Hollywood measures the success of movies through box office receipts – the more a movie makes during its theatrical run, the more successful it is, and the more likely it’ll get a sequel or even spin-offs.
But not all movies that rake in the dough are quality films. Some, like The Fast and the Furious franchise, and the Twilight series are financially lucrative but creatively nonexistent. Then there are the few movies that don’t set the box office on fire, but find themselves in the small pool of films that get recognised as being artistically and creatively superior, and live on.
Films such as Blade Runner (1982), Shawshank Redemption (1994) and The Iron Giant (1999) weren’t considered blockbusters when they were first released but are now fondly remembered and in the last three years, there have been a string of films that won us over creatively, even if they didn’t generate opening grosses that inspired conversation.
Here are 10 recent films that either bombed at the box office or weren’t as successful as intended, but are worth revisiting because they are enjoyable flicks, and at the end of the day, that should be what’s most important.
1. Transformers One (2024)
Director: Josh Cooley (Toy Story 4)
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Jon Hamm
- US & Canada Gross: US$53.7 million
- Worldwide Gross: US$112.2 million
- Metacritic Metascore: 63 (Generally Favorable)
- Metacritic User Score: 8.1 (Universal Acclaim)
- Financial Status: Currently a loss. As a general rule of thumb, films need to make an estimated amount of twice their budget to break even. With its budget of roughly US$147 million, the film has a ways to go before making a profit, although this is set to change as its theatrical release is still ongoing, coupled with post-theatrical markets such as video-on-demand (VOD).
Transformers One is a prime (no pun intended) example of an enjoyable movie that underperformed at the box office. Based on the iconic toy line from the 1980s that has since spawned a massive video game, comic book and movie franchise, this animated movie serves as a standalone film that revisits the origins of the Transformers before the robots crash-landed on Earth. Despite its lacklustre performance, the film provided a deeper delve into the backstories of Optimus Prime (then known as Orion Pax) and Megatron (D-16). Presenting a stark contrast to the series’ more recent titles, which only focus on the rivalry between the two, the film explores how this came to be, detailing their journey from close friends to their eventual falling out.
Due to this, the film presents a more refreshing take on the characters, with its cast of Chris Hemsworth (Thor, Extraction) and Brian Tyree Henry (Bullet Train, Eternals) providing solid performances voicing Orion Pax and D-16 respectively. The film presents an authentic dynamic between its characters, while simultaneously balancing its action scenes with an emotional core, and is a must-watch for long-time fans and young audiences alike.
2. The Fall Guy (2024)
Director: David Leitch (Bullet Train, Deadpool 2)
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham
- US & Canada Gross: US$92.9 million
- Worldwide Gross: US$181.1 million
- Metacritic Metascore: 73 (Generally Favorable)
- Metacritic User Score: 6.7 (Generally Favorable)
- Financial Status: Loss. Variety estimated the film would need to gross $275–300 million in order to break even, and reported it would end up losing the studio $50–60 million.
Loosely based on the 1980s television show of the same name, The Fall Guy presents an action-packed cinematic experience that celebrates the unsung heroes of Hollywood, stunt actors. Amidst its healthy dose of action sequences, the film still manages to deliver a surprisingly emotional romance story, largely helped by the chemistry between its cast, led by Ryan Gosling (Barbie, La La Land) and Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place, The Devil Wears Prada). In our review, we described it as “a love letter to the classic blockbusters of years gone by.”
3. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
Director: John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein (Game Night, Vacation)
Cast: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Daisy Head, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis
- US & Canada Gross: US$93.3 million
- Worldwide Gross: US$208.2 million
- Metacritic Metascore: 72 (Generally Favorable)
- Metacritic User Score: 7.5 (Generally Favorable)
- Financial Status: Loss. With its hefty US$150 million budget, the mere US$208.2 million gross means the movie possibly fell short of its break-even point.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves may not have gone down in history as the perfect live-action movie based on the long-running and massively popular D&D franchise, but it was the first of several attempts that did, even if it was somewhat let down by poor pacing and disappointing CGI. Still, the cast, led by Chris Pine (Star Trek, Wonder Woman) and Michelle Rodriguez (The Fast and the Furious, Avatar) still manages to deliver an enjoyable take on the highly popular fantasy tabletop role-playing game, effectively providing emotional layers to its comedic, jovial exterior.
Furthermore, the film doesn’t delve too deeply into the infamously convoluted world of its source material, providing a level of accessibility that enables both fans and newcomers to enjoy its lighthearted fun.
4. The Creator (2023)
Director: Gareth Edwards (Godzilla, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)
Cast: John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Madeleine Yuna Voyles, Ken Watanabe, Allison Janney
- US & Canada Gross: US$40.8 million
- Worldwide Gross: US$104.3 million
- Metacritic Metascore: 63 (Generally Favorable)
- Metacritic User Score: 6.3 (Generally Favorable)
- Financial Status: Loss. With its US$80 million budget, it fell short of making the estimated box office profit amount of US$160 million.
Gareth Edwards’ The Creator may seem like a generic mishmash of Star Wars and Terminator, but viewers going in expecting a flashy, mindless action romp might be surprised by the film’s emotional complexity, presenting a heartwarming story of the relationships between man and AI.
Granted, the concept of mankind co-existing with AI isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but The Creator manages to stand out from the crowd with its masterful cinematography and thought-provoking story-telling which encourages viewers to question the hubris of mankind.
5. Turning Red (2022)
Director: Domee Shi (Bao)
Cast: Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, James Hong
- US & Canada Gross: US$1.4 million
- Worldwide Gross: US$21.5 million
- Metacritic Metascore: 83 (Universal Acclaim)
- Metacritic User Score: 6.2 (Generally Favorable)
- Financial Status: Loss. The pandemic, together with its simultaneous launch on the Disney+ streaming service, negatively impacted its box office.
Disney Pixar’s Turning Red delivers a coming-of-age story based on a girl going through a magical puberty of sorts, transforming into a giant red panda whenever she experiences strong emotions. The film’s premise presented an apt metaphor for personal and cultural change, providing the foundation for a heartening tale of friendship and family, all while pushing out its educational message in a kid-friendly package.
6. Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Director: Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas, The Wolf of Wall Street)
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Robert De Niro, Brendan Fraser
- US & Canada Gross: US$68 million
- Worldwide Gross: US$157 million
- Metacritic Metascore: 89 (Universal Acclaim)
- Metacritic User Score: 7.6 (Generally Favorable)
- Financial Status: Loss. Variety noted that the film would need to gross $500–600 million worldwide to break even. Deadline Hollywood reported that the film lost around $20 million during its theatrical run.
Director Martin Scorsese brings in his expertise regarding the human psyche in his 25th feature, Killers of the Flower Moon, based on a nonfiction book by journalist David Grann. The film explores America’s dark history, infamously plagued by racial injustice and greed.
Backed by a strong cast of Leonardo DiCaprio (Titanic, Inception) and Lily Gladstone (Fancy Dance, The Unknown Country), and excellent writing, the movie presents a sobering assessment of America’s relationships with Indigenous tribes, and serves as a reflection piece, for American audiences in particular, about the violent history of the nation.
7. The Fabelmans (2022)
Director: Steven Spielberg (Jaws, Saving Private Ryan)
Cast: Gabriel LaBelle, Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, David Lynch
- US & Canada Gross: US$17.3 million
- Worldwide Gross: US$45.6 million
- Metacritic Metascore: 85 (Universal Acclaim)
- Metacritic User Score: 7.5 (Generally Favorable)
- Financial Status: Loss. The film made just US$45 million globally from a budget of US$40 million, making it one of the lowest-performing films of director Steven Spielberg’s career.
The Fabelmans is an American coming-of-age drama directed by Steven Spielberg, loosely based on the filmmaker’s own adolescence and beginnings in the industry. This personal touch helped bring life to its endearing tale of a young man’s growing love for movies and filmmaking.
Described as being one of Spielberg’s warmest and funniest films, its light-hearted nature didn’t prevent it from tackling hard-hitting topics such as trauma and familial issues. The Fabelmans makes its mark as the filmmaker’s most personal and original films to date.
8. The Suicide Squad (2021)
Director: James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy series)
Cast: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Daniela Melchior, David Dastmalchian
- US & Canada Gross: US$55.8 million
- Worldwide Gross: US$168.7 million
- Metacritic Metascore: 72 (Generally Favorable)
- Metacritic User Score: 7.3 (Generally Favorable)
- Financial Status: Loss. Did not meet its budget of US$185 million
James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad was an attempt to fix everything that was wrong with 2016’s Suicide Squad. To that end, the film was a massive success, offering a Suicide Squad movie audiences should have received from the get-go.
Even taking comparisons out the window, The Suicide Squad holds its own, blending the mindless action set-pieces fans are expecting with Gunn’s signature storytelling props, providing a violent, chaotic comic-book movie that’s simply a fun time.
Even if you’re not a fan of the previous DC Extended Universe (DCEU), or prefer to wait on James Gunn’s new DC Comics cinematic universe, The Suicide Squad is an entertaining action flick with great performances by Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street, I, Tonya) and Idris Elba (Luther, Pacific Rim).
9. Blue Beetle (2023)
Director: Angel Manuel Soto (La Granja, Charm City Kings)
Cast: Xolo Maridueña, Bruna Marquezine, George Lopez, Belissa Escobedo, Adriana Barraza
- US & Canada Gross: US$72.5 million
- Worldwide Gross: US$130.8 million
- Metacritic Metascore: 61 (Generally Favorable)
- Metacritic User Score: 5.8 (Average)
- Financial Status: Loss. Underperformed at the box office and was the lowest-grossing film in the DCEU.
Bring one of DC’s lesser-known heroes to the big screen, Blue Beetle kickstarted the DC universe’s reboot on a high note, delivering a refreshing superhero origin story catered towards audiences of all ages.
The film not only manages to deliver in terms of its action but also stays true to the legacy of its titular character. The relationship between protagonist Jaime Reyes, portrayed by Xolo Maridueña (Cobra Kai), is the movie’s standout feature, presenting the sense of humour and family that the Latino community is famous for.
10. The Northman (2022)
Director: Robert Eggers (The Lighthouse, The Witch)
Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe
- US & Canada Gross: US$34.2 million
- Worldwide Gross: US$69.6 million
- Metacritic Metascore: 82 (Universal Acclaim)
- Metacritic User Score: 7.3 (Generally Favorable)
- Financial Status: Loss (Theatrical) Profit (Overall). Did not meet the budget of US$70 million during its theatrical release, but managed to turn a profit via VOD and other post-theatrical markets.
Based on the legend of Amleth, a figure in medieval Scandinavian folklore, The Northman tells the tale of a Viking prince on a quest to avenge the murder of his father. Filmmaker Robert Eggers (The Lighthouse, The Witch) brings in his signature style and direction, crafting a bloody revenge epic set in a grisly, surreal world, supported by superb performances from its lead Alexander Skarsgård (The Legend of Tarzan, True Blood).
(Bonus) Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1 (2023)
Director: Christopher McQuarrie (Jack Reacher, The Way of the Gun)
Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Esai Morales
- US & Canada Gross: US$172.1 million
- Worldwide Gross: US$570.6 million
- Metacritic Metascore: 81 (Universal Acclaim)
- Metacritic User Score: 7.9 (Generally Favorable)
- Financial Status: Loss. Variety reported that given the film’s massive budget, it would “likely not turn a profit” in its theatrical run, later estimating that it would lose the studio around $100 million if it did not cross $600 million worldwide.
The Mission: Impossible franchise is definitely no stranger to anyone with an interest in action flicks, and its latest instalment, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1, doesn’t pull any punches. The movie reminds audiences of the superiority of prioritising practical effects and stuntwork over the use of green screens, throwing one set piece after another with no signs of slowing down.
Amidst all the spectacle, the film still offers a gripping storyline filled with tension and revelation the series is so well-known for and manages to provide closure along with just enough crumbs to leave audiences salivating in anticipation for its next instalment.
Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.
Natalie
