20 Box Office Fails That Shocked Hollywood

Sometimes, everything about a movie suggests it’s going to be a hit. The cast is packed with A-listers, the trailers are everywhere, and early buzz sounds promising. It looks like a box office win—until it isn’t. These are the films that had all the right ingredients on paper but ended up falling flat when it actually mattered: in theaters.

Justice League

Warner Bros. poured $300 million into Justice League, aiming to match Marvel’s team-up success. But when the dust settled, it pulled in just $657.9 million worldwide. Director swaps, rushed reshoots, and lukewarm reviews led to estimated losses between $50–100 million—despite a cast stacked with nearly every major DC superhero.

Joker: Folie à Deux

Turns out hype doesn’t always sell. Joker: Folie à Deux raked in $206 million globally—not terrible, but hardly a win on a $200 million budget. Critics weren’t kind either, and Warner Bros. may be down nearly $200 million. For a sequel built on buzz, it fizzled fast.

Cats

Universal’s 2019 Cats adaptation was loaded with stars—Jennifer Hudson, Judi Dench, Idris Elba, and Taylor Swift. But even a $95 million price tag wasn’t enough to keep it afloat. Audiences recoiled at its visual effects, and the film barely clawed in $75.5 million worldwide, losing the studio an estimated $71–113 million.

Around the World in 80 Days

Jackie Chan was fresh off Rush Hour fame, but even his star power couldn’t help this bloated 2004 remake. With a $110 million budget and a weak $72.6 million global haul, it flopped hard. It’s mostly remembered now for being Arnold Schwarzenegger’s last pre-governor film and even that’s a stretch.

A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time had big names, big dreams, and a $103 million budget. But the numbers didn’t follow. It made $133.2 million globally, which sounds fine—until you factor in massive marketing costs. Disney ended up losing nearly $70 million, proving star power doesn’t always equal box office gold.

Evan Almighty

In 2007, Evan Almighty hit theaters as the most expensive comedy ever made. Steve Carell and Morgan Freeman took the spotlight, and Universal anticipated a major success. Instead, earnings fell short of the $175 million price tag. The fallout discouraged similar projects and ushered in a more cautious era of high-budget comedy filmmaking.

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas

Even with Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta-Jones lending voices, Sinbad sank. DreamWorks’ 2003 animated adventure cost $60 million but earned only $80.8 million globally. Additionally, marketing and distribution costs ballooned losses to about $125 million. It also became one of the reasons DreamWorks pivoted away from traditional animation entirely.

Stealth

Sony’s $135 million gamble on Stealth backfired spectacularly. Despite a cast led by Jamie Foxx and Jessica Biel, it scraped together just $79.3 million worldwide. Poor reviews and generic plotting sank its chances, and the film reportedly cost the studio more than $50 million when all expenses were tallied.

The Marvels

The Marvels carried a $270 million price tag and brought in just $206.1 million in returns. Audiences seemed disengaged, citing fatigue and lackluster promotion. Poor debut numbers and fading appeal in key international territories contributed to Disney’s losses and raised questions about the future direction of the superhero genre.

Alice Through the Looking Glass

After Alice in Wonderland crossed $1 billion, Disney expected a repeat. But 2016’s Alice Through the Looking Glass opened to just $26.9 million domestically and stalled at $299.5 million at global screenings. With a $170 million budget, losses hovered around $70 million—proving not every hit can spawn a sequel.

Sahara

Matthew McConaughey and Penélope Cruz couldn’t save Sahara from quicksand. Production costs ballooned to $160 million, and the film only made $119 million globally. Legal issues, reshoots, and bloated location budgets led to losses around $78 million. In fact, it also became a case study in how not to manage blockbuster logistics.

Hugo

Martin Scorsese’s Hugo earned raves and awards—but not profits.Made for $156 million, the family fantasy finished its run with $185.8 million in ticket sales. Plus, marketing pushed losses to an estimated $100 million. It’s a reminder that even prestigious films by legendary directors aren’t immune to financial heartbreak.

Dolittle

Robert Downey Jr.’s first post-Marvel outing was Dolittle—and it was a mess. Budgeted at $175 million, it grossed $251.4 million worldwide. Critics slammed its tone and storytelling, and with inflated marketing costs, Universal faced losses between $50 and $100 million. Downey’s talking-animal detour didn’t charm audiences or critics.

Alexander

Oliver Stone’s Alexander featured stars like Colin Farrell and Angelina Jolie and came with a $155 million budget. It earned $167.3 million across markets, but harsh reviews and a 65% second-week drop tanked momentum. Even after multiple re-edits, the film failed to recover, costing Warner Bros. around $71 million.

Green Lantern

With a $200 million budget and big franchise plans, Green Lantern was meant to launch DC’s cosmic heroes. But it grossed just $219.9 million worldwide. Critics panned it, fans shrugged, and sequel plans vanished. Bomb Report pegged losses at $75 million, making it a costly misfire for Warner Bros.

Pan

Pan was supposed to be a whimsical Peter Pan origin story. Instead, its $150 million budget met just $128.9 million in returns. Backlash over Rooney Mara’s casting as Tiger Lily, coupled with her lack of audience connection, helped sink the film—leaving Warner Bros. out up to $150 million.

Ali

Ali had awards buzz and a powerhouse performance from Will Smith, yet its $118 million budget far outpaced its $87.7 million return. Production delays and location shifts raised costs, and despite solid reviews, the film struggled to pull audiences into theaters.

Poseidon

The 2006 remake Poseidon carried a $160 million production price tag and earned $181.7 million at the box office. Still, expensive marketing, tepid reviews, and lack of star power weighed it down. Without strong domestic momentum Warner Bros. lost tens of millions in the process.

The BFG

Steven Spielberg’s 2016 adaptation of The BFG cost Disney $140 million and brought in $195.2 million at the box office. Even with Roald Dahl’s name and Spielberg’s touch, the film struggled against heavy hitters like Finding Dory and The Secret Life of Pets. Overshadowed by animated juggernauts, it failed to connect with broader audiences.

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Solo was Disney’s attempt to dig into Han Solo’s backstory. Instead, its $275–300 million budget collided with a lukewarm $393.2 million return. Directorial drama, franchise fatigue, and mixed fan reception led to losses between $76 and $123 million—making it the first Star Wars movie labeled a flop.