15 Iconic Movies That Shockingly Flopped

Movies That Missed the Mark

Sometimes, a film with the perfect casting and a thrilling plot turns into a huge disappointment the moment it’s released to the theaters. Why?

Well, the reasons are numerous, and we won’t be getting into that. But we do have a list of iconic movies that ended up being a huge flop, so keep reading.

Kingdom of Heaven

Anything that has Ridley Scott and an out-of-the-box theme is supposed to be iconic. However, sadly for the Kingdom of Heaven, this wasn’t quite true.

Despite its massive budget, Kingdom of Heaven garnered poor reviews and didn’t do quite well at the North American box office. The cast was star-studded, including the likes of Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson, Eva Green, and Edward Norton.

Snakes on a Plane

Even though Snakes on a Plane went viral on social media., it didn’t do quite well at the box office. People liked the title, getting a laugh out of it, but just because they found it humorous didn’t mean they were willing to pay to see it.

Starring Samuel L. Jackson, the story follows an FBI agent who takes on a plane full of deadly venomous snakes. Despite getting online attention, no one went to the theater for it.

Children of Men

Starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Cane, and Clare-Hope Ashitey, this dystopian film is considered one of the best films of the 21st century. The film garnered three Oscar nominations for Best Film Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.

However, the movie failed to earn a good amount both worldwide and in the U..S. Universal Pictures. The production cost millions of this Alfonos Cuaron film.

Sunshine

We all know that science fiction films are either a hit or miss. Sadly for Sunshine, directed by Danny Boyle, his film didn’t earn the profit it was expected to do so.

There was a huge difference between the cost incurred and the revenue that the movie brought in, resulting in the film being deemed a “misunderstood masterpiece.”

The cast included Cillian Murphy, Michelle Yeoh, Rose Byrne, and Cliff Curtis.

Scott Pilgrim vs the World

Directed by Edgar Wright, Scott Pilgrim vs the World follows Scott Pilgrim, who, after meeting Ramona, falls in love with her and realizes he’ll have to deal with all seven of her exes to woo the girl.

The Michael Cera-led comedy had quite the potential. However, it ended up being a flop adaptation of the Scott Pilgrim series.

One silver lining was that it launched the careers of newcomers like Brie Larson and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Cowboys & Aliens

What happens when you bring Daniel Craig, our superb James Bond, and Harrison Ford together on the big screen? It’s supposed to create a buzz and garner critical acclaim, but this wasn’t the case for Cowboys and Aliens.

Based on the novel by Andrew Foley and Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, Cowboys and Aliens was a disappointment. Despite a major marketing push and loads of hype, the movie wasn’t seen by many at the theaters.

The Master

The cast, which included Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams, all earned Oscar nominations for their role in The Master. The period drama film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson had a huge opening week.

However, the success was short-term, as it quickly got drowned out by the fall studio films. The film didn’t do well both in the U.S. and worldwide.

Under The Skin

This movie was quite an experimental one and critics agreed over the fact that it was a challenging one too. Casting Scarlett Johansson in a movie with a gripping tale about the aliens didn’t end up being a hit.

The production cost wasn’t that high, and the returns from the film were even lower than the cost. Critical support for the film was through the roof, but the movie ended up being a flop.

Steve Jobs

Yes, that’s the actual name of the movie. Cast members Kate Winslet and Michael Fassbender earned Oscar nominations for their roles in Steve Jobs.

However, Danny Boyle’s directed film failed to bring in audiences. Critics praised the ambitious narrative, which heavily focused on behind-the-scenes drama surrounding three significant product launches made by Steve Jobs, but the movie didn’t do well at attracting viewers.

Justice League

Viewers labeled Justice League 2017 as a “pale imitation” of what Marvel had done years ago. One fact about Justice League is that its original director, Zack Synder, ended up leaving the project in the middle of production.

This reason can be attributed to the film’s failure. Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, portrayed by Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, and Henry Cavill, led to excitement, but the result wasn’t quite liked by the viewers.

Ad Astra

Starring the one and only Brad Pitt, Ad Astra has had several hits to his name, including the Fight Club and Jesse James. However, this reputation of success wasn’t extended for Ad Astra.

The film didn’t do well at the box office. However, it did earn critical acclaim with viewers calling it an “interstellar masterpiece.”

Doctor Sleep

Doctor Sleep had a gripping plot, and why wouldn’t it, especially given the fact that it was based on the Stephen King sequel novel to The Shinning? The cast included Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson, and Emily Alyn Lind.

It’s difficult to outshine The Shinning, and Doctor Sleep largely failed at doing so. The theatrical release wasn’t well-received.

Long Shot

This romantic comedy, directed by Jonathan Levine, featured none other than Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen. However, it ended up being a huge flop for Lionsgate.

Charlize Theron rarely ever made an appearance in comedic films, so this was quite a surprise for the fans. Despite it all, Long Shot couldn’t do well at the U.S. box office.

Babylon

Said to be a misunderstood epic, Babylon struggled at the box office. But it did have a gripping plot and an even more attractive cast that included Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Diego Calva, and Tobey Maguire.

But Damien Chazelle ended up doing too much, and the film was characterized by nothing but a maximalist theme. Unlike Babylon, Margot Robbie’s Barbie was a hit movie.

Check out Margot Robbie’s First Post-‘Barbie’ Film, Promises a Bold 2025 Journey, to see what the talented actress is up to for this year.

Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret

A family-friendly movie that was supposed to be perfect for movie nights quickly disappeared from theaters. This adaptation of Judy Blume’s middle-grade novel, with a splendid casting including Abby Ryder Fortson and Rachel McAdams, ended up making a few millions for its theatrical run.

Looking forward, the year 2025 seems to be jam-packed with brand-new movies ready to take over our screens. Check out The Most Awaited Movies of 2025 for more info about the upcoming movies.

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