Every Major Woke Actress Career Flop Explained in Detail

Even popular actors sometimes star in films that don’t resonate with viewers, and this is often due to issues with funding, how the movie was released, or when it came out. Here are some notable examples of films that underperformed, despite having a well-known lead actress. We’ll focus on the specific details of production and box office results to show what really happened.

Brie Larson

Despite previous Marvel movies being huge hits, ‘The Marvels’ didn’t perform well when it first came out, especially in important movie-going countries. The movie cost over $200 million to make, and even with worldwide ticket sales around $200 million, it struggled to become profitable after costs were split with theaters. Additional filming and the fact that many other movies were released around the same time also hurt its overall earnings.

Margot Robbie

Despite a strong reputation and a talented cast, the film ‘Babylon’ didn’t attract many viewers during the busy holiday season. Its production cost was estimated between $70 and $80 million, and when marketing expenses were added, it didn’t earn enough money at the box office to cover its costs. The studio’s previous film, ‘Amsterdam,’ also failed to make a profit, as its earnings didn’t cover its production budget.

Kristen Stewart

The 2019 ‘Charlie’s Angels’ movie didn’t perform well at the box office, despite having a reasonable budget and being released worldwide. It earned less money than expected in the US, and while international sales were also disappointing, they weren’t enough to cover the film’s costs and advertising. Even later sales through streaming and DVD couldn’t make up for the poor performance in theaters.

Daisy Ridley

The movie ‘Chaos Walking’ faced a difficult production process with many reshoots and changes to the filming schedule. It had a large budget for visual effects, which is unusual for a film that wasn’t part of an established franchise. When released in theaters, it didn’t earn much money compared to its cost, both in the US and internationally. Even with streaming and later theatrical releases, it couldn’t make up for the financial losses caused by the production delays and poor box office performance.

Sophie Turner

The superhero movie ‘Dark Phoenix’ was made with a large budget but didn’t perform well at the box office. Its release was delayed several times, and extra scenes were filmed after the movie was initially completed. Despite significant marketing efforts, it earned far less than previous films in the series, and later releases didn’t improve its overall financial results.

Halle Berry

Despite starring a well-known actress and being based on a popular comic book character, the movie ‘Catwoman’ received poor reviews. It cost around $100 million to make, but didn’t earn enough money worldwide to cover its production and distribution costs. As a result, it’s often used as an example of how to manage brands and control budgets on big-budget, effects-driven films.

Natalie Portman

‘Lucy in the Sky’ had a small release in theaters with limited advertising. While it gained some attention at film festivals, it earned less than one million dollars domestically. Its international release was also limited, and didn’t significantly increase its overall earnings. This small rollout and focus on a niche audience kept the film’s potential revenue low after its initial run.

Charlize Theron

‘Aeon Flux’ was a science fiction film with a detailed and expansive setting, but this ambitious scope drove up production costs. After preview screenings, some scenes were edited before the film’s release. Unfortunately, it didn’t perform well in US theaters, and earnings from other countries weren’t enough to cover the high budget. While sales of the film on DVD and streaming added some revenue, it wasn’t enough to change the film’s overall financial result.

Anya Taylor-Joy

Despite a strong start with advance ticket sales and recognition from a previous film, ‘Furiosa’ faced challenges at the box office. While the movie had a very expensive production, including significant costs for filming locations and its large scope, initial weekend earnings in key international markets fell short of expectations. Later weeks saw typical declines, ultimately limiting the film’s overall worldwide revenue.

Amber Heard

‘London Fields’ experienced delays due to legal issues and problems during editing. When it was finally released, it only played in a few cinemas. It didn’t make much money in the US or internationally, and because of the legal battles and lack of promotion, it was difficult for the filmmakers to earn back their investment.

Tessa Thompson

The movie ‘Men in Black International’ tried to revitalize the popular franchise with a fresh pair of leading agents. While the production involved significant costs for things like sets, filming locations, and special effects, the film earned over two hundred million dollars worldwide. However, after factoring in expenses, it didn’t perform as well as previous installments and didn’t reach its profit goals. Sales of related merchandise and licensing agreements also weren’t enough to make up for the disappointing box office results.

Emilia Clarke

While ‘Terminator Genisys’ performed better internationally, its high production costs and weak domestic box office numbers ultimately hindered its success. After accounting for theater cuts and marketing expenses, the film didn’t generate enough revenue worldwide to justify making a direct sequel, and plans for continuation were put on hold.

Scarlett Johansson

Okay, let’s talk ‘Ghost in the Shell.’ Visually, this movie is stunning – they clearly threw a ton of money at the effects and futuristic tech. We’re talking over $100 million just to make the film, before anyone even started advertising! But here’s the problem: it didn’t make nearly enough money in theaters to justify that huge cost. It especially underperformed in Asia, which was a key area they were counting on, and that really hurt its chances of turning a profit. Ultimately, all that visual flair couldn’t save it from being a box office disappointment.

Gal Gadot

‘Wonder Woman 1984’ had an unusual release strategy, debuting on a streaming service at the same time it played in movie theaters. Because of theater closures and limited seating due to the pandemic, ticket sales were lower than expected. However, the movie was still made and advertised as if it would have a standard, wide theatrical release. This different approach meant the film relied less on box office revenue and ultimately earned less money through traditional channels.

Jennifer Lawrence

The film ‘Serena’ finished filming well before it was released, and then took a long time to edit and complete. It was shown in only a few cinemas and made available through video on demand. Despite featuring well-known actors, the film didn’t earn much money in theaters worldwide. Critics pointed out inconsistencies in the film’s tone, which made it difficult to promote and find an audience.

Let us know which items on this list were the most unexpected, and feel free to suggest other examples you think should be included in the comments below.

2025-10-22 18:16