20 Movies That Made Millions Despite Being Terrible

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’ve often found myself astounded by movies that fill up cinemas and rake in massive profits, despite being panned by critics. The allure of strong marketing, the charm of star power, or the devotion of a loyal fanbase can transform even the most mediocre films into box office sensations. This phenomenon serves as a constant reminder that, while money is essential, it doesn’t always equate to quality in the world of cinema.

This piece lists 20 unimpressive movies that managed to earn millions, investigating why they fell flat in terms of quality but thrived financially. From poorly executed sequels to botched remakes, these films demonstrate how hype can often overshadow genuine value.

God’s Not Dead 2 (2016)

‘God’s Not Dead 2’: A Courtroom Battle Over Faith, Featuring Melissa Joan Hart

In essence, this movie portrays a teacher standing up for her beliefs in the court of law. The 2016 production, however, delivers its message bluntly and relies on outdated stereotypes and a flimsy narrative that resembles a religious sermon more than a compelling storyline.

The film received harsh criticism for its simplicity, garnering only a 9% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, despite the poor reviews, it managed to rake in an impressive $24 million globally, thanks to a devoted Christian fanbase, who made it successful even on a budget of just $5 million.

Pledge This! (2006)

‘Pledge This!’ – A Rough Comedy Showcasing Sorority Shenanigans featuring Paris Hilton. Released in 2006, this film’s immature humor and chaotic plot earned it a zero rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics labeling it an unproductive use of talent, due to its lackluster performance.

Regardless of the criticism it faced, it managed to gross approximately $43 million worldwide, possibly because of Paris Hilton’s notoriety in the tabloids. On a shoestring budget and with a straight-to-video release strategy, it still made a profit, despite its poor quality.

Piranha 3DD (2012)

As a passionate movie buff, I’d say ‘Piranha 3DD’ is my pick for a horror-comedy sequel where menacing fish take over a waterpark in the year 2012. This film cranks up the campiness with some outlandish scenes that stretch the boundaries of logic, such as an injury caused by piranhas that seems almost unbelievable. The result? A Rotten Tomatoes rating of just 14%.

The film earned $8.5 million globally, largely due to the enthusiasm of fans of quirky horror genres and appearances from celebrities such as David Hasselhoff. Its modest budget and specialized audience contributed significantly to its profits.

The Hottie and the Nottie (2008)

In the movie ‘The Hottie and the Nottie’, starring Paris Hilton, we find a character who refuses to date until her less attractive friend finds love. Released in 2008 as a romantic comedy, this film’s superficial storyline and cringe-worthy humor earned it a mere 3% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Thanks to Hilton’s celebrity draw, the movie earned a worldwide revenue of $69 million on a production budget of just $5 million. This substantial profit was made despite the film’s modest expenses and negative reviews from critics who deemed it as a comedic low point.

The Last Airbender (2010)

The movie “The Last Airbender” by M. Night Shyamalan is based on the popular animated series. It tells the story of a young character who can manipulate elements. Unfortunately, the film received poor reviews in 2010 due to wooden acting and a hurried plot development, resulting in a very low 5% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

In awe of its success, I can’t help but marvel at how the movie raked in an impressive $319 million globally, largely due to the widespread popularity of the anime and the allure of 3D ticket sales. The grand budget and spectacular visual effects undeniably attracted audiences, yet it fell short in staying true to the original source material.

Fifty Shades Darker (2017)

‘Fifty Shades Darker’, the follow-up to ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ from 2017, explores more about the romantic relationship between Christian and Ana, with Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson in the lead roles. However, the storyline was found lacking by critics, as evidenced by its 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes due to stiff dialogue.

As I sat down to pen my thoughts on this blockbuster film, I couldn’t help but marvel at the staggering $381 million it raked in worldwide. The fervor among fans of the source material and a marketing campaign that sizzled like a summer barbecue undoubtedly fueled its success.

Despite some less-than-stellar reviews from critics, the franchise’s undeniable allure managed to eclipse its flaws. This spectacle serves as a reminder that hype can indeed overshadow quality at times. A captivating tale of cinematic triumph and the power of anticipation, this film is not to be missed!

A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)

The fifth movie in the ‘Die Hard’ series, titled ‘A Good Day to Die Hard’, released in 2013, features Bruce Willis alongside Jai Courtney. This film, set in Russia, was criticized for its disorganized storyline and weak action sequences, leading to a poor performance at the box office. The movie’s mixed reviews resulted in a low Rotten Tomatoes score of 15%.

Despite not fully recapturing the original’s appeal, the movie managed to earn a staggering $304 million globally, mainly due to the recognition of the Die Hard franchise and a worldwide audience fond of action films. The film’s shortcomings in captivating the original’s magic didn’t hinder its box office success.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015)

In ‘Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2’, the character played by Kevin James, a somewhat inept security guard, is transported to sunny Las Vegas. The 2015 sequel, unfortunately, didn’t fare well with its humor considered lackluster and predictable, earning it a mere 6% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics found the movie painfully unfunny.

The film earned approximately $107 million globally, capitalizing on the popularity of its predecessor and the devoted audience of James. Despite its questionable execution, economical production costs and wide family appeal helped it turn a profit.

Showgirls (1995)

1995’s ‘Showgirls’, directed by Paul Verhoeven, is a drama that chronicles the life of Elizabeth Berkley as a dancer in Las Vegas. Its exaggerated style and gritty atmosphere garnered it a 23% score on Rotten Tomatoes and seven Razzie Awards, due to its controversial nature.

Regardless of harsh criticism, it earned an impressive $45 million globally against a production cost of the same amount, eventually achieving cult fame. The buzz surrounding its NC-17 rating significantly boosted initial box office revenues.

The Number 23 (2007)

In a 2007 thriller titled ‘The Number 23’, Jim Carrey plays a character who becomes fixated on the number 23. This movie, unfortunately, received harsh criticism for its complex and unconvincing plot twists, leading to a low Rotten Tomatoes rating of just 7%.

Due to Jim Carrey’s stardom and an intelligent advertising strategy, the movie earned approximately $77 million globally. Despite falling short in delivering a captivating mystery, it still managed to achieve significant financial success.

Epic Movie (2007)

2007’s ‘Epic Movie’ is a comedic take on films such as ‘Narnia’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, mimicking them in an unrefined manner and resulting in low-quality spoofs. The film received a dismal 2% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics labelling it a comedy catastrophe.

The film earned approximately $87 million globally, primarily due to the success of the spoof genre and its economical production costs. Despite being short on humor, it remained lucrative thanks to teenage audiences.

Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2004)

Baby Geniuses 2′ is a movie where infants can talk, and they work together to save the planet, with Jon Voight in the cast. This 2004 sequel received criticism for its implausible storyline and special effects, earning a score of zero on Rotten Tomatoes, making it a poorly-received cinematic experience.

On a modest production cost, it earned $9 million, ensuring profits through direct-to-video sales. The film’s unusual nature attracted intrigued spectators, yet it continues to be infamously known as a box office disappointment.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (2011)

2011’s ‘Twilight’ sequel focuses on the story of Bella and Edward’s marriage and pregnancy. However, critics found it too slow and overly dramatic, leading to a low Rotten Tomatoes rating of 25%.

As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but share my excitement over a film that, even with a less-than-stellar narrative, managed to sweep the global box office, raking in an impressive $796 million adjusted for inflation. The devoted fanbase of “Twilight” played a significant role in this success, choosing to overlook the story’s flaws and propelling it to become a massive hit.

Batman Forever (1995)

1995’s ‘Batman Forever’ features Val Kilmer as the titular character, alongside Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey playing the villains. The film’s exaggerated style and convoluted narrative earned it a 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, causing dismay among fans who preferred the darker Batman stories.

The movie earned approximately $708 million globally, when adjusted for factors like the popularity of the Batman franchise and the actors’ star power. Despite its extravagant presentation, this didn’t hinder its box office triumph.

Pearl Harbor (2001)

In my opinion, when I watched Michael Bay’s ‘Pearl Harbor’ in 2001, it seemed to intertwine love stories with the harsh realities of war, featuring Ben Affleck. Unfortunately, many critics found its overly emotional narrative and lengthy runtime to be a disorganized jumble, resulting in a 24% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The movie raked in approximately $728 million globally, when adjusted for various factors. This success was largely due to the grandeur of Bay’s direction and the film’s emotional connection with patriotism. The historical drama attracted viewers even with its storyline imperfections, primarily thanks to its visually stunning visuals.

Shrek the Third (2007)

In simpler terms, ‘Shrek the Third’ (2007) revolves around Shrek dealing with fatherhood and ruling as royalty. Critics felt its humor was outdated and the storyline lacked depth, earning it a 42% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is lower than the scores of previous ‘Shrek’ movies.

The film earned approximately $1.1 billion globally, taking into account its success as a franchise and its broad family appeal. This brand loyalty helped secure substantial earnings, even with a less compelling narrative.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

Revenge of the Fallen’, intensifies the action but falters with an intricate plot and immature humor. This resulted in a poor rating of 20% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics described it as both noisy and dull.

The movie earned a staggering $1 billion globally, after adjustments, primarily due to its dedicated fanbase and the vast international market. Its spectacle overshadowed its narrative, turning it into a powerful financial powerhouse.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

In simpler terms, the 2011 movie titled ‘Pirates’ features Jack Sparrow encountering mermaids and Blackbeard, with Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz in the cast. Unfortunately, its complicated storyline and underdeveloped characters earned it a poor 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film earned approximately $1.2 billion globally, taking into account adjustments, due to the widespread popularity of its franchise and international attraction. Despite a less-than-impressive narrative, fans still flocked to see it.

Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)

Dominion’ (released in 2022) brings together the original cast from ‘Jurassic Park’, along with new actors like Chris Pratt. However, critics found its storyline confusing and the dinosaurs underwhelming, resulting in a low score of 29% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film earned a billion dollars globally, leveraging the established reputation of the franchise and its universal appeal. Despite being panned by critics, it still managed to make a profit due to nostalgia and impressive dinosaur scenes.

The movie raked in $1 billion worldwide, benefiting from the franchise’s history and international popularity. Even though it was poorly reviewed, it still made money thanks to its nostalgic appeal and stunning dinosaur visuals.

Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

The final episode of ‘Star Wars’ in 2019, featuring Daisy Ridley, concludes the Skywalker storyline. Many reviewers found its quick pacing and abundant fan references less than satisfactory, resulting in a 51% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film earned an impressive $1.1 billion globally, fueled by the iconic Star Wars franchise and widespread excitement. Despite mixed reviews, it thrived on fan devotion that propelled its triumph.

The Lion King (2019)

2019’s Disney version of ‘The Lion King’, a reimagining of the 1994 animated original, uses photorealistic CGI animation and features Donald Glover and Beyoncé in lead roles. Critics, however, felt it lacked heart, resulting in a 51% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film earned an impressive global revenue of $1.7 billion, largely thanks to a wave of nostalgia and effective marketing from Disney. Its timeless tale and stunning imagery attracted audiences, even though it was not as emotionally resonant as the original version.

2025-06-21 12:16