Top 10 Another Biggest Box Office Bombs
Script written by Fred Humphries
Another Top 10 Biggest Box Office Bombs
Hollywood never seems to learn its lesson. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for Another Top 10 Biggest Box Office Bombs.
For this list, we’re basing our definition of failure not just on how much of a financial flop a film was, but also on how much hype or expectation there was surrounding it prior to release. We’re also taking into consideration the critical reception and are comparing the funds put into marketing and advertising with box office returns.
#10: “R.I.P.D” (2013)
Fancy a supernatural action-comedy led by Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges? Your first reaction may be, “Heck yeah! Get me a ticket!” As soon as you sit down to watch this box office bomb, however, you’re guaranteed to regret that decision. With estimated losses of up to $114 million, “R.I.P.D.”’s generic humor and lazy plot about two dead cops hunting lost souls sorely let down a movie that may actually have had quite a bit of potential. Talk about a picture that was literally dead on arrival.
#9: “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within” (2001)
We know that pretty much any film based on a video game is going to be terrible, but many hoped that this computer-animated sci-fi flick based on the hugely popular RPG series would finally deliver. Alas, “The Spirits Within” was truly a final fantasy for Square Pictures. The games are driven by their compelling stories, but the film counterpart lacked any semblance of an interesting plot. While the animation was praised, so much was spent on the production that the film was estimated to have lost almost $95 million.
#8: “Jack the Giant Slayer” (2013)
This retelling of well-known fairytales was given the full treatment when it came to its special effects, but never received a good enough story to justify such a monetary outlay for its CGI. The public clearly agreed and an approximate loss of $100 million is a testament to the fact that modern filmgoers are no longer wowed by effects alone. A protracted production cycle that began way back in 2005 meant that too many minds added their ideas to the mix, making for a real hot mess of a plot and a disappointing showing at the box office.
#7: “Titan A.E.” (2000)
Combining animation techniques does bring new life to the visuals of science fiction movies, but that’s the only element of this title that breaks any ground for the genre. Telling the tale of a spacecraft in a post-apocalyptic world, “Titan A.E.” borrows too many aspects from superior films to ever feel like something that refreshes the saturated market of sci-fi. This lack of imagination may be down to one fired director being replaced by others who were not keen on the genre. Even if that’s not to blame, a $100 million loss suggests something went seriously wrong.
#6: “47 Ronin” (2013)
There was a time in the past when Keanu Reeves’ face on a poster was a simple recipe for success, but that time was about 15 years before the release of this samurai-based fantasy flick. Losing about $150 million, this is the second biggest financial flop ever – when adjusted for inflation. The general lack of excitement for the film, however, means it doesn’t rank higher on this list. The talented cast was provided with superficial roles, while the rest of “47 Ronin” was mundane and hopelessly absent of life.
#5: “Ishtar” (1987)
This action comedy about two lounge singers blundering their way into a Cold War plot had a legendary production cycle that involved a massive budget, creative disputes, personal vendettas, and a camel that ended up getting eaten. Some believe the film is the worst ever made and others believe it is actually rather good, but the controversies surrounding “Ishtar” still couldn’t attract viewers to the cinema. Losing an estimated $40 million, which was especially disastrous back in the late eighties, the film stands up as a brilliantly complex example of the crazy world of Hollywood excess.
#4: “Green Lantern” (2011)
Ryan Reynolds has taken on some questionable projects over the years, but this may well be the worst he has ever done. “The Green Lantern” was a disaster waiting to happen as it went through various states of production for around 15 years. It did no justice to the source material it was based upon as mediocre effects and a laughable script resulted in upwards of $90 million worth of losses. In an era of exceptional comic book films, this dud harkened back to the era of Joel Schumacher and bat nipples.
#3: “John Carter” (2012)
Disney was requiring massive ticket sales for this sci-fi fantasy to make its huge budget back. Unfortunately for the House of Mouse, the general public had little interest in the premise of this overblown film. It did have impressive visuals and relatively enthralling action, but lacked a coherent story and quality acting to support its stronger points. “John Carter” was an unbridled financial disaster for Disney as it lost over $120 million – with some sources claiming up to $200 million. Head honcho Rich Ross was even forced to resign as leader of the company so used to churning out hits.
#2: “The Lone Ranger” (2013)
Another flop that contributed to a tough couple of years for Disney, this Western was torn apart by critics who despised its length, over-reliance on incomprehensible action, and cringe-inducing dialogue. As well as controversy emerging regarding the casting of Johnny Depp as a Native American, the film failed to squeeze any life out of a once popular genre. It also failed to appeal to Disney’s target demographic and ended up losing countless millions, with some estimates calculating up to $120 million. It appears the Lone Ranger will never ride again.
Before we reveal our top flop, here are some honorable, or in this case, dishonorable mentions.
“Aloha” (2015)
“Pan” (2015)
“Jupiter Ascending” (2015)
“Cowboys & Aliens” (2011)
“Astro Boy” (2009)
#1: “Tomorrowland” (2015)
Disney completes their clean sweep of the podium positions on this list with a sci-fi mystery adventure that never quite knew what it was trying to achieve. It flits between all-out action and bombarding you with a cautionary message. The only mystery ends up being how you can fathom the pin-balling plot. It’s still unclear how much money the film lost, but early estimates placed it at up to $75 million, while others calculate an amount closer to $140 million. Just like the fictional world the film takes place in, “Tomorrowland” was ultimately flawed despite so much potential.
Do you agree with our list? Which box office duds did you wisely stay away from? For more interesting top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.