As a seasoned movie critic with over three decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the year 2024 has been quite the rollercoaster ride for cinema enthusiasts like myself. The films we’ve witnessed this year have showcased a fascinating blend of ambition, creativity, and financial miscalculation. Two notable examples are “Drive-Away Dolls” and “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1,” both of which serve as cautionary tales in the world of filmmaking.
Making films can be quite an expensive venture, especially with advancements in technology making productions increasingly complex. What was once nearly impossible for a movie to surpass the $100 million mark is now commonplace, with some even reaching over $1 billion. Movies that initially cost around $3 million now often exceed $50 million. While there are films that manage to exceed these financial barriers and turn a profit, success isn’t guaranteed in every case.
To turn a film into a profitable venture, it should generate revenues that are double its production cost, while also covering expenses related to distribution and marketing. Additionally, theater owners’ shares must be accounted for. Although this calculation isn’t always straightforward, doubling the budget can offer an approximation of the minimum threshold a movie needs to exceed to ensure profitability.
2024 began modestly, however, it’s turned into an exceptional year at the box office, boasting blockbusters such as “Inside Out 2” and “Deadpool and Wolverine,” which raked in over $1 billion each. Such success isn’t common for every film, with some 2024 releases failing to amass even a fraction of that amount. Regrettably, the studios and investors backing these underperforming films have incurred losses. On the flip side, 2024 has also seen its fair share of box office flops.
Arthur the King
titled “Arthur the King,” featuring Mark Wahlberg and Simu Liu, is adapted from Mikael Lindnord’s 2016 memoir “Arthur: The Dog Who Journeyed Through the Jungle to Find a Home.” In this movie, Michael Light, an adventure racer portrayed by Wahlberg, embarks on a 435-mile trek alongside his street dog companion, Arthur.
The movie received favorable reviews from critics, garnering a 70% “fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes, with comments commending its storyline and Wahlberg’s performance. However, it’s not uncommon for critically acclaimed films to struggle at the box office, and “Arthur the King” falls into that category. The production budget was approximately $19 million; however, it only managed to generate either $32.2 million or $40.8 million in revenue, depending on the source.
1. In the end, it barely managed to surpass its breakeven point, yet if the figures are accurate, the movie still seems to have incurred losses. However, regardless of its financial performance, “Arthur the King” is undeniably a must-watch. Just be warned, you might find yourself shedding a few tears as the film skillfully pulls at your heartstrings.
The First Omen
The “Omen” series began in 1976 with the original film titled “The Omen,” which was followed by three more installments. The series seemed to conclude with “Omen IV: The Awakening” in 1991; however, it continued with a television show and a 2006 reboot. The newest addition to the franchise, “The First Omen,” deviates from the others as it is actually a prequel.
“The First Omen” provides a detailed account of the events leading up to and surrounding “The Omen,” including the origin of the Satanic plot and the birth of Damien, who is revealed as the Antichrist. Critics and fans alike have praised it for enriching the series, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it an 81% ‘fresh’ rating. However, audiences may not have flocked to cinemas due to the fact that by 2024, the franchise seemed largely inactive or defunct.
Regardless of the cause, the film “The First Omen” managed to generate only $53.8 million against a production cost of $30 million, which equates to 89.74% of its break-even point. This means it didn’t perform well at the box office and was considered a flop. It’s unexpected that such a high-quality movie underperformed in cinemas, but thanks to streaming services, it’s found success elsewhere. As reported by ScreenRant, “The First Omen” ranked among the top 10 titles on multiple streaming platforms during its premiere.
Ordinary Angels
“During the severe cold spell that swept through North America in 1994, a heartwarming tale unfolded on screen titled ‘Ordinary Angels.’ In this film, Hilary Swank played Sharon, a hairdresser who rallied her community to aid a grieving father (Alan Ritchson), whose daughter was critically ill. The movie was widely acclaimed, garnering an 84% ‘fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a staggering audience score of 99%. However, despite the praise it received from both critics and audiences, the film failed to achieve commercial success. It is said that it cost $13 million to produce but could only generate $20.5 million in ticket sales.”
The film “Ordinary Angels” only reached 79.10% of its breakeven point, suggesting it may not have been as successful as expected. One significant factor could be that it was primarily marketed and perceived as a religious movie, which traditionally has had difficulty resonating with a mainstream audience. While some faith-based films do well in the rental or streaming markets, few can match the success of “Sound of Freedom” or “The Passion of the Christ.”
Abigail
For nearly as long as the movie industry has existed, vampire films have been commonplace. However, many of these movies lack originality within the genre. This isn’t the case with “Abigail,” which innovatively explores the concept in an unexpected way. The film disregards traditional vampire tropes by focusing its story around a young girl, Abigail (played by Alisha Weir), who is mysteriously both a vampire and has a heartbeat.
The movie centers on a band of kidnappers who seize Abigail in her own house, unaware of the trouble they’ve stirred up. Gradually, Abigail eliminates them one by one, making it seem like she’s playing with her food. It proves to be an enjoyable experience… for viewers, certainly not for the kidnappers. The movie garnered positive reviews, earning a 83% “fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes.
During the tallying of earnings from ticket sales, the movie titled “Abigail” didn’t meet expectations. With a production cost of $28 million, it managed to earn only $42.4 million worldwide. This means that it reached 75.73% of its break-even point. It remains uncertain what led to the film’s underperformance, but potential factors could include an ineffective marketing strategy or a lack of audience interest due to oversaturation within the genre.
The Fall Guy
2023 was a standout year for Ryan Gosling as he took on the role of Ken in “Barbie,” hinting at another box office success to come in 2024 with “The Fall Guy.” The movie centers around Gosling’s character, Colt Seavers – a former stunt performer – who steps out of semi-retirement to assist his ex-girlfriend Jody Moreno (played by Emily Blunt) on her directorial debut. Meanwhile, he is also entangled in a dangerous conspiracy that unfolds simultaneously.
As a gaming enthusiast, I was all hyped up for “The Fall Guy,” expecting an adrenaline-pumping action-adventure with a dash of romance and laughter. The movie’s 82% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes hinted at critical acclaim, and it indeed delivered on most fronts. However, despite the high expectations and positive reviews, “The Fall Guy” flopped at the box office. With a production cost of a whopping $140 million, its theatrical earnings totaled just $178 million in the end.
As a gamer, I was really excited about “The Fall Guy”, a game inspired by the ’80s TV show of the same name on ABC. However, it seems that not many others shared my enthusiasm, as the game only managed to earn 63.62% of its break-even point at the box office.
Madame Web
The recent live-action films connected to Spider-Man produced by Sony have had some inconsistencies, with movies like Morbius and Venom receiving harsh criticism from critics. Nevertheless, Sony continued production and released Madame Web in 2024, which turned out to be the biggest flop at the box office in the entire Spider-Man extended universe – even Morbius managed better global ticket sales.
“The movie titled ‘Madame Web’ boasts a star-studded lineup, including Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor, and Isabela Merced. Dakota Johnson portrays Cassandra Webb, also known as Madame Web. The narrative revolves around her recent gift of predicting the future, particularly in relation to this main cast and their battle against Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim), who aims to eliminate them before they can do the same to him.”
The movie, titled “Madame Web,” turned out to be a financial disappointment. It required $80 million to produce, but managed to gross only $100 million at the box office, falling short by 45.05% of what was needed for it to break even. The film faced numerous issues such as a poorly written script, unconvincing acting, negative audience feedback, and little resemblance to the source comics, which ultimately led to its poor performance. Additionally, “Madame Web” received a low score of 11% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer, indicating that it was panned by critics as well.
The Watchers
In a new directorial venture, Ishana Night Shyamalan, daughter of M. Night Shyamalan, has brought us the film “The Watchers.” M. Night Shyamalan himself produced this movie. Dakota Fanning, Georgia Campbell, and others star in this tale about Mina (played by Fanning), who ends up lost in an unexplored forest in Ireland. She discovers a place of refuge but finds herself confined with some unfamiliar faces as terrifying creatures amass outside each night.
As a movie enthusiast, I must admit that “The Watchers” didn’t seem to resonate with many viewers as it garnered a 32% “rotten” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics’ negative reviews, often pointing towards its unengaging narrative and excessive exposition, might have kept audiences at bay from the theaters.
Critics noted similarities in Shyamalan’s directorial approach to that of his father’s, some going as far as accusing the family of nepotism. The budget for “The Watchers” was moderately high at $30 million. Regrettably, the film’s earnings barely surpassed its production cost, managing to gross only $32.9 million, which left it 54.95% short of the necessary revenue to turn a profit.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
The “Mad Max” series appeared to be defunct until director George Miller rekindled it with 2015’s “Mad Max: Fury Road.” Although the film didn’t achieve blockbuster status, it garnered enough acclaim, along with six Oscar wins, to enable Miller to proceed with 2024’s “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.” This prequel delves into the backstory and adventures of its central character, Furiosa, who made her debut in “Fury Road” portrayed by Charlize Theron.
In the leading role was Anya Taylor-Joy in the film titled “Furiosa”. This movie delivered the typical action, explosions, high-speed chases, and chaos that fans have come to anticipate from this series. However, the production cost a substantial $168 million, which meant the film had a steep target for recouping its costs. After earning $172.7 million, “Furiosa” managed to secure only 51.42% of the revenue required to cover its expenses.
The movie, titled “Furiosa,” received overwhelming praise from critics with a 90% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Yet, despite this success, it underperformed significantly at the box office. This unexpected flop may be attributed to several factors: the recasting of the lead role, the tendency for prequels to struggle, and the substantial gap between the release of “Fury Road” and “Furiosa,” nearly a decade. It’s a pity that this high-quality film didn’t perform as well as it could have with a lower budget.
Lisa Frankenstein
As a fan, I’ve noticed that horror-comedy blends frequently thrive due to their lower production costs, often leading to box office success. However, it’s important to remember that not every blend is a hit, and “Lisa Frankenstein” unfortunately falls into the category of failed horror comedies. This film revolves around a teenage girl named Lisa (Kathryn Newton), who harbors an unusual affection for a corpse.
In the movie titled “Lisa Frankenstein,” Lisa revives her lover, and they embark on a voyage that intertwines love and murder as they seek to replace his deteriorating body parts continuously. This film is one of those that elicits divided opinions among critics and viewers. Critics have given it a 52% “rotten” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, whereas the audience seems to be more enthusiastic, giving it an 81% score.
The movie “Lisa Frankenstein,” which is heavy on humor rather than realism, isn’t unusual in this regard. Despite positive reviews from audiences, it struggled financially at the box office. Produced with a budget of $13 million, it disappointingly earned only about $10 million worldwide. This means it made less than 40% of what it needed to break even. The poor performance is believed to be due to ineffective marketing, release during Super Bowl weekend, and a brief theater run.
Argylle
As a gamer, I’d put it like this: “I stumbled upon ‘Argylle’, a witty spy thriller, featuring Bryce Dallas Howard as Elly Conway – an introverted author on the verge of publishing her fifth novel starring Aubrey Argylle (played by Henry Cavill). Just when I thought she was about to wrap it up, she’s drawn into a mind-bending espionage web. Her writing seems to mirror reality, and I find myself questioning: is my fictional world intertwining with the real one? The suspense has me on the edge of my seat, trying to unravel the mystery of my role in this intricate puzzle.”
The movie titled “Argylle” boasts an impressive ensemble featuring Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson, and more talented actors. With a hefty production budget of $200 million, the film’s earnings fell short, amassing only $96 million worldwide. This translates to the movie earning just 24.06% of its break-even point. Despite garnering negative reviews from critics with a 33% “rotten” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it managed to gain a 72% approval rating from its audience.
As a passionate moviegoer, I can’t help but share my thoughts on why “Argylle” didn’t quite hit the mark at the box office. Beyond its substantial cost, there were a few other factors that contributed to its underperformance. For instance, the marketing campaign was rather puzzling, giving the impression that Henry Cavill had a larger role than he actually did.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
2024 hasn’t been Henry Cavill’s most successful year as an actor, with two of his major releases, “Argylle” and “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare”, underperforming at the box office. Not long after “Argylle” fell flat, “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” also missed its financial targets. However, despite these poor box office performances, “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” was a brilliant example of spy action comedy, hitting all the right notes in terms of plot and humor.
The movie presents a fictional account based on true events, where an undercover team of operatives, operating outside official channels, managed to destroy a Nazi submarine base during World War II. Critics rated it with a “fresh” score of 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences were more enthusiastic, giving the film “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” an audience rating of 93%.
The movie “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” was estimated to have cost around $60 million to make, but given the elaborate sets, star-studded cast, and advanced visual effects, this wasn’t an excessive amount. Unfortunately, despite these investments, the film only managed to earn $27.5 million during its cinema run, which represents a meager 22.88% of its break-even point. This suggests that the movie may have struggled due to a limited release and intense competition, potentially leading to its failure.
Drive-Away Dolls
As a gamer, I recently took on a new project: “Drive-Away Dolls,” my first film as a sole director, stepping out from the usual duo with my brother Joel Coen. For years, we’ve been creating mid-sized hits together that critics loved, and while our latest creation may not have resonated with audiences to the same extent, it certainly didn’t disappoint the critics.
“Drive-Away Dolls” – A humorous crime-road trip movie featuring friends Jamie (Margaret Qualley) and Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan), who happen to be lesbians. During their journey to Tallahassee, Florida, they unintentionally get entangled in a criminal scheme.
1. The movie earned approximately $7.9 million at the cinema, which represents around 19.82% of its break-even point. Despite several factors contributing to “Drive-Away Dolls” underperforming at the box office, its marketing strategy was the major cause for concern. The 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike pushed back its premiere, disrupting its launch and limiting awareness about it among potential viewers.
Fly Me to the Moon
In a romantic comedy with a period setting, “Fly Me to the Moon” features Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum. This movie takes place during the Space Race and focuses on the romance that develops between a NASA director (Tatum) overseeing the Apollo 11 launch and a marketing expert (Johansson), who is brought in to stage a hoax Moon landing if the actual mission encounters trouble.
Generally, romantic comedies aren’t known for their high costs, but “Fly Me to the Moon” was an exception. It took a substantial amount of money to establish its period setting, totaling a production budget of approximately $100 million. This high cost meant that the movie needed to earn at least $200 million just to break even, which is a significant demand for a romantic comedy.
Reflecting back, the cinematic journey titled “Fly Me to the Moon” raked in an impressive $39.6 million at the box office. Regrettably, this figure represents only 19.73% of its break-even point, marking it as one of the year’s most notable financial disappointments.
Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1
Kevin Costner has consistently admired grand films, achieving significant recognition with “Dances With Wolves” among others. In an ambitious move, Costner planned a massive undertaking titled “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1,” which was slated to be the first installment of a four-part series that he would direct, act in, co-write, and co-produce. However, this ambitious endeavor didn’t yield the expected success, resulting in substantial financial losses.
In the production of “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1,” both this chapter and Chapter 2 were filmed concurrently, amounting to a total cost of $100 million. This means that each film in the trilogy had to bring in at least half of that sum, or $50 million, to cover their costs. Sadly, the first film managed only $32.7 million, which is a mere 16.34% of its required earnings. Furthermore, critics were less than enthusiastic about Kevin Costner’s vision, assigning it a “rotten” rating of 49% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Due to the poor performance of the initial release, the planned sequel to the movie, titled “Chapter 2”, was taken out of its scheduled August 2024 premiere. Although it had been filmed and prepared for a cinema debut, the lackluster success of the first film forced a change in plans. Instead, it premiered at the Venice Film Festival rather than having a wider release across theaters. At this stage, it remains uncertain whether the next two installments will be released at all.
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2024-08-16 14:31