Top 10 Movie Bombs of 2024 (So Far)

Top-10-Movie-Bombs-of-2024-So-Far

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 box office bombs of 2024 so far. We’ll only look at movies released between January and May with confirmed budgets. And while numbers may change, a movie is typically a bomb when it fails to double its production cost. Beware of minor spoilers ahead.

#10: “Abigail” (2024)

In this offbeat horror film, a group of criminals are hired to capture who they believe to be a preteen ballerina. But they soon discover that they’ve actually taken a vampire that’s hundreds of years old…and happens to be a great dancer. The film’s humor and over-the-top practical effects were both applauded. Unfortunately, neither the carnage or the comedy were enough to scare up a large audience. It’s estimated that the movie will lose somewhere around $16 million dollars. Although “Abigail” left a coffin lid open to allow for future sequels, lackluster financial returns may have put a stake in this franchise before it ever got time to shine.

#9: “Back to Black” (2024)

This biopic promised to take viewers into the life of a troubled singer who left the world far too soon. Although Marisa Abela’s performance as Amy Winehouse was largely praised, critics were less enthusiastic about the film as a whole. While some reviewers believed “Back to Black” didn’t dive deep enough into the singer’s life, others found the movie to be exploitative. It’s unknown whether the opposing reviews or intense subject matter kept casual moviegoers away. But at the end of the day, the numbers definitively indicated that “Back to Black” failed to recoup its costs. It’s estimated that it only made back a third of its $30 million budget.

#8: “I.S.S.” (2024)

What would an international group of astronauts do if they saw Earth being consumed by nuclear war while they were in space? This compelling question was at the center of the ambitious sci-fi film “I.S.S.” Despite having a star-studded cast and earning solid reviews, the movie failed to reach box office heights. “I.S.S.” is currently poised to lose around $21 million dollars. Industry experts pointed out that it may have been prematurely doomed by its tough release window. “I.S.S. took flight in the rough box office month of January only a week after the action-packed “Beekeeper” and crowd pleasing “Mean Girls” made their debuts. In the end, external factors may have caused the film to get lost in space.

#7: “Challengers” (2024)

It didn’t take long for the story of a steamy love triangle between three talented tennis players to become a social media sensation. Fans praised the tension filled scenes between Zendaya and her costars and the movie’s breathtaking conclusion. So, why couldn’t “Challengers” net a big box office win? Since the film’s original August 2023 release was pushed back twice due to strikes, it's possible that general moviegoers weren’t sure when it would premiere. It’s also possible that people became tired of seeing the same preview run in front of other films for over a year. “Challengers” is still likely to find success and more fans on streaming services. But its studio might walk away from the box office court $30 million dollars poorer.

#6: “The Book of Clarence” (2024)

By earning just $6 million dollars against a budget of $40 million, this comedy-drama became a failure of biblical proportions. “The Book of Clarence” may have gone unread by moviegoers due to its boundary-pushing plot. At the beginning of this period film, we learn the titular character is struggling to make a living in first century Jerusalem. After learning that a man named Jesus was attracting fame and followers, Clarence tries to convince people that he’s a prophet too. The presence of religious satire may have kept audiences from giving the film a chance. It didn’t help that “Book of Clarence” was released during a crowded weekend in January. Unfortunately, the religious risk didn’t lead to reward this time around.

#5: “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” (2024)

Most of the critics and moviegoers who saw this Guy Ritchie production were quite pleased with the final result. “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” revolved around an actual top secret military operation that was conducted during World War II. While it did exaggerate certain details, viewers didn’t mind. After all, megastars like Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Alan Ritchson, and more were along for the ride. But the stacked talent behind the camera didn’t translate to big box office returns. It never came close to earning back its budget and could end up losing the studio upwards of $90 million dollars. For one reason or another, this war-themed film will go down in the history books as one of 2024’s biggest flops.

#4: “Madame Web” (2024)

Shortly after audiences first heard a sample of this superhero tale’s questionable dialogue, they predicted this movie wouldn’t do too well at the box office. This pop culture prophecy came to pass when “Madame Web” debuted in February. Outside of its odd lines, the film was criticized for its thin characters, confusing plot mechanics, and a lackluster villain. And when bad word of mouth spread prior to its release, some moviegoers asked for refunds before going to the theater. The web of bad press squashed this Spider-Man spinoff’s chances at having a normal box office run. It’s estimated that the movie will lose anywhere between $59 million and $99 million dollars in the very near future.

#3: “IF” (2024)

While the bulk of this kids film’s cast is imaginary, its box office failure is unfortunately all too real. “If’s” $110 million dollar budget allowed the filmmakers to create a world filled with fantastical creatures that need help from an unlikely duo in order to find homes. Additionally, the production’s cost allowed them to hire an incredible voice cast. The presence of vocal veterans like Steve Carrell and Awkwafina legends and Hollywood legends like George Clooney seemed promising. Unfortunately, “IF” received middling reviews from critics before being widely ignored by general moviegoers. While final numbers are still yet to be determined, it could end up fumbling over $100 million dollars. “IF” seemingly failed to spark imagination or financial success.

#2: “The Fall Guy” (2024)

Ryan Gosling’s action comedy had a lot going for it. His chemistry with Emily Blunt was evident from the first trailer. Since the movie also centers around a stuntman stumbling onto a crime conspiracy, “The Fall Guy” did justice to each one of its action scenes. The crew was even able to set a Guinness World Record for most car cannon rolls during production. But the combined might of all of “The Fall Guy’s” thrills and laughs wasn’t enough to fill seats. Despite a lack of direct competition, the action-comedy fell far short of expectations. It had a hugely disappointing debut and didn’t gain much traction after that. When the dust settles, it could lose anywhere between $121-$171 million dollars.

#1: “Argylle” (2024)

Thanks to a cast overstuffed with A-listers and tons of CGI, this spy thriller’s budget ballooned to a hefty $200 million dollars. The chances of it making a profit deflated once the first round of reviews went public. Although the central mystery of the movie revolved around the true identity of “Argylle”, critics didn’t like how the story unfolded. The movie was ridiculed for having a series of increasingly hard to swallow twists. Additionally, the lack of chemistry between the leads and lame jokes held the thriller back. Audiences were a lot less willing to gamble on the weak spy movie than the studio was. As a result, “Argylle” could lose over 300 million dollars. We probably won’t see this spy go on another mission.


Did any of these box office bombs deserve better? Let us know which ones need redemption in the comments!