This is The Biggest Box Office Disaster in Movie History

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Disney took a big risk in 2012 with John Carter, a live-action science fiction film directed by Andrew Stanton, who was known for his successful Pixar movies like Finding Nemo and WALL-E. The movie was inspired by Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic Barsoom series of books and aimed to deliver a grand adventure on Mars. However, despite Stanton’s dedication and the film’s impressive scope, it became a major financial failure.

John Carter, a Civil War soldier portrayed by Taylor Kitsch, unexpectedly finds himself on Mars. He gets caught up in a conflict between Martian kingdoms and develops a romance with a princess. The film also stars Lynn Collins, Samantha Morton, and Willem Dafoe. Director Andrew Stanton, a longtime fan of the source material by Edgar Rice Burroughs, finally brought the story to the big screen with this movie.

Despite earning almost $300 million worldwide, the movie John Carter still resulted in an estimated $200 million loss for Disney. The production itself cost around $263.7 million (after tax credits), and when you add in marketing expenses, the total cost reached approximately $350 million. According to Paul Dergarabedian of Hollywood.com, the film needed to earn over $600 million globally just to cover its costs – a feat only 63 movies have ever achieved.

Both reviewers and moviegoers were puzzled by how the film was advertised. The marketing didn’t clarify the plot or that the story took place on Mars, and removing “of Mars” from the title left audiences unsure of what the movie was even about. Plans for follow-up films, like Gods of Mars and Warlord of Mars, were quickly scrapped.

Even though the movie was a financial flop, the actors who starred in it have spoken positively about their experience. Taylor Kitsch told The Hollywood Reporter that he considers the film a learning experience and doesn’t see it as a failure, adding that fans in Europe still appreciate his work in it. Lynn Collins shared that people had told her the movie profoundly impacted their lives, calling it a lasting achievement. She ultimately concluded that a film that sparks strong reactions, whether positive or negative, is valuable because that’s the purpose of art.

Since his role in John Carter, Taylor Kitsch has focused on television, with appearances in shows like The Terminal List: Dark Wolf and American Primeval. Andrew Stanton went back to animation but also directed live-action projects, including episodes of 3 Body Problem and the sci-fi film In the Blink of an Eye. Willem Dafoe remains a major presence in film, starring in movies like Nosferatu and the upcoming Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Lynn Collins has been working on The Walking Dead and various independent films.

Despite being released years ago, John Carter is still remembered as a prime example of a costly movie gamble that didn’t pay off. However, many fans and people involved with the film believe it was a creatively ambitious project that deserves another look.

Let us know in the comments whether you believe the movie John Carter didn’t get the recognition it deserved, or if viewers were justified in not watching it.

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2026-01-19 21:14