Every movie is a major investment, to some extent. Naturally, some require a heftier monetary investment than others, with the scale ranging from barebones affairs likeThe Blair Witch Projectall the way to record-breakers likeAvengers: Endgame. Either way, filmmakers throw a lot into the pot in the hopes that audiences will show up to fill seats (especially on opening weekend).
Unfortunately, often, people don’t show up and the movie exits over 2,000 theaters just as quickly as it entered them. This is especially crushing when it comes to mega-movie blockbusters with a price tag comparable to the scope of the narrative. And those are the movies that follow, those with a huge budget and averydisappointing level of audience interest. All specific financial information was provided by Box Office Mojo.
15The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)
The Chronicles of Riddick
While it was an admirable attempt to establish the universe established inPitch Black, David Twohy’sThe Chronicles of Riddickbit offwaymore than it could chew. The narrative follows Riddick, who has been in self-imposed exile, as a team of mercenaries seeks him out in pursuit of a bounty. But, Riddick gets the upper hand and learns who it was that hired them. Turns out, it was an old friend, one of Riddick’s few, and consider his curiosity begrudgingly peaked.
Why It Failed
Much of the film’s potential success hinged on Vin Diesel’s popularity, and to be fair, it was as strong in 2004 as it is in the 2020s, if not more so. But,Pitch Blackwas not a high budget film, and it wasn’t even that big of a hit, so to put at least $105 million into it hoping audiences would just jump on board with a pre-established character most aren’t even familiar with was a tricky gamble, and it didn’t pay off.
Stream it on Prime Video
14The Alamo (2004)
John Lee Hancock’sThe Alamowas backed by Disney and fronted with big-name cast members, but it was a big swing and a miss at the box office. The watered down retelling of historical events included the required Davy Crockett (Billy Bob Thornton) and Jim Bowie (Jason Patric), but any prospective ticket buyer who took an American history class knows that there’s no way to tell the story convincingly with a PG-13 rating.
With a price tag exceeding $100 million,The Alamohad a tough hill to climb, and its final domestic gross of $22 million wasn’t nearly enough to make the investment worth it.The Passion of the Christwas in its seventh weekend whenThe Alamohit theaters, yet the former nabbed first place while the latter debuted in fourth, after fellow newcomerJohnson Family Vacation, which was playing in just over half as many theaters as Hancock’s big-budget war film.
The Passionwas just too much of a juggernaut forThe Alamoto build any buzz, retaining the focus of the individuals Hancock’s film was trying to nab. Specifically, adults, most of whom were too puzzled byThe Alamo’s PG-13 rating to see it.
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13Alexander (2004)
WhileAlexanderhas supposedly causedColin Farrell to feel shame, he shouldn’t beat himself up. He’s still one of the most talented actors of his generation. The narrative follows Farrell’s Alexander the Great as he endures a complex relationship with his mother and an insatiable hunger for power.
Period pieces often have a hard time at the box office, especially when negative publicity starts brewing ahead of time. Essentially, what later happened toExodus: Gods and Kingshappened toAlexander, just without the entirely fair accusations of whitewashing.
Rent it on Prime Video and Apple TV+
12Evan Almighty (2007)
Evan Almighty
Some movies become a punchline on late night talk shows before they even hit theaters. They typically involve a huge budget, a high concept, and a lot of worried investors. For instance,Titanic. Or, on the other side of the coin,Evan Almighty. The plot of the latter followsBruce Almighty’s Evan Baxter who, like Bruce before him, has God (Morgan Freeman) intervene in his life. But, this time, God has a specific task: build an ark.
By the timeEvan Almighty’s production wrapped up, it found itself the most expensive comedy film ever produced. With a whopping $175 million budget, it needed to appear to a wide audience, yet its PG rating (Bruce Almightywas PG-13) was an attempt to do so. But it backfired, alienating fans of the original’s less kid-friendly humor and failing to appeal to the vast majority of U.S. Christian audience members who prefer their Bible movies a lot more straightforward.
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11Babylon A.D. (2008)
Babylon A.D.
Babylon A.D.stars Vin Diesel as Toorop, a veteran in a dystopian future who has since gravitated towards the higher-paying mercenary life. And, now that he’s been hired by Russian gangster Gosky to secure a young woman, Toorop has to travel from New York City to Asia and back again.
With a budget and total haul both hovering around $70 million,Babylon A.D.didn’t come close to making a profit. The film hit theaters with atrocious reviews and little enthusiasm for a Vin Diesel film that wasn’t related to theFast & Furiousfranchise.
Stream it on Hulu
10Green Lantern (2011)
Green Lantern
Green Lanternfollows Ryan Reynolds' Hal Jordan as he finds himself gifted with a special ring, one that can create whatever he’s imagining. And, now that a mad scientist is on the loose, it’s time for Jordan to put his usual selfish tendencies aside and become a hero.
2011 was a packed year for superhero movies, withX-Men: First Class,Thor, andCaptain America: The First Avengerall performing respectably. Butthis was not the casefor Martin Campbell’s bloatedGreen Lantern, which had the highest budget of them all and was the only one to look painfully generic. It even alienated fans with its numerous alterations of the source material, and by the time Campbell’s movie left theaters, it had amassed only $220 million worldwide against a $200 million price tag.
Stream it on Prime Video and Max
9Battleship (2012)
Battleship
Peter Berg’sBattleshiptells the story of the U.S. Navy’s battle against an invading extraterrestrial species. At the center is Lieutenant Alex Hopper, who just so happens to be in a committed relationship with his superior officer, Admiral Terrance Shane.
Battleshipwas one of those movies that started gaining a negative reputation even before the first trailer dropped. Making a film out of such a simplistic game is an inherently silly idea. As is the inclusion of aliens. Prospective ticket buyers took notice and chose to seeThe Avengersa third time.
Stream it on Peacock and DIRECTV
847 Ronin (2013)
One year beforeJohn Wickreignited Keanu Reeves' bankability at the box office, he starred in this commendable big-budget misfire.47 Ronintells the lavish tale of a warrior with mixed blood (Keanu Reeves) who has always been an outcast in his Japanese surroundings. But, when the Lord that once rejected his offer of service now calls on him to pick up his sword, Kai doesn’t hold ill will and fights for his land.
Releasing47 Roninduring the holiday movie season was an interesting idea, but it wasn’t exactly the type of movie people would go out to see on Christmas Day. Furthermore, genre-blenders like the film often have a very hard time finding a wide audience unless they’re already connected to an IP that audiences know and trust.
Stream it on Peacock
7Gods of Egypt (2016)
Gods of Egypt
Alex Proyas has crafted some inventive films, e.g.The CrowandDark City, butGods of Egyptis nothing more than gloss and incomprehensible plotting. The narrative follows a god, Horus, as he and the people he lords over are threatened by one of his peers. Namely, Set, who intends to dominate Egypt with magic and bloodshed.
Gods of Egyptwas another film rightly accused of whitewashing. But, that wasn’t enough to sink it. Most of the credit for that needs to go to the film’s marketing materials, which made it look like an inferior version of any number of other better blockbusters.
Stream it on fuboTV and DIRECTV or with ads on Tubi TV and Pluto TV
6King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
King Arthur: Legend of the Swordfollows the titular character from his early days on the streets all the way to his securing the throne from the man responsible for his parents' deaths: Vortigern. Now, the latter has learned of the former’s skills, and the two set off on a collision course that will end with only one of them holding what amounts to an unbeatable sword.
Even withSons of Anarchy’s Charlie Hunnam, Jude Law, and Aidan Gillen leading the cast list,King Arthur: Legend of the Sworddid not have nearly enough to stand out in 2017’s summer movie season (it was released just one week afterGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2). Not to mention, period piece actioners likeKing Arthurdon’t tend to do well unless they’re part of a pre-established IP e.g.The Lord of the Rings, so why Ritchie’s film had nearly $200 million funneled into it is a mystery.
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