Top 30 Movies that Bombed so Hard They Had to Cancel the Sequel Ranked

Movie studios in Hollywood often spend huge amounts of money on films hoping to start successful franchises and interconnected movie universes. These films typically end with hints of future stories, like cliffhangers or scenes after the credits. However, audiences don’t always embrace these potential blockbusters, sometimes because of weak storylines or changes from the original source material. When these films fail financially, the studio usually cancels any plans for sequels. This list looks at movies that ended promising franchises, ranking them from worst to best based on how viewers reacted.

‘Son of the Mask’ (2005)

I recently watched this movie about a guy named Tim Avery, who suddenly has to be a dad to a baby with some seriously strange powers – it turns out the baby is connected to an ancient artifact called the Mask of Loki! The little one causes absolute mayhem, and things get even crazier when Loki himself shows up, wanting his mask back. Honestly, it wasn’t a great film. The special effects were pretty bad, and a lot of people were disappointed that Jim Carrey wasn’t involved. It didn’t do well in theaters, and that was that – any hopes of more movies were immediately cancelled. It was a real shame, but it just didn’t work out.

‘Battlefield Earth’ (2000)

In the year 3000, Earth is under the harsh rule of the Psychlos, aliens who are draining the planet of its resources. Jonnie Goodboy Tyler rises up to lead a human rebellion against them, fighting to take back their world. This film, based on a novel by L. Ron Hubbard and starring John Travolta (who also produced it), was intended to launch a large science fiction series. However, it was a massive box office flop and is widely considered to be one of the worst films ever made. The financial failure was so complete that the production company went bankrupt, effectively ending any plans for a sequel.

‘Dragonball Evolution’ (2009)

Goku embarks on a quest to gather the seven Dragon Balls before the villainous Lord Piccolo can use their power to take over the world. This live-action movie aimed to introduce the popular anime series to a Western audience, but it made many changes to the original story. The film was widely disliked by both fans and critics, who criticized the acting and special effects. The writer of the screenplay later apologized for the poor quality of the writing, and any plans for sequels were scrapped. The franchise remained inactive until the anime series made a comeback.

‘Catwoman’ (2004)

Patience Phillips is a quiet artist who works for a beauty company and stumbles upon a troubling secret about their new anti-aging cream. After her death, she’s brought back to life by a cat – an Egyptian Mau – which gives her cat-like reflexes and a strong need for vengeance. Halle Berry played the lead role in this self-contained movie, which wasn’t connected to any existing Batman films. Unfortunately, the film didn’t earn back its production costs and was criticized for its choppy editing and uninspired costumes. As a result, Warner Bros. decided against making any sequels.

‘Batman & Robin’ (1997)

Batman and Robin team up to save Gotham City from the icy Mr. Freeze and the alluring Poison Ivy. They face challenges working together, but Batgirl joins the fight to even the odds. The movie’s director, Joel Schumacher, used a very over-the-top, playful style that didn’t appeal to most viewers or critics. Because of this negative reaction, the planned next movie, ‘Batman Unchained,’ was cancelled, and the series paused for eight years until Christopher Nolan reimagined the character.

‘The Last Airbender’ (2010)

Okay, so “The Last Airbender” had a lot riding on it. As a fan of the original animated series, I was eager to see Aang’s story – a young boy tasked with learning to control water, earth, fire, and air to save the world from the aggressive Fire Nation – brought to life on the big screen. Unfortunately, the movie felt incredibly rushed, trying to cram an entire season’s worth of plot into a single film. And honestly, it just didn’t work. Beyond the pacing issues, the casting choices were a major point of contention, and the movie lost a lot of the heart and personality that made the cartoon so special. While it wasn’t a box office flop, the critics absolutely tore it apart, and plans for sequels were quickly scrapped. Now, thankfully, the story is getting another shot with a live-action series, and I’m cautiously optimistic they’ll get it right this time.

‘Street Fighter’ (1994)

Street Fighter, starring Colonel Guile, follows an international military team sent to a made-up country to save hostages from the ruthless General M. Bison. The film features characters from the popular video game, each with their own reasons for opposing Bison. Despite a troubled production – including a high budget and challenging shoot in Thailand – the movie earned money, though critics disliked its over-the-top style and surprisingly limited fight scenes. A sequel wasn’t made, and the franchise was later reimagined.

‘Super Mario Bros.’ (1993)

Plumbers Mario and Luigi from Brooklyn stumble into another world controlled by the ruthless President Koopa, a dinosaur descendant. They have to save a princess and prevent Koopa from combining his world with ours. While loosely based on the Nintendo game, the movie’s dark, futuristic style baffled many viewers. The actors themselves later admitted they wished they hadn’t been involved in the messy production. As a result of the film’s failure, Nintendo avoided allowing their games to be made into live-action movies for many years.

‘Artemis Fowl’ (2020)

Artemis Fowl II, a brilliant young criminal, kidnaps a fairy officer hoping to get a ransom that will help him find his missing father. The movie tries to fit the stories of the first two books together, but the result is messy and hard to follow. Disney released it directly on their streaming service because of the pandemic, but it received negative reviews, largely because the film changed Artemis’s character. Many fans of the books were disappointed, and Disney decided not to make any more Artemis Fowl movies.

‘Fantastic Four’ (2015)

Four unlikely heroes are suddenly transported to a strange and perilous universe, where they’re dramatically changed physically. They have to master their incredible new powers and team up to protect Earth from an old friend who’s become a villain. This reimagining of the story aimed for a grittier, more realistic feel, but it didn’t connect with most superhero fans. Conflicts between the director and the studio created a messy final movie, and plans for a sequel were canceled before the first film even finished its theatrical run.

‘After Earth’ (2013)

After a spaceship crash, a teenager and his famous father find themselves stranded on Earth, a thousand years after a disaster drove humanity away. The father, who is injured, must lead his son on a perilous journey to find their emergency beacon. Will Smith originally created the story to help launch his son Jaden’s career with a series of books and games. However, the film received negative reviews, with many criticizing the performances and the lack of connection between the actors. As a result, the planned expansion of the story into other media was cancelled.

‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ (2016)

Twenty years after the initial alien attack, Earth’s countries joined forces to create a massive planetary defense system. When the aliens returned with a bigger ship and more powerful technology, humanity faced total destruction. Unfortunately, the second movie didn’t feature Will Smith, and focused too much on special effects instead of developing the characters. This caused it to do poorly in theaters and ultimately cancelled plans for another sequel. The director later admitted they shouldn’t have made the film without the original star.

‘Hellboy’ (2019)

Hellboy, a supernatural hero, clashes with an age-old sorceress determined to take revenge and destroy the world as we know it. This new take on the story was intentionally made for mature audiences with graphic violence, hoping to stand apart from earlier Hellboy films directed by Guillermo del Toro. However, most critics thought the over-the-top gore and confusing plot didn’t make this version worthwhile. The movie was a major box office failure, earning back only a small portion of its production costs. As a result, plans for a follow-up were scrapped, and the character was rebooted yet again.

‘Robin Hood’ (2018)

A battle-scarred Crusader and his Moorish leader launch a daring rebellion against the dishonest English monarchy. The film tried to update the well-known story with flashy action and modern costumes, but critics heavily criticized it for getting historical details wrong and using language that didn’t fit the period. It was a huge financial failure for the studio, and plans for a follow-up movie were immediately cancelled.

‘Jupiter Ascending’ (2015)

I was completely captivated by this story of a young woman who learns she’s destined for something huge – her very genes hold the key to cosmic balance! It’s amazing how she’s guarded by this incredible, genetically engineered hunter who guides her through the cutthroat world of an alien royal family. The Wachowskis really built this whole, original universe, clearly hoping it would become the next big sci-fi saga. Sadly, despite all the intricate backstory and wonderfully over-the-top acting, it just didn’t seem to resonate with most viewers. It was a real financial disappointment for the studio, and unfortunately, that means we’ll never get to see any more adventures in that universe, which is a shame because I was really invested!

‘The Mummy’ (2017)

A princess, awakened from her tomb deep under the desert, rises with a powerful, ancient evil. Tom Cruise plays a mercenary tasked with stopping her from devastating London. Originally meant to launch a new series connecting classic monster movies – the ‘Dark Universe’ – the film was poorly received by critics and didn’t perform well in US theaters. As a result, Universal Pictures quickly abandoned plans for the shared universe.

‘Godzilla’ (1998)

A nuclear explosion in the Pacific transforms a marine iguana into a massive monster that makes its way to New York City. The military tries desperately to stop it, but the creature eventually nests and lays eggs in Madison Square Garden. This American remake, directed by Roland Emmerich, significantly altered the monster’s appearance and actions, disappointing fans of the original Japanese film. They nicknamed the new creature ‘Zilla’ and the planned sequels were cancelled, with the rights returning to the original Japanese studio, Toho.

‘Green Lantern’ (2011)

Hal Jordan, a skilled pilot, receives a magical green ring that gives him incredible powers. He must learn to control these abilities and battle Parallax, a being who poses a universal threat. The movie was intended to kickstart a shared cinematic universe for DC Comics, much like Marvel’s. However, the heavy reliance on computer-generated imagery for the costumes and villain was heavily criticized, and the film’s disappointing performance led Warner Bros. to cancel any planned sequels and eventually restart the character’s story with a new approach.

‘The Dark Tower’ (2017)

I was so excited when I heard about this movie! It’s about a boy who stumbles upon hints of this incredible world where a knight, a true gunslinger, is forever fighting this terrifying figure known as the Man in Black. Apparently, this gunslinger is the only one who can stop a powerful sorcerer from destroying the Dark Tower – which, unbelievably, holds everything together! It was meant to both adapt and continue the story from Stephen King’s huge book series, but honestly, it felt rushed. At just 95 minutes, it just couldn’t do justice to all the details and complexities of the books. Sadly, it didn’t do well in theaters, and all plans for sequels and even a TV show were scrapped. It’s a real shame, because the potential was enormous.

‘Battleship’ (2012)

A group of ships clashes with a mysterious enemy fleet, revealing a destructive plan that must be stopped. The movie, inspired by a board game, depicts an alien attack during naval training in Hawaii. While reviewers liked the special effects, they felt the story and conversations were too similar to other big summer movies. Despite doing well internationally, the film was a financial loss for the studio, leading Universal to abandon any ideas for sequels.

‘Power Rangers’ (2017)

When five typical teenagers discover their town is about to be destroyed by aliens, they’re forced to become heroes – the Power Rangers – and fight Rita Repulsa. The movie attempted to blend the serious themes of a teen drama with the fun, over-the-top style of the original TV show. Unfortunately, it didn’t perform well financially, with weak merchandise sales and disappointing box office numbers, which meant a sequel wasn’t made. Eventually, the rights to the Power Rangers were sold to a new company who planned to start the series over.

‘The Golden Compass’ (2007)

Lyra Belacqua travels to the icy North on a dangerous quest to rescue her friend and other children who have been taken for cruel experiments. The story takes place in a unique world where everyone has a spirit animal, known as a daemon, that stays with them for life. The movie faced issues with religious criticism and studio meddling, which led to a weaker ending than the book intended. Despite a large budget, it didn’t perform well in theaters, ending plans for future films. However, the story was later successfully brought to life as a television series called ‘His Dark Materials’.

‘The Lone Ranger’ (2013)

Okay, so ‘The Lone Ranger’… where do I even begin? It’s told from the perspective of Tonto, which is a neat framing device, as he reveals the true story of how John Reid became the legendary masked hero. It’s essentially a buddy movie about an unlikely pair – a lawman and a Native American warrior – teaming up to battle the bad guys and corruption out in the Wild West. Disney really swung for the fences with this one, clearly hoping to launch another blockbuster franchise like ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work. The production was a mess, constantly delayed, and the budget ballooned out of control. It ended up being a huge financial flop, and any plans for sequels were scrapped almost immediately. A lot of money, a lot of effort, and ultimately, a disappointing result.

‘John Carter’ (2012)

Okay, so I recently checked out this movie about a Civil War vet who somehow ends up on Mars – seriously! He gets thrown right into the middle of a war happening there, and quickly realizes he needs the help of the locals, especially this princess from a place called Barsoom. Honestly, the marketing was a mess. They didn’t really let anyone know it was based on the classic ‘Princess of Mars’ books, which was a huge mistake. It totally flopped at the box office and ended up costing Disney a ton of money – like, one of the biggest losses ever for them. They were planning on making a whole series of films based on the other books, but that got scrapped, unfortunately. It’s a shame, because the core story had potential!

‘Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time’ (2010)

A rebellious prince and an enigmatic princess are forced to team up to protect a powerful, ancient dagger that can control time. They must keep it out of the hands of shadowy figures who want to use it for world domination. The film, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, is based on a popular video game series. Despite being one of the most financially successful video game adaptations ever made, the movie didn’t earn enough to justify making a sequel, and the studio ultimately decided against building a franchise due to its expensive production.

‘Warcraft’ (2016)

When the orc homeworld faced destruction, its warriors invaded a peaceful human realm, sparking a brutal war. As leaders on both sides fought to save their people, they discovered a hidden power was actually fueling the conflict. While the movie was hugely popular in China, it didn’t do well in its home country. Many critics found the complex backstory confusing for viewers unfamiliar with the source material. Due to the significant difference in ticket sales, the studio decided to abandon plans for sequels.

‘Dredd’ (2012)

Set in a brutal, futuristic city, a police officer who also acts as judge and executioner partners with a rookie cop to bring down a powerful drug lord. Their mission leads them into a massive, 200-story slum where they’re forced to battle hundreds of armed criminals to reach the top. While the film was celebrated for its intense action and accurate adaptation of the original comic, it didn’t perform well in cinemas. Although it gained a dedicated fan base, the studio decided not to fund a follow-up movie.

‘Rise of the Guardians’ (2012)

Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and other legendary figures team up to save children from a villain called Pitch Black, who wants to cover the world in fear and darkness. They bring Jack Frost on board to help. While the movie was well-received by critics, it didn’t perform well at the box office during the busy holiday season. This led to the animation studio having to make difficult choices, including layoffs and a major company overhaul. Unfortunately, despite creating a detailed and imaginative world, plans for sequels were cancelled.

‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’ (2015)

During the Cold War, a spy from the CIA and one from the KGB had to work together, despite being longtime enemies, to stop a dangerous group trying to disrupt world peace. The movie, a funny and action-packed spy story directed by Guy Ritchie, gained a dedicated following, but didn’t perform well in theaters because it was released alongside many other films. While stars Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer were eager to make a second movie, the studio decided not to move forward with it.

‘Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World’ (2003)

During the Napoleonic Wars, Captain Jack Aubrey leads the HMS Surprise on a mission to capture a French privateer ship. The crew battles harsh weather and challenging fights as they chase their enemy across the sea. Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany give impressive performances in this movie, which is based on the novels by Patrick O’Brian. Although critics praised the film, it didn’t make enough money to warrant a sequel, much to the disappointment of fans who had hoped for a series of adaptations.

Share your thoughts on which cancelled sequel you miss the most in the comments.

2025-11-23 04:51