Article: Movies That Were Supposed To Be Blockbusters But Bombed

[big dog cowboy]

I’m surprised Matrix Resurrections isn’t on that list. That was a film that should never have been made. A blight on the franchise.

It was in contention.

Budget $190 million
Box office $156.6 million

$33.4M loss

 

[SlammedZero]

If you don't mind my asking, what was your former user name, assuming you recently changed it?

I've been trying to connect the dots on who is who all week with all the new member names.

 

[SlammedZero]

I’m surprised Matrix Resurrections isn’t on that list. That was a film that should never have been made. A blight on the franchise.

Agreed. I couldn't believe how bad they botched that.

 

[VaqueroTD]

I may be one of the few that like both Cutthroat Island and Jon Carter.

No, you’re right. Jon Carter was a good movie. I still enjoy it. I think people panned it because it’s old school sci-fi. I read some of those books along with the author’s Tarzan series. Great reads, but not going to Star Wars or Matrix the young crowd.

The movie on that list that I really enjoyed was 47 Ronin. There’s always a blockbuster coming out on Greek or Egyptian mythology, but it’s rare to get a gigantic budget CGI action movie on Asian mythology. Great art direction and just a fun watch.

 

[Tabascocat]

The remakes of Judge Dredd, Bladerunner and Total Recall.

 

[Stash]

WW84 is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Funny, because the majority of today's super hero movies have been pretty good.

In my opinion, the consistent quality super hero films come from Disney/Marvel. The stuff from Warner Bros and Sony varies wildly in their quality. And that’s being kind.

 

[Stash]

I've been trying to connect the dots on who is who all week with all the new member names.

I’m still struggling myself.

 

[terra]

It was in contention.

Budget $190 million
Box office $156.6 million

$33.4M loss

You have to remember that the studio only gets a percentage of the box office. About 2/3 of what there is in the US Box Office and about 1/3 overseas.
So the actual loss is a lot bigger than that.
The standard measure of a movie breaking even is about 2.5 to 1 Box office gross to what the studio actually gets.

And most times the budget does NOT include what the studio spends to promote it. Which can be a pretty big chunk as well.

Now the movie might make it close to breaking even in a few years when all the other revenue streams come in from TV, streaming, etc.
but the studio probably only got about $75 million of that gross (if that was world wide)

 

[CouchCoach]

Biggest surprise on there is Hugo, which is a very good movie from a very good book.

And some of the best cinematography I’ve ever seen.

 

[Runwildboys]

The remakes of Judge Dredd, Bladerunner and Total Recall.

Were they expected to be blockbusters?

 

[Tabascocat]

Were they expected to be blockbusters?

Don’t know but they were heavily promoted

 

[Stash]

Were they expected to be blockbusters?

Certainly not Dredd. That thing had a budget of about $20.

 

[DallasEast]

Were they expected to be blockbusters?

Perhaps Dredd may be stretching expectations but any decent remake or sequel of Blade Runner or Total Recall should have been blockbusters in my opinion.

Consider this. And forget for a second that Colin Farrell reprised Arnold Schwarzenegger's role. The Total Recall remake flopped starring both:

• Jessica Biel and (you will love this)
• Kate Beckinsale

Just how the flip could that happen?

 

[Stash]

Perhaps Dredd may be stretching expectations but any decent remake or sequel of Blade Runner or Total Recall should have been blockbusters in my opinion.

Consider this. And forget for a second that Colin Farrell reprised Arnold Schwarzenegger's role. The Total Recall remake flopped starring both:

• Jessica Biel and (you will love this)
• Kate Beckinsale

Just how the flip could that happen?

I think it was a film that deserved a better fate than it had.

 

[Runwildboys]

Perhaps Dredd may be stretching expectations but any decent remake or sequel of Blade Runner or Total Recall should have been blockbusters in my opinion.

Consider this. And forget for a second that Colin Farrell reprised Arnold Schwarzenegger's role. The Total Recall remake flopped starring both:

• Jessica Biel and (you will love this)
• Kate Beckinsale

Just how the flip could that happen?

Colin Farrell

 

[Runwildboys]

I think it was a film that deserved a better fate than it had.

Yeah, I kinda liked it. In fact, I think it was technically better than the original. Just needed a more believable hero, IMO.

 

[Stash]

Yeah, I kinda liked it. In fact, I think it was technically better than the original. Just needed a more believable hero, IMO.

Funny thing is that Schwarzenegger was nothing like the character in Philip K. Dick’s original story.

 

[Runwildboys]

Funny thing is that Schwarzenegger was nothing like the character in Philip K. Dick’s original story.

That doesn't surprise me.

 

[joseephuss]

Over the years a LOT of movies the critics loved and the academy worshipped the general audiences completely rejected. A lot of Woody Allen movies stank at the box office. Frankly as as I am concerned deservedly so.

His movies weren't ever promoted as potential blockbuster movies. They typically had budgets between $15 and $20 million. Many of them made money. Probably most of them made a profit, but they were never going to make the blockbuster type numbers. For his movies, "stank at the box office" seems like a relative term. Many people didn't go watch them, but more than enough people did go, which made money and keeps him coming back over and over to make more movies. I've only seen a handful of his films, but have never gone to see one in the theater. Usually just catch them on some lazy afternoon on cable. Not bad. Not great.

 

[viman96]

I’m surprised Matrix Resurrections isn’t on that list. That was a film that should never have been made. A blight on the franchise.

There were only 3 Matrix films and the Animatrix shorts. Anything else has been erased from my memory.