Top 10 Movie Flops That Should Have Been Blockbusters

Expectations can make or break a movie. Hollywood knows this and uses the internet to build hype. But sometimes, even with all the buzz, some movies just don’t deliver. These are the films that, for one reason or another, crashed and burned despite huge anticipation. Let’s explore ten massive movie flops that everyone thought would be amazing.

Entourage (2015)

“Entourage” was a hit on HBO for eight seasons, wrapping up in 2011. Fans loved the show about Vincent Chase, a young actor, and his crew. When a movie was announced as a final chapter, excitement exploded. It was supposed to be a grand send-off for the characters we all enjoyed watching.

But the “Entourage” movie arrived too late. The show had lost its cultural relevance. By the time the movie hit theaters four years later, most people had moved on. Those who did see it were underwhelmed. Word of mouth killed its box office chances, leading to a significant flop.^[1]

Sucker Punch (2011)

Zack Snyder is known for his divisive films, like “Batman v Superman.” But his 2006 hit, “300,” is widely considered his best. After “Watchmen,” anticipation for his next project, “Sucker Punch,” was huge. The trailers promised stunning visuals and a return to form for Snyder with his first original screenplay.

“Sucker Punch” had inventive action, but was heavily criticized for poor performances and a confusing story. It bombed at the box office, losing millions, and is now considered Snyder’s worst movie. Since then, his movies have become controversial topics for debate among fans.^[2]

Glass (2019)

M. Night Shyamalan made a comeback with 2016’s “Split.” This movie, about three kidnapped girls held by a man with 24 personalities, surprised audiences. The big reveal was that it was a sequel to Shyamalan’s “Unbreakable.” This led to the announcement of “Glass,” bringing both movies together. Hype went through the roof, but the actual product didn’t sit too well with audiences.

“Glass” was a huge letdown for viewers and critics. Some were shocked, others weren’t, knowing Shyamalan’s inconsistent track record. Despite stars like Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis, the movie failed to deliver. While its box office was decent, it was still disappointing which led Shyamalan himself to admit to crying because of the reception the movie got.^[3]

Only God Forgives (2013)

Nicolas Winding Refn is a polarizing director. Some see him as a genius, others as pretentious. His 2011 film “Drive” is considered a masterpiece, so there was excitement for “Only God Forgives.” Refn teamed up with Ryan Gosling again. Expectations were high, but this ended up being a recipe for disaster.

“Only God Forgives” was booed at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013. It was criticized for excessive violence, masking a boring plot, with no depth to offer. Gosling’s performance was praised, but the rest was rejected. The film bombed and quickly vanished from theaters.^[4]

The Dark Tower (2017)

Stephen King’s works have created a cinema and television empire. With “IT,” “Doctor Sleep,” and “Stranger Things,” audiences get excited when his name is attached to a project, even without knowing the source material. When “The Dark Tower,” starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, was announced, people were ecstatic.

The trailer hinted at an ambitious prequel to King’s novel, followed by a TV show continuing the story. The project was unique, but the final product was anything but satisfying.

“The Dark Tower” was a total failure which eventually led to every plant for sequels being cancelled, and the TV show that was meant to continue the story of the film died in its development stage, leaving audiences with a colossal sense of disappointment.^[5]

After Earth (2013)

A sci-fi movie starring Will Smith and his son Jaden on an alien planet generated buzz. When that planet was revealed to be Earth in the distant future, excitement grew. The mystery and the appeal of the Smiths in a sci-fi adventure hooked people, but the hype quickly died down.

M. Night Shyamalan directed “After Earth,” a detail the marketing avoided due to his reputation following movies like “The Last Airbender”.

“After Earth” was called horrible. Will Smith had a small role, and Jaden’s performance was widely mocked. Will Smith apologized for the film, calling it his most painful failure.^[6]

The Tourist (2011)

“The Tourist” was a remake of the French thriller “Anthony Zimmer”. Initially, it didn’t generate much buzz. But when Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie joined the cast, anticipation soared. Their first on-screen appearance together created hype.

Despite decent box office numbers, “The Tourist” was panned by critics and audiences. It was called boring, focusing too much on visuals. The writing was seen as lazy, and Jolie and Depp’s performances were disappointing. The film faded from memory quickly.^[7]

The Last Airbender (2010)

Nickelodeon’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is a beloved animated show with a huge fanbase. When M. Night Shyamalan (again!) announced a movie adaptation, there was hope. The teaser was perfect, making it one of the most anticipated movies of the 2010s.

Now one of the worst movies ever, “The Last Airbender” was a disaster. It was criticized for poor acting, writing, and effects. It failed at the box office, leading to the cancellation of sequels. The film has a 5% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and Shyamalan still addresses it in interviews.^[8]

Suicide Squad (2016)

Following the disappointing “Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice,” DC’s “Suicide Squad” was highly anticipated. Trailers promised fun action with a great cast and Jared Leto’s Joker. Fans hoped it would fix DC’s problems which ultimately it failed to do.

“Suicide Squad” was seen as messy with a terrible villain. It underperformed at the box office, and Jared Leto’s Joker faced heavy backlash. His Joker was written out of the franchise, and the sequel became a reboot. The director blamed the studio who rushed the production, and excluded him from the editing process.^[9]

Jupiter Ascending (2015)

The Wachowskis, creators of “The Matrix,” still get hype. After some divisive projects, “Jupiter Ascending” looked like a comeback. It was their most hyped movie since “The Matrix” trilogy, but it came up short of expectations.

“Jupiter Ascending” had inventive visuals. However, it lacked in story and performances. Eddie Redmayne’s villain was monotonous. It bombed at the box office, losing millions, and became the Wachowskis’ most disappointing project.^[10]

These movies all had potential based on hype, talent, or source material. But for various reasons, they didn’t live up to expectations, becoming notable flops that left audiences disappointed.

What movies do you think should have been a hit but weren’t? Leave your comments below!