The year 2023 was full of anticipation and excitement for movie fans, as many big-budget and highly-anticipated films were scheduled to hit the theaters. However, not all of them lived up to the expectations and some of them turned out to be major disappointments.
List of Biggest Flop Movies in 2024
In this article, we will look at the top 10 biggest flop movies of 2023, based on their box office performance, critical reception, and fan feedback.
1. Ms. Marvel
Ms. Marvel was supposed to be the sequel to the 2019 blockbuster Captain Marvel, featuring Brie Larson as Carol Danvers, Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, and Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan. However, the film failed to impress the audiences and critics alike, as it was criticized for its weak plot, bland characters, and lack of humor.
The film also faced backlash from some fans who accused it of being too woke and pushing a feminist agenda. The film grossed only $320 million worldwide, against a budget of $200 million, making it one of the lowest-earning Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
2. The Flash
The Flash was supposed to be the long-awaited solo film for the DC superhero, starring Ezra Miller as Barry Allen, who can move at superhuman speeds. The film was also supposed to feature cameo appearances from Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck as different versions of Batman, as well as Sasha Calle as Supergirl.
But the film turned out to be a mess, as it suffered from multiple delays, reshoots, and script changes. This film faced controversy due to Miller’s involvement in a physical altercation with a fan in 2020, as well as allegations of abuse from his co-star Ray Fisher. It is one of the lowest-earning DC Extended Universe films as the film grossed only $280 million worldwide where the total budget was of $180 million.
3. Renfield
Renfield is a horror-comedy film based on the character of R.M. Renfield, the loyal servant of Dracula, from Bram Stoker’s novel. The film starred Nicholas Hoult as Renfield, who is sent to a mental asylum after being bitten by Dracula, and Chris Pratt as his psychiatrist, who tries to help him cope with his condition.
Renfield failed to deliver on both the horror and the comedy aspects because of its poor writing, cheap scares, and unfunny jokes. The film also faced criticism for its portrayal of mental illness and its insensitive use of stereotypes. The total budget spent on this film was $100 million and their worldwide gross was only $150 million.
4. Wish
The film Wish is a fantasy-adventure. This film is made on a popular mobile game of the same name, where players can collect and summon various creatures and characters. Tom Holland as Alex, a young gamer who finds a mysterious device that grants him access to the Wish world, and Zendaya as Luna, a Wish warrior who helps him on his quest are playing roles in this film.
Unfortunately, the film failed to capture the charm and fun of the game, as some fans accused it of being a rip-off of other films like Jumanji and Ready Player One. They grossed only $200 million worldwide which makes it a huge disappointment, because their budget was $150 million.
5. D&D: Honor Among Thieves
In this film the makers tried to turn the cool Dungeons & Dragons game into a fantasy-action movie. Chris Pine played Dash, a thief leading a group of odd adventurers for a heist to steal a powerful artifact. Hugh Grant as Lord Neverember, a character who is hungry for power.
But, the movie wasn’t appealing for both fans and the general audience. People said it had a generic plot, poor CGI effect and the choice of cast characters. Even though they spent $125 million, the movie only made $180 million worldwide, making it a big letdown.
6. Shazam! Fury of the Gods
Shazam! Fury of the Gods is the next part of 2019 hit Shazam!, featuring Zachary Levi as Billy Batson, a teenager who can transform into a superpowered adult by saying the word “Shazam”. The film also featured Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu as Hespera and Kalypso, the daughters of the Greek god Atlas, who seek revenge on Shazam and his family.
But the film didn’t replicate the success and the charm of the first film because the audience criticize for its weak villains, dull humor, and excessive runtime. The film also faced competition from other superhero films like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Black Adam, which overshadowed its release. The film only made $300 million worldwide, compared to a budget of $200 million.
7. Elemental
Elemental was about the four teenagers that discover their powers to control the four elements of nature: fire, water, earth and air. The film starred Millie Bobby Brown as Phoebe, a fire elemental who is hunted by a secret organization, and Finn Wolfhard as Noah, a water elemental who helps her escape.
Elemental was a flop movie because it was not well promoted by Pixar and Disney, and it faced a PR disaster when it tweeted a poster that was insensitive. It had a voice cast that lacked star power and a story that was clichéd and unoriginal. It was also accused of plagiarism by some people who claimed that it copied from other works like Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Hunger Games. The film grossed only $120 million worldwide, against a budget of $80 million, making it one of the flop movies of 2023.
8. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts was the seventh part of the Transformers series, which showed the battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons, and also the new groups of animal-like robots, the Maximals and the Predacons. The film had Anthony Ramos as Noah, an ex-soldier who joins forces with Optimus Prime, and Dominique Fishback as Elena, a hacker who finds out a secret plot involving the Transformers.
But the film did not bring back the fans and the critics, who hated it for its confusing story, loud action, and poor characters. The film also got bad reviews for its too much CGI and its use of old references and tricks. The gross was low, only $400 million, as compared to the budget, $250 million, and it was the lowest-grossing Transformers film ever.
9. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One was the next to last film in the Mission: Impossible series, starring Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, a spy who leads a group of agents on risky missions. The film also had Henry Cavill as August Walker, a former friend turned foe who wants to cause a global disaster.
The film did not meet the expectations and the quality of the earlier films, as it was bashed for its confusing story, no thrill, and too many stunts. The film also got bad reactions from some fans who said it was too dark and violent, and that it spoiled the character of Walker. The film made only $500 million worldwide, compared to a cost of $300 million.
10. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
The fifth and last film in the Indiana Jones series, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, starred Harrison Ford as the famous archaeologist and adventurer, who goes on a mission to find a hidden artifact that can change history. The film also had Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Marion Ravenwood, Indy’s old love and partner, and Mads Mikkelsen as Klaus Vogel, a Nazi scientist who plans to use the artifact for evil.
However, the film did not end the series well, as it was criticized for its silly story, bad acting, and no new ideas. The film also got into trouble because of its use of technology to make actors look younger and its showing of historical events. The gross was only $350 million worldwide, compared to a cost of $250 million, making it the worst flop of the year.
Conclusion
These were the top 10 biggest flop movies of 2023, which proved that not all films can be successful, no matter how big their budget, star cast, or fan base is. Some of these films may have had potential, but they failed to execute it well, while others were just doomed from the start. Hopefully, the year 2024 will bring us better and more enjoyable films, and less disappointments.
FAQs
- Were specific genres targeted in the selection of the biggest flop movies?
The list shows various genres, including superhero films, fantasy-adventures, and action-thrillers, highlighting that disappointments were not confined to a particular category.
- Were there common themes or patterns among the biggest flop movies of 2023?
Some common themes included criticism for generic plots, subpar CGI, weak character development, and in some cases, controversy surrounding casting decisions and lack of diversity.
- How were budget considerations factored into the selection of the top flops?
The budget of each film was taken into account to evaluate its commercial success. Movies that struggled to recover their production costs were considered bigger flops.
- Did the timing of a movie’s release affect its inclusion in the list?
Yes, the competition from other highly anticipated movies released around the same time, as well as the overall movie landscape in 2023, influenced the inclusion of films in the top flop list.
- What is the outlook for the film industry following these disappointments in 2023?
While the year saw some major disappointments, the film industry remains dynamic and resilient. The hope is for better and more enjoyable movies in the future, as filmmakers learn from both successes and failures.
