10 Most Expensive Box Office Bombs of All Time
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VOICE OVER: Rudolph Strong
WRITTEN BY: George Pacheco
Hollywood's biggest financial disasters have cost studios hundreds of millions! Join us as we explore the blockbuster films that crashed and burned at the box office despite massive budgets, star power, and marketing campaigns. From swashbuckling adventures to sci-fi epics, these movies represent the riskiest bets that studios have ever made—and lost. Our countdown includes "John Carter," "The Lone Ranger," "The Marvels," "The 13th Warrior," "Mortal Engines," and more! Some of these films have found cult followings years later, but their initial box office performances were catastrophic enough to sink entire studios. Which of these expensive flops do you think deserved a better fate? Let us know in the comments!
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for those films that suffered the widest profit loss margins, taking into account things like budget and marketing costs.
It’s the film that allegedly threw Hollywood off of pirate-themed pictures for years. Yet “Cutthroat Island” had a lot going for it on paper. Director Renny Harlin was an experienced hand at delivering exciting, action-focused films. Geena Davis and Matthew Modine were marketable names for the marquee. So why did “Cutthroat Island” flounder at the box office to the tune of $217 million? This was supposed to be a way of saving Carolco Pictures from going under, but it ended up doing the exact opposite. The casting was marred by tons of back-and-forth, crew members were fired, delays occurred, and overall chaos was the norm. It’s sort of a shame, because the end results, as troubled as they were, remain fun enough today.
The name of “Guy Ritchie” didn’t mean what it used to mean back in 2017 when “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword” hit theaters. The writer/director had enjoyed hits like “Snatch” back in the ‘90s, but this adaptation of Arthurian legend arrived with a price tag between 144 and 197 million bucks. The Guardian reported at the time how the screenplay stitched together elements of various other Arthur-adjacent scripts to create its story. There was also allegedly an intention for multiple sequels, and a shared Arthurian cinematic universe. Alas, mixed reviews and low box office receipts put a kibosh on that plan. The film still hasn’t broken even at the time of this writing.
Was 2015 the year where audiences were clamoring for a prequel to “Peter Pan?” Apparently not, because this film reportedly lost distributors Warner Bros. between $114 and 199 million. This was despite actors such as Hugh Jackman, Rooney Mara and Amanda Seyfried attached to the project. Fans and critics were mixed at best to the final results, a film that utilized a lot of CGI but seemed to add little to the established lore of Peter Pan. Additionally, the film’s screenplay, which had initially earned praise on the Hollywood “Black List” of potential features, didn’t come across that way on screen. “Pan” does have some critical defenders, but that mattered little to the receipts of its theatrical release.
“Strange World” was the Walt Disney Animation’s first feature to include a LGBTQIA+ character in the lead role, but some feel this decision may have contributed to its lackluster box office. “Strange World” was pulled in some markets due to this creative choice, despite critical appraisal of the film generally being positive. “Strange World’s” source material of pulpy adventure novels may not have been a good fit for its target audience, which may have contributed to its financial loss. In addition, audiences had become accustomed to waiting for animated films to stream rather than going to theatres, thanks to the COVID pandemic. This film was one of that year’s biggest bombs, reportedly costing the studio between $193 and 212 million.
The stories of Sinbad the Sailor used to be the home of box office gold back in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Those were live action productions, however, and “Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas” attempted to revitalize that brand via animation. The end results unfortunately blew up in the face of DreamWorks, to the tune of 214 million bucks. Critics were mixed at the time of the film’s release, largely praising the visuals and music, but less so other important elements, such as story. DreamWorks almost didn’t recover from the loss, and “Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas” remains a black mark within the company’s history.
Could the steampunk subculture translate onto the silver screen? Hollywood seemed to think so back in 2018 with “Mortal Engines.” Peter Jackson co-wrote and co-produced the film, which was based upon a book series. Audiences, however, didn’t respond to “Mortal Engines” in quite the same way as Jackson’s journeys to Middle-Earth. The film ended up a $219 million failure to Universal and its co-production companies, including Jackson’s WingNut Films. “Mortal Engines,” like many bombs, had its defenders, while also retaining some very familiar criticism. The picture was flashy, to be sure, but didn’t seem to have what it took in terms of world-building or originality to translate into a new and successful franchise.
Nobody stays on top forever. Director John McTiernan was responsible for some of the pop culture zeitgeist’s most influential films, including “Predator” and “Die Hard.” Author Michael Crichton was the man who brought us “Jurassic Park.” So why did this otherwise awesome film about a stranger in a strange land flop with such force? Advertising for “The 13th Warrior” was everywhere back in ‘99, resulting in a budget estimated between 100 and 160 million. Yet, McTiernan’s film only mustered a paltry 61.7 million in receipts. Today, “The 13th Warrior” possesses a cult following with movie fans. At the time, however? We’re talking about a loss of between $130 and 243 million!
It seemed inconceivable, at one point, to even imagine Marvel coming up short at the box office. Nothing good lasts forever, though, and audiences were definitely feeling tired of superhero fare by 2023. Marvel’s increasingly divisive creative decisions didn’t help “The Marvels” when it was released at this time, despite containing a script that brought Captain and Ms. Marvel to the big screen. Some blamed a culture of fandom that rejected “The Marvels” female-led story and creative team, while still others just called it a bad movie with a bad script and questionable CGI. Whatever the case, the glory days of Marvel Studios certainly seemed to be in the rearview in 2023, and several subsequent Marvel films have also fallen short at the box office..
Some characters retain their historical place within pop culture, while others fade away into that great, cinematic sunset. “The Lone Ranger” from 2013 seemed to follow in the footsteps of its equally infamous forebear from 1981 with its historic box office flop. Sources alleged at the time of the former’s release that it was going to take Disney a 650 million dollar return in order to break even on their investment. This all takes into account the huge marketing budget, combined with the production totals. When all was said and done, however, “The Lone Ranger” lost Disney between 216 and 256 million bucks.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
We’ll probably never know whether or not Edgar Rice Burroughs’ character, John Carter of Mars, could’ve carried a movie franchise. The source material certainly remains fascinating, and the story of “John Carter” is another one where some have revisited it, and come back with a more sympathetic view. However, the extra money afforded to “John Carter” for both production and marketing once again created a gap that proved insurmountable by Disney. A 600-plus million dollar gross was allegedly needed for The House of Mouse to make a profit on their investment. This, predictably, didn’t occur, and “John Carter” wound up costing Disney between 153 and 274 million, by the time everything was all said and done.
Did critics and audiences get any of these wrong? Let us know in the comments!
#10: “Cutthroat Island” (1995)
$217 MillionIt’s the film that allegedly threw Hollywood off of pirate-themed pictures for years. Yet “Cutthroat Island” had a lot going for it on paper. Director Renny Harlin was an experienced hand at delivering exciting, action-focused films. Geena Davis and Matthew Modine were marketable names for the marquee. So why did “Cutthroat Island” flounder at the box office to the tune of $217 million? This was supposed to be a way of saving Carolco Pictures from going under, but it ended up doing the exact opposite. The casting was marred by tons of back-and-forth, crew members were fired, delays occurred, and overall chaos was the norm. It’s sort of a shame, because the end results, as troubled as they were, remain fun enough today.
#9: “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword” (2017)
$144-$197 MillionThe name of “Guy Ritchie” didn’t mean what it used to mean back in 2017 when “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword” hit theaters. The writer/director had enjoyed hits like “Snatch” back in the ‘90s, but this adaptation of Arthurian legend arrived with a price tag between 144 and 197 million bucks. The Guardian reported at the time how the screenplay stitched together elements of various other Arthur-adjacent scripts to create its story. There was also allegedly an intention for multiple sequels, and a shared Arthurian cinematic universe. Alas, mixed reviews and low box office receipts put a kibosh on that plan. The film still hasn’t broken even at the time of this writing.
#8: “Pan” (2015)
$114-$199 MillionWas 2015 the year where audiences were clamoring for a prequel to “Peter Pan?” Apparently not, because this film reportedly lost distributors Warner Bros. between $114 and 199 million. This was despite actors such as Hugh Jackman, Rooney Mara and Amanda Seyfried attached to the project. Fans and critics were mixed at best to the final results, a film that utilized a lot of CGI but seemed to add little to the established lore of Peter Pan. Additionally, the film’s screenplay, which had initially earned praise on the Hollywood “Black List” of potential features, didn’t come across that way on screen. “Pan” does have some critical defenders, but that mattered little to the receipts of its theatrical release.
#7: “Strange World” (2022)
$193-$212 Million“Strange World” was the Walt Disney Animation’s first feature to include a LGBTQIA+ character in the lead role, but some feel this decision may have contributed to its lackluster box office. “Strange World” was pulled in some markets due to this creative choice, despite critical appraisal of the film generally being positive. “Strange World’s” source material of pulpy adventure novels may not have been a good fit for its target audience, which may have contributed to its financial loss. In addition, audiences had become accustomed to waiting for animated films to stream rather than going to theatres, thanks to the COVID pandemic. This film was one of that year’s biggest bombs, reportedly costing the studio between $193 and 212 million.
#6: “Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas” (2003)
$214 MillionThe stories of Sinbad the Sailor used to be the home of box office gold back in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Those were live action productions, however, and “Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas” attempted to revitalize that brand via animation. The end results unfortunately blew up in the face of DreamWorks, to the tune of 214 million bucks. Critics were mixed at the time of the film’s release, largely praising the visuals and music, but less so other important elements, such as story. DreamWorks almost didn’t recover from the loss, and “Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas” remains a black mark within the company’s history.
#5: “Mortal Engines” (2018)
$219 MillionCould the steampunk subculture translate onto the silver screen? Hollywood seemed to think so back in 2018 with “Mortal Engines.” Peter Jackson co-wrote and co-produced the film, which was based upon a book series. Audiences, however, didn’t respond to “Mortal Engines” in quite the same way as Jackson’s journeys to Middle-Earth. The film ended up a $219 million failure to Universal and its co-production companies, including Jackson’s WingNut Films. “Mortal Engines,” like many bombs, had its defenders, while also retaining some very familiar criticism. The picture was flashy, to be sure, but didn’t seem to have what it took in terms of world-building or originality to translate into a new and successful franchise.
#4: “The 13th Warrior” (1999)
$130-$243 MillionNobody stays on top forever. Director John McTiernan was responsible for some of the pop culture zeitgeist’s most influential films, including “Predator” and “Die Hard.” Author Michael Crichton was the man who brought us “Jurassic Park.” So why did this otherwise awesome film about a stranger in a strange land flop with such force? Advertising for “The 13th Warrior” was everywhere back in ‘99, resulting in a budget estimated between 100 and 160 million. Yet, McTiernan’s film only mustered a paltry 61.7 million in receipts. Today, “The 13th Warrior” possesses a cult following with movie fans. At the time, however? We’re talking about a loss of between $130 and 243 million!
#3: “The Marvels” (2023)
$245 MillionIt seemed inconceivable, at one point, to even imagine Marvel coming up short at the box office. Nothing good lasts forever, though, and audiences were definitely feeling tired of superhero fare by 2023. Marvel’s increasingly divisive creative decisions didn’t help “The Marvels” when it was released at this time, despite containing a script that brought Captain and Ms. Marvel to the big screen. Some blamed a culture of fandom that rejected “The Marvels” female-led story and creative team, while still others just called it a bad movie with a bad script and questionable CGI. Whatever the case, the glory days of Marvel Studios certainly seemed to be in the rearview in 2023, and several subsequent Marvel films have also fallen short at the box office..
#2: “The Lone Ranger” (2013)
$216-$256 MillionSome characters retain their historical place within pop culture, while others fade away into that great, cinematic sunset. “The Lone Ranger” from 2013 seemed to follow in the footsteps of its equally infamous forebear from 1981 with its historic box office flop. Sources alleged at the time of the former’s release that it was going to take Disney a 650 million dollar return in order to break even on their investment. This all takes into account the huge marketing budget, combined with the production totals. When all was said and done, however, “The Lone Ranger” lost Disney between 216 and 256 million bucks.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“The Adventures of Pluto Nash” (2002), $168 Million
Eddie Murphy’s Infamous Box Office Bomb“Battleship” (2005), $79-$205 Million
This One “Sunk” At Screenings“Joker: Folie à Deux” (2024), $125-$200 Million
Some Sour Notes for This Musical Disaster“Jungle Cruise” (2021), $174 Million
Not Even The Rock Could Right This Ship“Mars Needs Moms” (2011), $140-$201 Million
An Interstellar Movie Misstep#1: “John Carter” (2012)
$153-$274 MillionWe’ll probably never know whether or not Edgar Rice Burroughs’ character, John Carter of Mars, could’ve carried a movie franchise. The source material certainly remains fascinating, and the story of “John Carter” is another one where some have revisited it, and come back with a more sympathetic view. However, the extra money afforded to “John Carter” for both production and marketing once again created a gap that proved insurmountable by Disney. A 600-plus million dollar gross was allegedly needed for The House of Mouse to make a profit on their investment. This, predictably, didn’t occur, and “John Carter” wound up costing Disney between 153 and 274 million, by the time everything was all said and done.
Did critics and audiences get any of these wrong? Let us know in the comments!
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