predicting when audiences will physically attend screenings has become more difficult. Lately, several films forecasted to rake in substantial profits at the box office have underperformed. Nevertheless, some productions were doomed from conception. It seemed everyone could sense the impending disappointment, except those directly involved in their creation.

It’s not surprising that certain films didn’t succeed due to various issues like production troubles, subpar creative decisions, scandals, ineffective marketing, or bad timing. Regrettably, Hollywood seems oblivious to this pattern. In an environment where vast sums of money flow in and out frequently, the occasional financial loss is not usually a significant cause for worry. However, it’s hard not to wish that the funds were invested in more sensible productions instead.

10
‘Megalopolis’ (2024)

Since at least 1977, Francis Ford Coppola had harbored the desire to reimagine the Catalinarian conspiracy tale in a contemporary New York backdrop. Yet, his ambitious concept was hard for studios to grasp, thus he postponed its realization until he amassed sufficient wealth. The filmmaker invested an astounding $120 million of his personal fortune into Megalopolis, a production centered around a forward-thinking architect intent on constructing a utopian city named “Megalopolis.” Regrettably, the majority of cinema-goers showed little interest.

Worst Personal Investment in History?

Coppola’s latest film, Megalopolis, has unfortunately been labeled as one of the biggest personal investment flops in history, earning just $13 million. This substantial budget could have been utilized to produce another gangster movie, a genre where he excels. In essence, Coppola took a significant risk by betting heavily on himself, but his ambition proved too grand. It’s been quite some time since he’s had a box office success, and he isn’t widely recognized among the younger generation either. Like many of Coppola’s productions, Megalopolis also suffered from chaotic filming conditions. In today’s world where information disseminates rapidly, such turbulence on set was bound to create challenges for the director.

9
‘Madame Web’ (2024)

In this film titled Madame Web, Dakota Johnson plays the role of Cassandra Webb, a paramedic based in Manhattan who gains the power to foresee events. She establishes friendships with three young women who are set to become Spider-Women and safeguards them from a villain determined to prevent their intended fate from unfolding.

The Sony Curse

It’s clear that Marvel fans have grown quite attached to Spider-Man and are not keen on watching a movie based on his universe without him in it. In contrast, DC fans seem content even when Batman is absent from films. Apart from the Venom film series, most other movies set within Sony’s Spider-Man Universe have underperformed. Given this trend, it was easy to foresee that Madame Web would struggle at the box office. Despite having a relatively low production budget of $100 million (a modest sum for a modern superhero movie), the film failed to generate significant ticket sales. In the end, its earnings barely exceeded its production cost on a global scale.

8
‘Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1’ (2024)

Kevin Costner’s affection for Westerns has always been clear. Similar to Coppola, he chose to work on a project close to his heart, which he had been contemplating since the ’80s. However, this venture proved unsuccessful. He invested $38 million into the budget of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1, and as a result, the horses started galloping. Unfortunately, the film, which delved into the struggles of Western expansion during the American Civil War, failed to strike a chord with both audiences and critics.

Bigger Loss Than Money

It seems that Costner might experience some remorse as the creation of the film led him to be dismissed from Yellowstone, a project deemed superior. Unfortunately, the producers of the Paramount+ series were unwilling to adjust their schedules to accommodate his availability, resulting in his character’s untimely demise.

With Horizon, Costner likely envisioned a substantial profit due to his acclaim from Yellowstone. However, the fascination with the Old West has diminished compared to past decades, and today’s audiences lean towards neo-western genres. Consequently, the relatively low box office earnings were not unexpected.

7
‘The Flash’ (2023)

In the style of “Flashpoint” comic books, our protagonist, The Flash, journeys back in time to prevent his mother’s demise. However, during this process, he unwittingly sets off a malfunction within the multiverse, leading to hazardous repercussions. The movie received better reviews than other DCEU films but ultimately fell short financially.

Ghosts of Ezra Miller

In ideal situations, The Flash would have been an enormous success. Regrettably, Ezra Miller’s legal troubles and controversies derailed everything. Warner Bros.’ persistence in moving forward amidst severe allegations against the actor made many fans hesitant to purchase tickets. Additionally, rumors of a franchise reboot further dampened interest. Why support a DCEU film when the entire narrative is scrapped?

6
‘Argylle’ (2024)

The movie titled Argylle revolves around a secluded writer who unexpectedly steps into the realm of espionage, as she discovers that her recently penned spy story bears striking similarities to real-life events. In this film directed by Henry Cavill, notable stars like Bryan Cranston, John Cena, Samuel L. Jackson, and Dua Lipa lend their talents, yet despite the star-studded cast, it failed to draw in substantial box office revenue.

Poor Reviews and Poor Marketing

The movie received negative criticism just before its release, causing potential viewers to avoid it. However, the biggest blunder wasn’t just this. Interestingly, the film Argylle was not advertised as a Kingsman spinoff, despite its high budget. This was likely a calculated decision, considering the flop of The King’s Man. However, viewers might have been more interested if they had known they’d be experiencing the thrilling action sequences reminiscent of the Kingsman series once again.

5
‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ (2024)

In a surprising turn, pairing Lady Gaga with Joaquin Phoenix in “Joker 2” appeared magical, yet their performances couldn’t catapult this DC film to blockbuster success at the box office. The storyline follows Joaquin Phoenix as his Joker character is imprisoned and awaits trial. During incarceration, he develops feelings for Lee Quinzel (Gaga) and discovers a passion for music. Unfortunately, what started off as a promising narrative ends up feeling underwhelming.

A Wrong Genre Choice

Following Todd Phillips’ successful movie “Joker”, viewers anticipated a more chaotic narrative to feature a confrontation between an older Joker and a younger Bruce Wayne. However, it was announced that the sequel would be a musical, causing doubts. Ultimately, when the film premiered, these concerns proved valid as too much focus was given to the songs instead of crafting a strong plot. As a result, the sequel earned just $206 million, significantly less than the first movie’s $1 billion revenue.

4
‘Borderlands’ (2024)

In this movie adaptation titled “Borderlands,” inspired by the popular game series created by Gearbox Software, Cate Blanchett portrays Lillith, a rogue character who joins forces with a band of oddballs to search for the vanished daughter of the most influential figure in the universe. The film boasts an impressive lineup of stars including Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Flawed Casting

From the very beginning, the movie adaptation of the video game struggled due to the casting choices. Devoted fans were skeptical about Kevin Hart as the muscular Roland and Cate Blanchett as the youthful Lilith, who is typically portrayed as a twenty-something. Adding to their concerns were reports of disappointing test screenings that led to reshoots directed by Tim Miller, the man behind “Deadpool”. As a result, the film only managed to earn $33 million, placing it among the lowest grossing video game adaptations in history.

3
‘The Crow’ (2024)

The Crow, originally released in 1994, has returned to the big screen. This updated version features Bill Skarsgård as Eric Draven, a young man brought back to life who seeks vengeance against the criminal organization responsible for his and his girlfriend’s death.

A Film No One Asked For

Despite the fact that remakes of old movies rarely succeed, Hollywood continues to produce them, much like the enigma surrounding Eric’s resurrection in supernatural lore. As soon as it was announced, fans were quick to criticize the film and chose not to watch it upon release, leading to a disappointing box office take of approximately $25 million – nearly half of its production budget, as reported by The Numbers.

2
‘Fly Me to the Moon’ (2024)

In the movie titled “Fly Me to the Moon,” Scarlett Johansson portrays Kelly Jones, an accomplished marketing strategist, while Channing Tatum takes on the role of Cole Davis, a launch director at NASA. As the Apollo 11 mission unfolds, their romantic relationship develops when it’s revealed that Kelly is assigned to fabricate a backup moon landing in case the actual one encounters issues.

Blame It on the Studio

Inside the production team, lack of clarity played a significant role in Fly to the Moon‘s disappointing performance. To begin with, there wasn’t much public information about it in the media. This raises the question as to why a movie featuring two of Earth’s most famous stars didn’t receive adequate marketing. The answer lies in the fact that the romantic comedy was initially intended for release on Apple TV+ streaming platform but was later moved to cinemas following promising test screenings. However, it only stayed in theaters for a month before being returned to streaming. Considering these circumstances, success was always an uphill battle.

1
‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ (2023)

The popularity of sequels for classic films is on the rise, so it was only a matter of time before another Indiana Jones movie came along. This new film takes place in the late 60s and focuses on the titular character and his estranged goddaughter, Helena, as they search for a potent artifact before a former Nazi scientist – now employed at NASA – can manipulate the outcome of World War II by using it.

Too Expensive

The budget of “Dial of Destiny,” totaling $387 million, places it among the costliest movies ever produced, a risky move given that we’re not in the ’80s anymore. The allure of Indiana Jones, as strong as it was back then, doesn’t seem to resonate as deeply now, and this was evident in the box office numbers. If Steven Spielberg had chosen to direct, perhaps the outcome would have been different, but he declined the offer. As a result, fans received a sequel with a somewhat distinct tone compared to the initial four films.

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2025-01-07 04:02