Even the most star-studded and anticipated films can sometimes fail to connect with audiences, leading to massive financial losses. While these films were disappointments at the box office, many have since found niche followings or cult status. They serve as reminders of how unpredictable the movie industry can be. Here’s a look at 20 of the biggest box office disappointments in Hollywood history, along with insights into why they flopped.
John Carter (2012)
Budget: $263 million
Box Office: $284 million
Why It Flopped: With a bloated budget and marketing missteps, John Carter struggled to attract a wide audience. Despite being a visually impressive sci-fi epic, it failed to establish a clear identity.
Losses: Estimated at over $200 million.
©2011 Disney. JOHN CARTER™ ERB, Inc
The Lone Ranger (2013)
Budget: $225 million
Box Office: $260 million
Why It Flopped: A mix of bad reviews, excessive budget, and a disconnection with modern audiences led to this Western’s downfall. Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Tonto was also heavily criticized.
Losses: Around $190 million.
variety
Mars Needs Moms (2011)
Budget: $150 million
Box Office: $39 million
Why It Flopped: The animation style and marketing failed to resonate with kids or parents. It also lacked strong emotional appeal, despite its ambitious visual effects.
Losses: About $100 million.
Disney
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
Budget: $175 million
Box Office: $148 million
Why It Flopped: Poor marketing, a convoluted plot, and stiff competition led to this medieval epic’s quick fall from grace, making it one of the year’s biggest flops.
Losses: $150 million.
Courtesy Warner Bros Entertainment
Cutthroat Island (1995)
Budget: $98 million
Box Office: $10 million
Why It Flopped: Plagued by production issues and a lack of audience interest in pirate-themed movies at the time, Cutthroat Island became one of the biggest financial failures in Hollywood.
Losses: $89 million.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
47 Ronin (2013)
Budget: $175 million
Box Office: $151 million
Why It Flopped: The film’s blend of historical drama and fantasy failed to connect with global audiences. Poor reviews and a complicated production process sealed its fate.
Losses: $98 million.
variety
Pan (2015)
Budget: $150 million
Box Office: $128 million
Why It Flopped: This reimagining of Peter Pan was criticized for its confusing storyline and miscasting. It couldn’t compete against stronger family films.
Losses: $150 million.
Youtube
Waterworld (1995)
Budget: $175 million
Box Office: $264 million
Why It Flopped: Although it eventually broke even, Waterworld was initially considered a disaster due to its ballooning production costs and lackluster box office returns in the U.S.
Losses: Around $50 million initially, though later home video sales helped.
Ben Glass/ Universal Pictures/ Everett
Jupiter Ascending (2015)
Budget: $176 million
Box Office: $183 million
Why It Flopped: Audiences and critics alike found the film’s plot confusing, and it failed to live up to the high expectations set by the Wachowskis’ previous work.
Losses: $100 million.
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002)
Budget: $100 million
Box Office: $7 million
Why It Flopped: This Eddie Murphy sci-fi comedy was panned by critics and failed to attract audiences due to its lackluster humor and unappealing premise.
Losses: $96 million.
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The 13th Warrior (1999)
Budget: $160 million
Box Office: $61 million
Why It Flopped: With production issues and multiple delays, this Viking epic starring Antonio Banderas was unable to find an audience.
Losses: Over $120 million.
Touchstone Pictures
Tomorrowland (2015)
Budget: $190 million
Box Office: $209 million
Why It Flopped: While visually impressive, the movie’s convoluted plot and lack of emotional depth left viewers cold, resulting in disappointing box office performance.
Losses: $120–$140 million.
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Battlefield Earth (2000)
Budget: $73 million
Box Office: $29 million
Why It Flopped: This Scientology-inspired film starring John Travolta was widely criticized for its poor acting, writing, and production, becoming a box office bomb.
Losses: $40 million.
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Monster Trucks (2016)
Budget: $125 million
Box Office: $64 million
Why It Flopped: The odd premise—about real monsters living inside trucks—didn’t resonate with audiences, and the film struggled to attract children or adults.
Losses: Around $120 million.
Kimberley French/ Paramount Pictures
The BFG (2016)
Budget: $140 million
Box Office: $195 million
Why It Flopped: Despite being directed by Steven Spielberg and based on a beloved Roald Dahl story, The BFG underperformed at the box office, likely due to low interest from family audiences.
Losses: $100 million.
imdb
Stealth (2005)
Budget: $135 million
Box Office: $79 million
Why It Flopped: Audiences weren’t interested in the movie’s premise of an AI-controlled fighter jet, and poor reviews further doomed its financial prospects.
Losses: $96 million.
imdb
R.I.P.D. (2013)
Budget: $130 million
Box Office: $78 million
Why It Flopped: Despite a star-studded cast featuring Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds, the film’s derivative plot and lack of originality were its downfall.
Losses: $100 million.
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Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)
Budget: $60 million
Box Office: $80 million
Why It Flopped: DreamWorks Animation’s Sinbad struggled at the box office due to a lack of interest in traditional animation and stiff competition from CGI films like Finding Nemo.
Losses: $125 million.
imdb
The Alamo (2004)
Budget: $107 million
Box Office: $25 million
Why It Flopped: This historical epic was poorly received for its slow pacing and lack of compelling characters, leading to dismal box office numbers.
Losses: Over $80 million.
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Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)
Budget: $137 million
Box Office: $85 million
Why It Flopped: Despite groundbreaking CGI for its time, the film’s confusing plot and lack of connection to the popular video game series alienated fans and general audiences alike.
Losses: $94 million.
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