Biggest Box Office Flops of 2024

As a seasoned movie buff with a penchant for analyzing box office flops, I must say that the year 20XX has been quite a rollercoaster ride for Hollywood. The tales of these films are as fascinating as the movies themselves, each one offering a unique insight into the trials and tribulations faced by filmmakers striving to bring their visions to life.

2024 proved to be an extraordinary year for me as a cinephile, with Hollywood serving up an incredible lineup of blockbusters that left me spellbound. The adrenaline-pumping team-up of Deadpool and Wolverine was nothing short of spectacular, while the return of beloved characters in Inside Out 2 had me laughing and crying in equal measure. And let’s not forget the enchanting musical phenomenon that is Wicked – it truly redefined the cinematic experience for me. The entertainment industry has been at its peak, offering a wealth of enjoyment to movie enthusiasts like myself.

As a dedicated cinephile, I must confess that not all big-budget films managed to captivate audiences or earn critical praise last year. In fact, ten high-profile productions spectacularly underperformed at the box office and among fans. Unfortunately, one of the first victims was “Madame Web,” which flopped disastrously upon its global premiere. Other disappointing releases included “Joker: Folie à Deux” and “Megalopolis.” Curious to see which other films failed to impress in 2024? Let’s take a closer look!

10 ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’

Budget: $190 – $200M / Box Office: $206.4M

Joaquin Phoenix once again stepped into the Academy Award-winning role of the nihilistic DC villain in Todd Phillips’ movie “Joker: Duo Delusion,” which unfolds two years after the chaotic incidents of the initial film, focusing on the mentally troubled Arthur Fleck, now confined at Arkham State Hospital and standing trial for heinous crimes. In his isolation from Gotham City’s citizens, Arthur encounters Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga), another patient with whom he develops an intense and perilous romantic bond while both are institutionalized.

An Underwhelming Sequel For Fans & Critics

Fans eagerly anticipated the collaboration between Phoenix and Gaga as the notorious duo, but the highly-anticipated sequel flopped both critically and financially. The movie Joker: Folie à Deux only earned $37.7 million during its opening weekend and received a disappointing D CinemaScore from viewers (the lowest score ever for a comic book film), ultimately grossing just $206.4 million worldwide, making it a box office disaster. The production company reportedly lost between $125–$200 million on this musical thriller.

9 ‘Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1’

Budget: $50M / Box Office: $38.2M

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but imagine Kevin Costner harboring aspirations to replicate the extraordinary triumph of his 1990 Oscar-winning masterpiece, “Dances with Wolves,” when he took on the multi-faceted role of director, producer, co-writer, and lead actor in “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1.” This grand production, set against the turbulent backdrop of the American Civil War in the treacherous Old West, offers a compelling narrative that weaves together the lives of diverse characters, including Costner’s Hayes Ellison, as they struggle to overcome life’s numerous challenges.

Costner’s Western Fails to Make a Splash

The Western movie was released alongside its subsequent part, titled “Chapter 2.” This captivating production boasts the acting prowess of stars such as Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, and Michael Rooker. Moreover, it represented a deeply personal endeavor for Costner, who personally contributed $38 million towards the film’s production.

Despite receiving generally favorable reviews at the Cannes Film Festival, Horizon struggled to make an impact at the box office. It premiered alongside A Quiet Place: Part One, leading to stiff competition and a disappointing opening of only $11 million. Ultimately, it concluded its theatrical run with a total gross of $38.2 million.

8 ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’

Budget: $60M / Box Office: $27.3M

According to Damien Lewis’ book, Guy Ritchie directs an action-packed movie titled “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare“. This film boasts a prominent cast including Henry Cavill, Eiza González, and Alan Ritchson. It offers a dramatized version of Operation Postmaster, a secret mission undertaken by the Small Scale Raiding Force and the Special Operations Executive during World War II. The operation was spearheaded by Major Gus March-Phillips (Cavill) and his brave comrades on January 14, 1942.

A Fun & Entertaining Hollywood Reimagining

Regardless of the big names involved in its production, the Guy Ritchie action movie titled “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” failed to draw crowds to cinemas, ultimately earning less than half of its $60 million budget. Consequently, it was labeled a box office flop. However, those who managed to catch it praised Cavill’s charming portrayal and the performances of his fellow actors, as well as appreciating the intriguing concept behind the action-packed adventure. The film received an A- CinemaScore from audiences and a 69% Rotten Tomatoes rating from critics.

7 ‘The Crow’

Budget: $50M / Box office: $24M

Tasking a director like Rupert Sanders to revive a beloved ’90s masterpiece, steeped in sorrowful history, is an imposing and daunting task. Nevertheless, he stepped up to the plate when directing the superhero film “The Crow”. The role of rock musician Eric Draven, who was murdered along with his fiancée and later resurrected for revenge against the killers, was undertaken by versatile actor Bill Skarsgård in this remake. Originally, Brandon Lee embodied Eric in the 1994 version, but sadly lost his life during filming after an accident involving a prop gun.

The Remake No Fan Wanted

As a passionate advocate for the reimagining, I must share a frustrating journey this project faced during its formative years. A multitude of talented actors such as Bradley Cooper, Luke Evans, and Jason Momoa were once linked to bring it back to life on screen. However, it wasn’t until Skarsgård was cast that we saw progress.

6 ‘Fly Me to the Moon’

Budget: $100M / Box office: $40M

Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum teamed up for the lead roles in the delightful romantic comedy-drama titled “Fly Me to the Moon“. In this film, they portray Kelly Jones, a marketing expert, and Cole Davis, a NASA launch director. They are selected under unusual circumstances, as an alternative moon landing is planned if the Apollo 11 mission doesn’t succeed. As Kelly and Cole work together, their professional differences lead to friction at first, but they eventually develop a bond on both personal and professional levels. Romantic sparks start flying between them as they grow closer.

A Spellbinding Retooling of History

Originally planned for a direct-to-streaming debut on Apple TV+, “Fly Me to the Moon” underwent a change in release strategy following positive feedback from previews. It was instead given a full theatrical release. Predictions suggested it would earn around $12 million during its opening weekend. However, the romantic film fell significantly short of expectations, raking in only $9.4 million at the domestic box office. Ultimately, it grossed a total of $42.4 million worldwide, barely making a profit and failing to recover its production cost of $100 million, despite receiving a favorable response from audiences.

5 ‘Madame Web’

Budget: $80 – $100M / Box Office: $100.5M

Without a doubt, one of the year’s most disputed and criticized releases is Madame Web, starring Dakota Fanning in the title role as Cassandra Webb, a Manhattan paramedic who acquires extraordinary psychic abilities following an accident and can foresee events in the “spider world.” The unwilling psychic seeks to protect three distinct women from the villainous Ezekiel Sims. They are fated to become Spider-Women and defeat him.

A Major Superhero Misstep

The film adaptation of Madame Web turned out to be a significant flop at the box office, receiving harsh criticism from both audiences and critics. Many called it the “most disappointing comic book movie,” labeling it as an “awkward debacle.

The movie has a dismal 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed only $100.5 million globally. Johnson herself wasn’t surprised by the unfavorable response, stating it was a valuable learning experience: “It wasn’t pleasant to be involved in something that was torn apart, but I can’t say I don’t comprehend.

4 ‘Borderlands’

Budget: $110 – $120M / $33M

Drawing inspiration from the lively and amusing video game franchise with the same name, Eli Roth’s sci-fi action comedy Borderlands boasts an impressive cast led by stars such as Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Jamie Lee Curtis. The plot revolves around infamous outlaw Lillith (portrayed by Blanchett), who gathers a motley crew of oddballs to hunt down the daughter of the powerful Atlas corporation’s CEO. Predictably, riotous chaos erupts as they execute their perilous, high-stakes mission.

Roth Can’t Master the Video Game Genre

It’s not always possible for a video game adaptation to achieve the same level of success as ‘Fallout’ and ‘The Last of Us’. Capturing the charm and spirit of a well-loved franchise can be a challenging task, and unfortunately, this is something that the ‘Borderlands’ movie learned. Neither fans nor critics held it in high regard, often describing it as generic and lacking inspiration. Some even went so far as to question whether it was the worst video game movie ever made. Its poor performance reportedly cost the studio around $20–30 million.

3 ‘Argylle’

Budget: $200M / Box Office: $96.2M

Highlighting an impressive lineup featuring Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Sam Rockwell in key roles, the intriguing spy action comedy “Argylle” follows a gifted yet reserved author of renowned espionage novels, Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard), as she unwittingly steps into the thrilling world she has penned when she discovers her latest work mirrors actual events. As the shy Elly embarks on an extraordinary journey, dashing character Aidan Wilde (Sam Rockwell) enters her life and saves her from imminent danger, leading them both on a globe-trotting chase.

Apple’s Pricey Spy Comedy Gamble

As a film enthusiast, I thoroughly enjoyed the whimsical performances of both Rockwell and Howard in that outrageously entertaining spy movie. However, I can’t help but acknowledge the widespread criticism from critics who found the plot to be overly complex and monotonous, despite the audience on Rotten Tomatoes giving it a respectable 71% rating on their Popcornmeter.

To cover its production costs of $200 million and marketing expenses of $80 million, the movie Argylle needed to earn approximately $500 million to break even. However, it only managed to gather $96.2 million at the box office. Despite this financial disappointment, a prequel centered around the character Argylle is being developed.

2 ‘Here’

Budget: $45 – $50M / Box Office: $13M

In a subsequent project, director Robert Zemeckis brought back his trusted leading actor, Tom Hanks, for the lead role in the emotional drama titled “Here“. This production marked another collaboration with Hanks’ “Forrest Gump” co-star, Robin Wright. The film captures significant moments that unfold on a specific patch of land throughout different eras, offering viewers a glimpse from when dinosaurs inhabited the earth to the Young family settling there at the end of World War II. Additionally, the heartwarming love story between Richard and Margaret Young is portrayed in this captivating film.

Zemeckis’ Stunning Visual Wonder

The graphic novel “Here” by Richard McGuire employs advanced artificial intelligence technology to seamlessly replace and rejuvenate Tom Hanks and Emma Watson in real-time during filming, adding another impressive achievement to Robert Zemeckis’ list of accomplishments.

Yet, critics argued that the director prioritized style over story depth, leaving the characters’ narratives underdeveloped. Released on November 1, 2024, the film only managed to earn $13 million and was criticized as “an emotionless, aimless snooze” by The Observer.

1 ‘Megalopolis’

Budget: $120 – $136M / Box Office: $13.7M

After a long break of thirteen years, renowned filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola strategized his grand comeback in Hollywood with the expansive sci-fi tale “Megalopolis”. This story unfolds in a different New York City called New Rome, where the futuristic architect Cesar Catilina (played by Adam Driver) clashes with the city’s deceitful and manipulative mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), as he strives to realize his vision of a utopian city named Megalopolis.

Megalopolis Crashes and Burns

Coppola initially conceived the concept for this forward-looking movie following the wrap of filming Apocalypse Now in 1977, but the endeavor faced decades of turbulence in development due to financial disagreements and difficulties in finding a studio prepared to finance it.

Francis Ford Coppola personally invested $120 million to ensure the production of “Megalopolis,” but faced numerous challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and allegations of inappropriate behavior by the director himself. Unfortunately, “Megalopolis” turned out to be a major flop at the box office, earning only $13.7 million, and received a disappointing 46% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

2024-12-01 23:32