The Rise and Fall of Big-Budget Blockbusters
While some films like James Cameron’s Avatar and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) smash hit The Avengers have spawned massive franchises, generating studios trillions of dollars in revenue through ticket sales, merchandising, and licensing, behind each studio’s success lies a long list of disastrous productions that paved the way. Although some films like The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity have unexpectedly dominated the box office with minimal budgets, other big-budget projects designed to be studio cash cows often fall flat when they reach audiences. Despite their high budgets and millions spent on marketing, these films on our list didn’t live up to the sum of their expensive parts.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
Directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Charlie Hunnam, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is a 2017 fantasy epic adventure film inspired by medieval Britain’s Arthurian legends. Featuring a powerful cast including Charlie Hunnam, Jude Law, Aiden Gillen, and Eric Bana, Legend of the Sword was originally intended to serve as the first of six installments in a new Arthurian cinematic universe from Warner Bros. Pictures. With a budget of $175 million, the film underperformed at the box office, earning just over $146 million worldwide, resulting in a total loss of about $150 million for Warner Bros. This failure led to the cancellation of the entire franchise.
Catwoman (2004)
Loosely based on the beloved DC Comics antihero, Catwoman is a 2004 superhero film starring Halle Berry, Benjamin Bratt, Frances Conroy, and Sharon Stone. Frequently cited as one of the worst films of all time, Catwoman received seven Golden Raspberry Award nominations, including Worst Actress, Worst Picture, and Worst Director. Berry humorously accepted her Razzie for Worst Actress in person while holding her Academy Award for Monster’s Ball. Originally envisioned as a spin-off with Michelle Pfeiffer reprising her role as Catwoman from Batman Returns, the film earned just over $82 million against a $100 million budget.
Tomorrowland (2015)
Starring George Clooney, Hugh Laurie, Britt Robertson, and country musician Tim McGraw, Tomorrowland is a 2015 sci-fi film from Walt Disney Studios named after the Disney theme park area. Visually captivating and conceptually ambitious, Tomorrowland seemed to have all the pieces to make for a beautiful sci-fi epic but was bogged down by poor storytelling and uneven pacing. Despite a lukewarm critical reception, it pulled in $209 million worldwide, an underperformance that cost Disney between $120 to $140 million.
A Wrinkle in Time (2018)
Based on Madeleine L’Engle’s 1962 young adult fantasy novel, A Wrinkle in Time (2018) is Disney’s second adaptation of the book, following a lackluster television movie in 2003. Directed by Emmy Award-winning Ava DuVernay, the film featured an all-star cast including Reese Witherspoon, Oprah Winfrey, Chris Pine, Mindy Kaling, and Storm Reid. Despite its potential to become a modern classic, the film tanked at the box office, earning just over $133 million and reportedly costing Disney about $130 million. However, it made history as the first live-action film with a budget exceeding $100 million to be directed by an African American woman.
The Lone Ranger (2013)
Starring Armie Hammer as the titular Lone Ranger and Johnny Depp as his Native American sidekick Tonto, The Lone Ranger was a film seemingly doomed from the start. It languished in development hell for over a decade due to numerous rewrites, budget conflicts, and creative differences. Production faced setbacks such as wildfires, bad weather, and the death of a crew member. After multiple release date changes, it finally opened in July 2013, earning just $30 million on its opening weekend. With a budget of around $375 million, it needed to earn double that to break even. It ended up earning $260.5 million worldwide, costing Disney an estimated $190 million.
Bros (2022)
Co-written by star Bill Eichner and director Nicholas Stoller, Bros is a 2022 romcom following two New York City gay men who find themselves romantically drawn to one another despite fears of commitment. One of the first gay romantic comedies backed by a major studio, Bros was critically acclaimed but underperformed at the box office. With a production budget of $22 million and $30 million spent on marketing, it earned only $14.8 million in ticket sales. Actor Bill Eichner criticized heterosexual moviegoers for the film’s commercial failure, while others attributed the flop to its self-congratulatory marketing and lack of famous cast members.
Cats (2019)
The 2019 adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s polarizing musical Cats was widely panned by critics and quickly labeled one of the worst films ever produced. Despite a star-studded cast including Taylor Swift, Judi Dench, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, and James Corden, the film’s uncanny valley-looking CGI and tawdry production design turned off audiences. With a budget between $80 and $100 million, Cats earned just $75.5 million worldwide, leading Universal Pictures to lose an estimated $70 million after factoring in marketing costs. Even the musical’s creator, Andrew Lloyd Weber, expressed his disdain, stating the adaptation was so poorly executed it pushed him to adopt a dog for the first time in his life.
Deepwater Horizon (2016)
Based on the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill, Deepwater Horizon stars Mark Wahlberg, Kurt Russell, Gina Rodriguez, and John Malkovich. The film follows the offshore drilling rig and its personnel in the hours leading up to and following the disaster that killed 11 workers. Despite receiving positive reviews, the film failed financially, earning just $121.8 million and resulting in a reported $60 million loss for Lionsgate.
