The Biggest Box Office Flops by Stars

Throughout Hollywood’s history, many big-budget movies starring famous actors have unexpectedly flopped. Despite the star power and large investments, these films often lost money because critics didn’t like them or audiences simply weren’t interested. While the actors involved usually went on to succeed, these films stand out as commercial failures. Studying why these projects didn’t work helps us understand how unpredictable the movie business can be.

‘Battlefield Earth’ (2000)

This science fiction movie, starring John Travolta, is based on a novel by L. Ron Hubbard. It’s about a future where humans fight back against an alien race called the Psychlos. When it was released in theaters, the film received a lot of criticism for its sets and the way the story was written. Ultimately, it didn’t make enough money in theaters to cover how much it cost to produce and advertise.

‘The Adventures of Pluto Nash’ (2002)

This sci-fi comedy stars Eddie Murphy and takes place on the moon. The story centers around a nightclub owner who’s determined to keep his business, even when a gangster tries to force him to sell. The movie went over budget due to delays and a lot of re-filming. Unfortunately, it didn’t make much money in theaters and is remembered as a major box office flop.

‘Gigli’ (2003)

Directed by Martin Brest, this romantic crime comedy features Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. The story follows a small-time criminal tasked with kidnapping the brother of a federal prosecutor. Despite the highly publicized romance between the stars, the movie wasn’t well-received by viewers and saw a significant drop in ticket sales after its initial release, making it difficult to attract a large audience.

‘Cutthroat Island’ (1995)

Geena Davis starred as a pirate captain in this action-packed movie directed by Renny Harlin. Making the film was troubled, with constant script revisions and challenging shooting conditions. It didn’t do well in theaters, and its poor performance quickly led to the bankruptcy of the production company, Carolco Pictures. The film is still well-known as one of the biggest money-losing films ever made in the action movie world.

‘John Carter’ (2012)

Taylor Kitsch played the lead role in this large-scale movie based on the classic stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The film centers around a soldier from the Civil War who finds himself on Mars and caught in the middle of a tribal war. Disney spent a lot of money on the film’s visual effects and promotion. Although it gained a following over time, the movie initially didn’t perform well in theaters, leading to a significant financial loss for the studio.

‘The Lone Ranger’ (2013)

This large-scale film starred Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer in a new take on the famous western hero. It tells the story of the Lone Ranger, focusing on how he became the masked figure we know, as seen through the eyes of his friend Tonto. The movie’s cost grew significantly because of its elaborate sets and ambitious action scenes. Unfortunately, it didn’t perform well enough overseas to make back its substantial production budget.

’47 Ronin’ (2013)

This fantasy action movie, starring Keanu Reeves, is inspired by a well-known Japanese tale. It blends historical details with mythical beings and magic. The film went over budget due to many reshoots and a long editing process. Ultimately, it didn’t perform well in theaters and lost a significant amount of money.

‘Jupiter Ascending’ (2015)

Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis led the cast of this ambitious science fiction film directed by the Wachowskis. The story centers on a woman who learns she’s the rightful heir to a powerful family that rules across galaxies. While the movie boasted impressive visual effects and a detailed, imaginative universe, it didn’t resonate with viewers in the United States and underperformed at the box office.

‘King Arthur: Legend of the Sword’ (2017)

Guy Ritchie’s action movie, starring Charlie Hunnam as King Arthur, aimed to revitalize the Arthurian legend for a modern audience and kickstart a new film series. However, despite its stylish approach, the movie struggled against other big summer releases, earning only lukewarm reviews. Ultimately, it didn’t make enough money at the box office to recoup its significant production expenses.

‘Mortal Engines’ (2018)

This movie, starring Hera Hilmar and Hugo Weaving, is based on Philip Reeve’s novel. It takes place in a future world where cities are built on huge, moving wheels and literally devour smaller towns. Although produced by Peter Jackson, the film didn’t attract many viewers when it came out in December and ended up being a major financial failure for the studio.

‘The 13th Warrior’ (1999)

This action movie, starring Antonio Banderas, is based on a novel by Michael Crichton. It tells the story of an ambassador who’s been banished and teams up with Vikings to fight a strange and dangerous enemy. The film had a difficult production, with many delays and changes before it was finally released. Unfortunately, it didn’t make enough money to cover its high production costs and was a financial disappointment for Touchstone Pictures.

‘Catwoman’ (2004)

Halle Berry starred in this action movie based on the DC Comics character. The film offered a new take on the story, portraying the character as a graphic designer who develops cat-like abilities after almost dying. However, critics generally disliked the movie, and it didn’t perform well in theaters, failing to earn back its production and advertising costs.

‘Alexander’ (2004)

Oliver Stone’s film Alexander starred Colin Farrell as the legendary leader, Alexander the Great. The movie ambitiously tried to tell the story of his entire life and all his battles. Though it featured a strong cast including Angelina Jolie and Val Kilmer, it wasn’t a big hit in the US initially and only gained a following after several different home video releases.

‘R.I.P.D.’ (2013)

This action comedy, starring Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges, is based on a comic book and centers around two dead cops working for an afterlife agency that hunts bad spirits. While it drew comparisons to popular franchises, the movie didn’t perform well at the box office and was considered a financial failure.

‘Stealth’ (2005)

Starring Josh Lucas and Jamie Foxx, this action movie centers around a team of skilled pilots tasked with stopping a rogue, artificially intelligent plane. While the film featured impressive special effects, it wasn’t a hit with audiences and ended up being a major financial disappointment for the studio – one of the costliest failures in film history.

‘Evan Almighty’ (2007)

Okay, so I just saw this comedy sequel, and it’s definitely a shift from the first film. Instead of following the original lead, the story centers around a congressman who gets a… rather unusual directive from God: build an ark! It’s a pretty ambitious undertaking, and honestly, the movie doesn’t shy away from showing the massive scale of the construction – and the sheer number of animals involved. That ambition really drove up the budget, making it one of the most expensive comedies ever made. Unfortunately, all that money didn’t translate to box office success; it didn’t quite live up to the numbers the first movie pulled in.

‘The Alamo’ (2004)

Dennis Quaid and Billy Bob Thornton led the cast of this movie, which told the story of the famous battle in Texas. The filmmakers worked hard to make the film historically correct and show the battle on a grand scale. However, it came out at a busy time for movies and didn’t attract a large audience, resulting in significant financial losses for the studio.

‘Green Lantern’ (2011)

Ryan Reynolds starred as the main character in DC’s effort to start a new superhero series. The movie centers on a test pilot who receives a powerful ring from an alien guardian of peace. Though it initially did well at the box office, negative reviews and decreasing attendance led to disappointing results. Ultimately, it didn’t earn enough money to warrant making sequels or recoup its expensive production costs.

‘Town & Country’ (2001)

This romantic comedy starred Warren Beatty and Diane Keaton as older, wealthy characters. The movie had a very difficult production, taking years to complete because the script was constantly being rewritten. By the time it was released, the film had cost far more money than originally planned. Unfortunately, it didn’t earn much at the box office and was quickly removed from cinemas.

‘Mars Needs Moms’ (2011)

Seth Green brought the main character to life in this animated movie. The story follows a young boy trying to save his mother after she’s kidnapped by Martians. The film used cutting-edge, but costly, motion capture technology that was trendy when it was made. Unfortunately, it didn’t attract many viewers and is now considered one of the biggest financial failures in animated film history.

‘After Earth’ (2013)

I just saw “After Earth,” and while it boasts the undeniable charisma of Will and Jaden Smith, I have to say I was a little underwhelmed. The film throws you into a pretty bleak future where a father and son are stranded after a crash landing, and the premise had potential. However, despite the star power involved, it didn’t really connect with audiences here in the States. Considering the usual summer blockbuster expectations for a film with these two leads, it definitely didn’t perform as well as I expected at the box office.

‘Dolittle’ (2020)

Robert Downey Jr. starred as a doctor who has the amazing ability to communicate with animals in this family-friendly film. The movie went through many reshoots and revisions during editing. Although it did well in international markets, it didn’t make enough money overall to be considered a success due to high production costs. This film represented a challenging new beginning for Downey Jr. after finishing his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

‘Gemini Man’ (2019)

Will Smith starred in this visually impressive film, playing both an older assassin and a younger version of himself created with digital technology. Director Ang Lee pushed boundaries by using a high frame rate and de-aging effects. Despite the technical achievements, the movie’s story wasn’t well-received, and it didn’t perform well at the box office in many countries, leading to significant financial losses for the studios involved.

‘Chaos Walking’ (2021)

I recently checked out this sci-fi movie starring Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley, and it’s based on a book by Patrick Ness. The premise is really cool – everyone can hear each other’s thoughts, which comes through as a constant flow of images and words. Honestly, it had a pretty rough journey getting made, with a lot of delays, and it came out at a tough time for cinemas. Sadly, it didn’t really catch on with audiences and didn’t earn back the money it cost to make, which is a shame because the idea was interesting.

‘Amsterdam’ (2022)

David O. Russell’s period mystery, starring Christian Bale and a cast of acclaimed actors, centers around three friends who find themselves suspected of murder and embroiled in a large political conspiracy. Despite featuring many award-winning performers, the film didn’t resonate with audiences and resulted in substantial financial losses for the studio due to its high production and marketing costs.

‘Babylon’ (2022)

This movie, starring Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie, tells the story of Hollywood’s shift from silent films to those with sound. It’s a long and visually striking film that captures the glamorous and often over-the-top nature of that time period. While reviews were mixed, the film struggled to find an audience in theaters and ultimately didn’t earn back its production costs.

‘The Flash’ (2023)

Ezra Miller starred in this superhero movie, which explored different universes and notably brought Michael Keaton back as Batman. The film faced many delays and changes in leadership during its long production process. Despite a lot of hype, it didn’t do well when it came out in the summer and is now considered a major box office disappointment for a big-budget superhero film.

‘Strange World’ (2022)

Disney’s animated adventure features Jake Gyllenhaal as a main character. The movie tells the story of a family of explorers who discover a hidden world beneath their feet. While critics generally liked it, the film didn’t attract a large audience during the holidays and ultimately lost the studio a significant amount of money.

‘Dark Phoenix’ (2019)

James McAvoy and Sophie Turner led the cast in what turned out to be the last X-Men movie made by Fox. The film centered on Jean Grey’s evolution into a tremendously powerful, yet dangerous, being. Production issues, including extra filming and a shifted release date, affected the movie and how it was promoted. Ultimately, it performed the worst at the box office of any film in the X-Men series, resulting in substantial financial losses.

‘Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets’ (2017)

Luc Besson’s visually stunning science fiction film, starring Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne, was adapted from a popular French comic book. Despite a large independent budget and impressive visuals, the movie’s story didn’t connect with audiences worldwide, resulting in financial losses.

‘Pan’ (2015)

Hugh Jackman starred as Blackbeard in a new take on the story of Peter Pan. The movie had impressive sets and a lighthearted feel, aiming to entertain families. However, it came out during a busy movie season and didn’t perform well at the box office, resulting in a substantial financial loss for the studio when marketing expenses were included.

‘Tomorrowland’ (2015)

This science fiction mystery, starring George Clooney, was originally created for the Disney theme park. The movie delves into a hidden world filled with amazing technology and the individuals working to protect it. Although directed by Brad Bird, the film had trouble finding its audience and didn’t earn back its substantial production costs at the box office.

‘Sahara’ (2005)

This action-packed adventure film, starring Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz, is based on a novel by Clive Cussler. The story centers on an explorer’s quest to find a Civil War-era ship hidden in the African desert. Despite having good ticket sales, the movie struggled financially due to costly production and legal issues, ultimately proving to be a box office disappointment.

‘Deepwater Horizon’ (2016)

This drama, starring Mark Wahlberg, tells the story of the real-life oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. The movie was filmed using a huge, realistic set built to resemble the rig and the explosion that occurred. While critics praised the film’s authenticity and acting, it didn’t do well at the box office, and its high production costs meant it wasn’t financially successful.

‘Ben-Hur’ (2016)

This remake of the biblical epic starred Jack Huston and Morgan Freeman. While it updated the iconic chariot race with modern special effects, the film didn’t stand out enough from the well-known 1959 original and didn’t attract a new, younger audience. As a result, it was a significant box office failure for the studios.

‘Gods of Egypt’ (2016)

Gerard Butler played an Egyptian god in this visually striking fantasy film directed by Alex Proyas. The movie featured a lot of golden-colored effects and epic battles based on mythology. Before its release, the film sparked debate about who was cast in the roles. Unfortunately, it wasn’t popular with American audiences and resulted in a financial loss for the studio.

‘Black Adam’ (2022)

Dwayne Johnson worked on this movie for years, hoping to bring his character to life in the DC universe. The film centers around a centuries-old antihero who suddenly appears in today’s world. Although it made a decent amount of money in theaters, the expensive production and advertising meant it wasn’t actually profitable. As a result, the planned follow-up movies and future plans for the series were cancelled.

‘Moonfall’ (2022)

Halle Berry and Patrick Wilson led this big-budget disaster film where the moon is unexpectedly knocked from its path. Director Roland Emmerich, known for spectacular destruction, helmed the independently produced movie. However, it didn’t resonate with audiences and performed poorly in theaters, becoming one of the costliest independent films to flop at the box office.

‘Cats’ (2019)

This movie, an adaptation of a popular stage musical, featured Taylor Swift and Idris Elba among its cast. It famously used computer-generated imagery to turn the actors into realistic cats, becoming a viral topic online. However, despite the buzz, the film didn’t attract many moviegoers and was a financial disappointment for Universal Pictures, receiving negative reviews and failing to earn back its production costs.

‘Wild Wild West’ (1999)

Okay, so Will Smith had a couple of big summer movies under his belt and then came this… it was a really interesting mix – a steampunk western with action and comedy! They went all out with the tech, and the main villain was this huge mechanical spider – seriously cool visuals. It did okay at the box office, but honestly, given how much money they spent making it, it didn’t quite live up to the hype. It’s always struck me as a bit of a case study – a big, star-powered movie that, despite everything, never kicked off a whole franchise. It’s a shame, really.

‘Waterworld’ (1995)

Kevin Costner led the cast of this action-packed film set on a future Earth completely covered in water. Making the movie was incredibly challenging, with many problems that caused costs to spiral out of control. When it first came out, it was the priciest movie ever created. Though it eventually made back its money through international showings and DVD sales, it was originally seen as a big flop.

‘The Postman’ (1997)

Kevin Costner’s ambitious drama tells the story of a man who unites a struggling community after a societal breakdown. However, its length and somber mood weren’t a hit with holiday moviegoers. Unlike Costner’s earlier successes, this film received negative reviews and earned back only a small portion of its significant production budget.

‘Ishtar’ (1987)

This comedy starred Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty as a pair of struggling singers performing in the Middle East. The movie was plagued by disagreements behind the scenes and ended up costing far more than planned, becoming a notorious example of Hollywood overspending. It received a lot of bad publicity even before it came out and ultimately wasn’t a success with audiences, solidifying its place as one of cinema’s biggest failures.

‘Heaven’s Gate’ (1980)

Following his hit film The Deer Hunter, Kris Kristofferson led this ambitious western, directed by Michael Cimino. The movie became famous for its painstaking detail, but it went far over budget. When it didn’t perform well in theaters, it played a role in the sale of United Artists studio. Today, the film is often analyzed as a key example of how studio systems and director power work in Hollywood.

‘Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas’ (2003)

DreamWorks’ animated adventure features the voices of Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The film tells the story of a famous sailor on a quest to find a magical book and rescue a friend. However, it struggled to compete with the growing success of computer-animated movies like Finding Nemo. Ultimately, the film’s disappointing performance led DreamWorks to stop making traditionally hand-drawn animated features.

‘Titan A.E.’ (2000)

This animated sci-fi movie stars Matt Damon and Drew Barrymore as the main characters, and tells the story of humanity’s quest for a new planet to call home. It combined classic and computer-generated animation techniques. Although released by Fox Animation Studios, the film wasn’t a commercial success and unfortunately contributed to the studio’s subsequent closure.

‘The Fall of the Roman Empire’ (1964)

This large-scale historical film from the mid-1960s starred Sophia Loren and Alec Guinness. It showcased impressive sets and a huge number of extras to portray the fall of Rome. Although the movie was well-made, audiences were losing interest in lengthy historical dramas, leading to major financial losses for producer Samuel Bronston and impacting his career.

‘The Conqueror’ (1956)

This historical movie starred John Wayne as Genghis Khan and was produced by Howard Hughes. While ambitious, it received criticism when it came out for both its casting choices and its storyline. The film is also known for being shot near a nuclear test site, which caused health problems for people working on it. Ultimately, it didn’t make enough money to cover its significant costs.

‘How Do You Know’ (2010)

Starring Reese Witherspoon and Paul Rudd, this romantic comedy was directed by James L. Brooks. It had a much larger budget than most films in the genre, due to high salaries for the cast and director, and a lengthy production process. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a hit with audiences and lost a significant amount of money. As a result, it’s known as one of the most costly romantic comedies ever made, considering how little money it earned.

‘Monster Trucks’ (2016)

Starring Lucas Till and Jane Levy, this family film centers around a creature living inside a truck. However, the movie faced numerous setbacks and significant financial losses even before its release. It had trouble attracting an audience and ultimately didn’t resonate with most moviegoers, resulting in a large financial loss for the studio when it debuted in January.

Please share your thoughts on which of these films you think deserved more success in the comments.

2026-01-13 22:22