Top 10 Hyped Movies With the Biggest Box Office Drop Off
Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Hyped Movies With the Biggest Box Office Drop-Off. For this list, we’ll be looking at the buzziest movies that experienced a shortfall the week after their initial release. Let us know in the comments which movies you think were undeserving of their drop-off.
#10: “The Flash” (2023)
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In the months leading up to this film’s release, lead actor Ezra Miller made headlines with their controversial behavior. Reports of harassment and disorderly conduct made the promotion of this anticipated DC blockbuster an uphill battle. Furthermore, the film's initial announcement years earlier coincided with the debut of the CW series of the same name. It’s possible that this long lead confused audiences. After shifting release dates, the film finally premiered. The project saw tepid reviews, which did not help drive attendance. Unfortunately, this turned out to be one of the DC franchise’s biggest failures with a drop-off of 72%.
#9: “Solo: A Star Wars Story” (2018)
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For decades, Star Wars seemed to be an enduring franchise that guaranteed success for any project that shared the name. But this time, this Star Wars name was not enough to garner success. Extensive reshoots bloated the budget, and the project needed to draw in a large audience to break even. While the reviews were fairly positive, the movie didn’t seem special enough to entice moviegoers. Critics noted that the story felt unnecessary, lacking the urgency and significance of previous Star Wars installments. Others suggest that audiences were fatigued by the franchise and couldn’t be bothered with any more stories. Whatever the reason, it fell 65% its second week. Even the most revered legacies can face challenges with new installments.
#8: “Fantastic Four” (2015)
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Hoping to inject some new life into the franchise, the director of 2012’s “Chronicle” was placed at the helm of this buzz-worthy movie. But stories of a tumultuous production did not bode well for the project’s future. Upon release, the critics panned the film for its pacing issues and its unnecessary bleakness. The same day the movie hit theaters, the director took to Twitter to vent about his frustrations with the studio. Due to the negative reviews and his outburst, the film was not able to recover at the box office, dropping 68% after its premiere. It was only a matter of time before this movie became known as the flop of the summer. Despite fans’ optimism, this film failed to deliver the revitalized story it promised.
#7: “Alien 3” (1992)
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David Fincher’s first feature film after making a name for himself directing music videos was famous for its chaotic production. He struggled with other key players for creative control, and the public soon caught wind of the drama. Although the film performed almost as well as its predecessors, it suffered a big second week drop and was soon considered a failure. On the international stage, it earned more than the original “Alien” film, which is a bit of a bright side. The most devoted fans consider this installment the worst in the franchise. And its director agrees. In 2009, Fincher officially disowned the film. To his credit, the film has a visually striking aesthetic and is certainly worth a revisit.
#6: “Star Trek: Nemesis” (2002)
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The release of this film signaled the end of “The Next Generation.” With mixed reviews, it saw a sharp decline in sales in its second week. One of the producers remarked that the project faced some steep competition at the box office. It had to contend with heavy hitters such as Harry Potter, James Bond, and Lord of the Rings. Going up against such high-profile releases posed a tough challenge for a sci-fi production with a more niche appeal. There were actually plans for another project with this cast. However, the lukewarm reception at the box office sealed the fate of further adventures with this ensemble.
#5: “Dark Phoenix” (2019)
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After “X-Men: Apocalypse” was deemed the worst of the franchise, this film had its work cut out for it. The story arc of the Phoenix was beloved among X-Men comic fandom and had already been somewhat adapted in an earlier entry. Fans were cautiously hopeful that this would be a more worthy adaptation. But it suffered a turbulent production that resulted in several delays and assault allegations against Bryan Singer further tarnished the reputation of the project. While he doesn’t appear to be directly involved in the project, Singer was deeply attached to the franchise through his production company. Reports of unfavorable test screenings signaled trouble ahead. When the film finally hit theaters, it underperformed at the box office, diving after a tepid premiere.
#4: “Halloween Ends” (2022)
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One of horror’s most recognizable characters was largely missed in this final installment of the most recent “Halloween” trilogy. 2018’s “Halloween” received favorable reviews, but its two COVID-era sequels suffered diminishing returns. Even in 2022, audiences were still hesitant about going to theaters, so the studio hedged its bets by releasing the film on NBC’s streaming service the same day it hit theaters. And then the unfavorable reviews further encouraged viewers to catch it at home, resulting in an incredible 80% crash on its second weekend. The biggest criticism came from the lack of focus on Michael Myers. Instead, the story revolved around the nebulous evil that was infecting Haddonfield. Fans were left hungry for a more satisfying conclusion for this beloved franchise.
#3: “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016)
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The anticipation surrounding the first live-action film showcasing the Man of Steel and The Dark Knight generated a tremendous amount of publicity. But with a rumored budget of $420 million dollars, this film needed to surpass almost a billion bucks just to break even. Eager fans flooded theaters, making the first weekend a success. But word-of-mouth spoke of incoherence and boredom. For tentpole projects such as this, the second week is the true indication of a project’s success and by that measure it failed. Despite breaking a couple of box-office records, the film turned out to be a disappointment.
#2: “The Matrix Revolutions” (2003)
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As a whole, the Matrix series had a profound cultural impact. It revolutionized the sci-fi genre and popularized groundbreaking visual effects. With its third installment, the anticipation of a thrilling conclusion was at a fever pitch - but the film did not match that anticipation. The criticism of the film was split. On one side, fans of the film appreciated that it had satisfying special effects. On the other, folks were displeased that the emotional elements seemed to fall by the wayside. While effects can be compelling and useful, the characters are what audiences connect with. A well-drawn story with emotionally rich characters can make or break that second week at the box office. It seems that this film missed the mark.
#1: “The Last Airbender” (2010)
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With all the makings of a bonafide hit, this project botched any hope of becoming a live-action franchise. Despite the success of the animated Nickelodeon series, this film was immediately panned and all plans for future sequels to this particular adaptation were scrapped. The poor acting and haphazard 3-D treatment discouraged audiences from recommending the film to friends and family. Also, the title was changed to omit “Avatar,”to avoid confusion with the James Cameron epic of the same name. However, this may have caused the film to go unnoticed by some because “Avatar” is firmly planted in the source material’s identity. By the second week, audiences were seeking entertainment elsewhere.
