Movies That Bombed So Hard They Got Pulled from Theaters

Some films enter theatres with high expectations, boasting substantial budgets and renowned actors. Yet not all movies manage to attract an audience, and some fail so dramatically that studios decide to withdraw them prematurely to minimize losses. These cinematic failures are often criticized, poorly timed, or simply fail to resonate with audiences, resulting in empty theatres and hasty departures.

Moving from disappointing romantic comedies to high-profile movies that missed their mark, these films suffered massive financial losses, earning only a small fraction of their production costs and disappearing from cinemas within days or even hours. Let’s explore 15 movies that failed so dramatically they were pulled from theaters quicker than you can utter “commercial disaster.

‘Gigli’ (2003)

In this romantic comedy, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, who were actually an item in real life, took the lead roles. Despite their on-screen chemistry, the movie didn’t fare well. With a massive production budget of $75 million, it managed to pull in a mere $6 million at the box office, ultimately flopping due to a poorly written script, stiff dialogue, and critical panning that labeled it as disorganized chaos. The film’s poor performance was so noticeable that it became the butt of jokes, leaving both critics and audiences puzzled about its creation.

After three weeks, just 73 cinemas across the U.S. were still playing ‘Gigli’. This was a significant decline from its initial wide release. The studio chose to withdraw it to prevent further humiliation, and it soon became forgotten, mainly remembered as an example of misused celebrity influence.

‘The Disappointments Room’ (2016)

In this chilling movie, Kate Beckinsale played the role of a woman digging up hidden mysteries within a haunted mansion. Despite being made on a relatively low budget of $15 million, its earnings only reached $5.7 million globally. This was due to its predictable storyline and negative criticism that led to a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

As a dedicated moviegoer, I found myself disappointed when our latest release failed to impress during its opening weekend with a meager $2.3 million haul. To make matters worse, over 1,500 theaters decided to drop it just one week later. Given that our studio was already grappling with financial difficulties due to bankruptcy, we were forced to withdraw the movie entirely after a brief stint on the big screen. The lackluster response from both audiences and critics left no doubt about the film’s clichéd scares leaving us all underwhelmed.

‘Max Steel’ (2016)

Deriving from the Mattel toy series, ‘Max Steel’ attempted to establish a successful superhero franchise but unfortunately flopped significantly. With an initial investment of $20 million, it managed to earn merely $2.2 million during its premiere weekend, falling drastically short even of the most pessimistic projections. This disappointing outcome was largely due to ineffective marketing and a dismal 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The movie disappeared from cinemas following a three-week run, since viewers showed little interest in its typical action sequences and unremarkable plot. In an attempt to limit financial losses, the studios removed it. It arrived on home video only two months afterward, but failed to ignite any aspirations for a franchise.

‘Alone in the Dark’ (2005)

Under Uwe Boll’s direction, this horror-action movie adapted from a video game was met with both critical and financial failure. Boasting a budget of $20 million, it managed to earn only $5.1 million at the box office. It was widely criticized for its muddled plotline, poor acting, and disrespectful handling of the original material.

Three weeks after its release, the movie was withdrawn from theaters in large numbers due to poor performance. The studio decided to halt its screening as a means to stem losses. The film’s disappointing reception further solidified Boll’s image of producing subpar adaptations, and it remains a notable low point in video game cinema.

‘Mortdecai’ (2015)

In this humorous crime tale, Johnny Depp played an eccentric art dealer, sharing the screen with Gwyneth Paltrow and Ewan McGregor. Despite its substantial budget of $60 million and star-studded cast, it brought in only $4.2 million during its debut weekend. The film’s forced humor and disorganized storyline were heavily criticized by critics.

In the third week, Lionsgate removed the movie from about 2,400 cinemas due to low audience turnout. The film’s total earnings of $47 million worldwide didn’t help restore its image, indicating an unusual mistake in Johnny Depp’s stardom at that moment.

‘Paranoia’ (2013)

In this suspenseful movie, Liam Hemsworth and Gary Oldman were the stars, playing roles within the world of corporate espionage. With an impressive budget of $35 million, it only managed to gross $3 million during its premiere weekend, receiving criticism for unremarkable acting and a tedious, foreseeable narrative.

Two weeks after release, the film was taken out of more than 2,000 cinemas worldwide, earning a total of $15 million globally. The studio’s move to end its run early signified that it struggled to attract audiences, making it one of the biggest box office disappointments of the year.

‘Mr. Magoo’ (1997)

In this modern adaptation of the well-known animated series, Leslie Nielsen played the role of myopic Mr. Magoo. Regardless of a substantial $30 million budget, it only managed to earn $6.7 million at the box office, encountering criticism for its vulgar humor and controversy due to its portrayal of visual impairment, as various organizations took offense.

Disney withdrew the movie from theaters within two weeks because of poor reception and widespread protests. Consequently, the swift departure of the film left it as an overlooked flop, offering minimal appeal to both viewers and critics alike.

‘From Justin to Kelly’ (2003)

The humorous musical, derived from ‘American Idol,’ featured Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini in lead roles. With a production budget of $12 million, it only managed to earn $4.9 million at the box office. Critics were harsh, pointing out its weak plotline, poor acting, and lack of endearment despite the anticipation generated by reality TV popularity.

The theatrical release of the movie plummeted quickly and vanished in just a few weeks, due to audiences disapproving of its enforced romantic storyline. The movie’s flop demonstrated that television stardom does not ensure box office success, thereby dashing hopes for additional ‘Idol’ films.

‘The Garbage Pail Kids Movie’ (1987)

In simpler terms, this film version of the humorous trading card series marketed towards families didn’t quite hit the target. Despite having a budget of $1 million, it managed to earn $1.6 million, but was withdrawn following a brief release due to poor reviews criticizing its inappropriate humor and lack of charm.

The studio realized it was turning off audiences, so they pulled it to prevent any more negative impact. As a result of its short run in theaters, it became known as one of the strangest and most disliked children’s movies of all time.

‘Honky Tonk Freeway’ (1981)

In a nutshell, this comedic tale centered around the eccentricities of a quaint town was produced with a whopping $24 million budget but only managed to earn a mere $2 million at the box office. Critics slammed it as chaotic and humorless, while viewers showed little interest in its peculiar characters and fragmented narrative.

Theaters swiftly removed the movie from screens, as the studio decided to minimize their financial loss following only a few weeks in theaters. Nowadays, the film is hardly ever discussed, with most mentions serving as reminders of ambitious projects that ended up being spectacular flops.

‘Asura’ (2018)

The initial $100 million film produced in China, this grand production based on Buddhist folklore aimed to match the popularity of ‘Lord of the Rings.’ However, it only managed to gross $7 million before being withdrawn after three days, due to poor reviews, a complicated narrative, and allegations of sabotage through fabricated online ratings.

The movie was taken out of cinemas quickly to stop heavy monetary losses. Regrettably, this hasty removal signified that the film turned out to be one of the most significant flops at the Chinese box office in history, given its lofty objectives.

‘A Cure for Wellness’ (2017)

As a movie enthusiast, I recently watched this psychological horror flick directed by Gore Verbinski that had an impressive budget of $40 million. However, it only managed to pull in $5 million at the box office, which was quite disappointing. The film’s extended runtime and tangled narrative left critics unimpressed, while the audience struggled to find a connection with its eerie, excessively complex atmosphere.

In about two weeks, the movie went from playing in 2,000 theaters to just 88. After five weeks, the production company decided to withdraw it. Despite earning $26 million worldwide, the film was ultimately a daring failure.

‘The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure’ (2012)

The children’s movie that invited viewers to join in the singing and dancing fell flat with a production cost of $20 million, earning only $1.6 million in return. Critics lambasted it as irritating and shoddily produced, while parents found its premise more aggravating than captivating.

The studio swiftly withdrew the project, recognizing it was alienating families. Due to its brief duration and poor reception, it became infamous as a disastrous failure, forever associated with its ill-conceived experiment in interactive cinema.

‘Morbius’ (2022)

The movie featuring Jared Leto as a vampire villain in the superhero genre, which had a production cost of $80 million, unfortunately didn’t perform well at the box office with an opening weekend revenue of only $39 million. Criticized for its weak narrative and subpar special effects, it became the target of online ridicule, leading to the creation of numerous memes that humorously depicted its poor performance.

As a passionate cinephile, I must share that Sony attempted to cash in on the hype by re-releasing a film, but alas, it was dropped from theaters just eight weeks later, with a total global gross of $163 million. The swift decision to withdraw the movie post its re-release suggests that even memes couldn’t prevent its downfall.

‘Madame Web’ (2024)

In the realm of Sony’s Spider-Man franchise, a superhero movie with an $80 million budget featured Dakota Johnson in the cast. However, its global earnings totaled only $102 million. Critics panned its chaotic narrative and tenuous links to Spider-Man, while viewers seemed disinterested. As a result, it was quickly made available for digital viewing just 30 days after its release.

The theaters quickly discontinued showing it, while Sony hastily withdrew it to limit financial damage. Due to its poor performance, it became one of the most significant box office bombs of that year, demonstrating that not all comic book films are guaranteed successes.

2025-08-02 00:48