A Bomb They Were — 6 Films which Flopped Miserably at the Box Office
Over the years, there have been a number of films that have received widespread critical and commercial acclaim and have become cultural touchstones. However, for every blockbuster success, there are also a number of films that have bombed hard and have been largely forgotten by audiences and critics alike. In this article, we will take a look at some of the movies that have bombed very hard and explore the reasons behind their failure.
The Lone Ranger (2013): The Lone Ranger was a high-budget action-adventure film that starred Johnny Depp as Tonto, the Native American sidekick of the titular character. The film was directed by Gore Verbinski, who had previously directed the successful Pirates of the Caribbean films, and was written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, the writers of the Pirates films. Despite its impressive pedigree, The Lone Ranger was a massive flop and was widely panned by critics. The film was criticized for its bloated runtime, incoherent plot, and over-the-top action sequences, and was a commercial disaster, grossing just over $260 million on a budget of $225 million. The Lone Ranger was a major disappointment for Disney, which had hoped to launch a new franchise based on the iconic character.
John Carter (2012): John Carter was a science fiction film that was based on the novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs and followed the adventures of a Civil War veteran who is transported to Mars. The film was directed by Andrew Stanton, who had previously directed the successful Pixar films Finding Nemo and WALL-E, and was written by Stanton, Mark Andrews, and Michael Chabon. Despite its impressive creative team, John Carter was a major flop and was widely panned by critics. The film was criticized for its convoluted plot, wooden performances, and generic action sequences, and was a commercial disaster, grossing just over $200 million on a budget of $250 million. John Carter was a major disappointment for Disney, which had hoped to launch a new franchise based on the popular character.
The Fifth Element (1997): The Fifth Element was a science fiction film that was directed by Luc Besson and starred Bruce Willis as a taxi driver who is tasked with saving the world from a powerful alien threat. The film was praised for its imaginative world-building, over-the-top action sequences, and colorful performances, but was also criticized for its thin plot and wooden acting. Despite its initial success, The Fifth Element has largely been forgotten by audiences and has not spawned any sequels or spin-offs. The film grossed just over $263 million on a budget of $90 million, which was considered a disappointment given its high-profile cast and crew.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010): The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was the third film in the Chronicles of Narnia franchise, which was based on the novels by C.S. Lewis. The film was directed by Michael Apted and starred Ben Barnes as Prince Caspian and Georgie Henley as Lucy Pevensie. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was a commercial disappointment and was widely panned by critics. The film was criticized for its thin plot, wooden performances, and lack of character development, and grossed just over $415 million on a budget of $155 million. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was the final film in the franchise and marked the end of the series.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016): Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was a superhero film that was directed by Zack Snyder and starred Ben Affleck as Batman and Henry Cavill as Superman. The film was intended to be the start of a new franchise based on the DC Comics characters and was meant to set the stage for future films in the series. However, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was a critical and commercial disappointment and was widely panned by critics. The film was criticized for its convoluted plot, heavy-handed themes, and lack of character development, and grossed just over $873 million on a budget of $250 million. Despite its initial success, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice did not launch the planned franchise and was seen as a major setback for Warner Bros. and the DC Comics universe.
Fantastic Four (2015): Fantastic Four was a superhero film that was based on the Marvel Comics characters and followed the adventures of a team of scientists who are transformed into superpowered beings. The film was directed by Josh Trank and starred Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell. Fantastic Four was a critical and commercial disappointment and was widely panned by critics. The film was criticized for its thin plot, wooden performances, and lack of character development, and grossed just over $168 million on a budget of $120 million. Fantastic Four was a major disappointment for 20th Century Fox, which had hoped to launch a new franchise based on the popular characters.
In conclusion, there have been a number of films that have bombed very hard over the years and have been largely forgotten by audiences and critics alike. These films have struggled to find an audience and have not lived up to the expectations of their studios or creators. Despite their initial success, these films have not launched franchises or spawned sequels, and have largely been relegated to the dustbin of cinematic history.
