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- 10 Biggest Box Office Flops of All Time
10 Biggest Box Office Flops of All Time
1. Mulan
Released on September 4, 2020, Disney’s grand live-action retelling of the beloved animated classic "Mulan" seemed destined for success. However, despite its attempt to capture the spirit of the original, audiences found it lacking in some areas. While visually stunning and rich in heritage, "Mulan" struggled with storytelling, ultimately earning an average rating of only 2.5. With a hefty production budget amid pandemic-driven releases, it severely underperformed financially.
2. The Mummy
On June 6, 2017, the endeavor to kickstart a new Universal Monsters Cinematic Universe with "The Mummy" fell flat. Despite starring Tom Cruise and featuring lavish special effects, it was entombed by its narrative faults and failed to resonate with critics and audiences alike, earning a 2.9-star rating. The hope for a long lineage of interconnected films was buried alongside it.
3. Mars Needs Moms
Released on March 9, 2011, "Mars Needs Moms" illustrates that not even earth-shattering animation and heartfelt themes can guarantee success in the box office circuit. This 3D motion-captured feature about a child's space mission to save his mother only garnered a rating of 2.7. The staggering loss overshadowed its innovative picture technology.
4. Monkeybone
In the early months of 2001, "Monkeybone" ventured onto the scene with an arresting blend of live-action and animation. Tim Burton-esque and eccentric to its core, this film tried too hard yet didn’t align with Hollywood’s model for success. A surreal narrative robbed it of mainstream appeal, leaving it with only a modest 2.8 rating, remaining a hidden cult fantasy for the adventurous viewer.
5. Town & Country
Released on April 27, 2001, "Town & Country", a romantic comedy drama starring Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn, faced critical dismantling and was a financial black hole. With an over-long production coupled with an unimpressive average rating of 3, it remains a textbook example of production woe meeting fiscal dismay.
6. The Adventures of Pluto Nash
Surfaced on August 16, 2002, Eddie Murphy’s comedy experiment on the moon lacks both charm and audience interest. A cosmic misadventure riddled with clichés and scope limitations saw it crash with a mere 2.1 rating. Despite the effort in creating a vibrant extraterrestrial setting, it struggled to lift off.
7. Zyzzyx Road
This film achieved notoriety not for its plot but for its unbelievably low box office returns, having pocketed mere dollars upon release! A lack of any substantial ratings makes it storied for reasons beyond its noir-ish tale. Financially driven limited releases provide a lesson on distribution gone wrong.
8. Moonfall
Launched on February 3, 2022, "Moonfall" was a galactic attempt at epicness but veered into melodrama. The concept of a rogue moon doesn’t entirely meet its cinematographic ambition despite its promising directive. This film crashed into financial oblivion, as echoed by its modest 2.9 rating.
9. Lucky You
Unveiled on May 1, 2007, featuring Eric Bana, "Lucky You" mixed romantic stakes with the equally high pressure of poker. Despite a dedicated performance from the cast and a 3.5 rating, its tale didn’t connect with moviegoers, making it a lightweight in Hollywood chronicles.
10. Pan
Released September 24, 2015, "Pan" aimed to re-envision the classic Peter Pan mythos with a new adventurous hook. Yet, it fell short of capturing the magic of Neverland, drawing only a paltry average rating of 3. The missteps in narrative clarity and cohesion rendered its ambitious scenes ineffective in flying to box office glory.
Each of these cinematic endeavors strived to become the next big hit but found themselves caught in the ruthless tides of box-office realities. Whether through misjudgment, circumstance, or fateful divine comedy, they serve as intriguing relics of Hollywood’s most fascinating financial failures, offering lessons in both creation and caution.