Buzz
Expectations hold significant sway over a movie's performance at the box office, and in today's world, Hollywood has learned to harness this power with the help of the internet. Yet, this doesn’t prevent certain projects from falling victim to their own buzz. Movies that generated excitement among audiences often turn into major letdowns, and these disappointments sting more. Here are 10 blockbuster flops that people thought would be a hit:
10. Entourage (2015)
After 8 successful seasons on HBO, Entourage wrapped up in 2011. The series, revolving around young actor Vincent Chase and his friends and business associates, had a massive following during its run, despite some later seasons receiving criticism for declining quality. Fans were disheartened by its conclusion, but when a movie adaptation was announced shortly after the series finale, anticipation soared as a final farewell to the beloved characters.
Unfortunately, the “Entourage” movie arrived too late to reignite the magic. While the show was a cultural phenomenon in its prime, it had lost its relevance by the time the film was released, four years after the series' end. By then, audiences had moved on, and interest was low. For those who did watch, the movie failed to live up to expectations, leaving many disappointed. Negative reviews and poor word-of-mouth quickly doomed its box office prospects... and it flopped.
9. Sucker Punch (2011)
Zack Snyder is known for being a highly divisive director. With films like “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and his controversial version of “Watchmen”, his work always sparks intense discussions. However, one movie that has garnered unanimous praise over the years is his 2006 hit “300”, often regarded as his best film. This made the anticipation for his next project, “Sucker Punch”, reach a fever pitch in 2011. The trailers promised an exciting visual feast and an epic return to form for Snyder in his first original screenplay. Unfortunately, things didn’t unfold as expected…
While “Sucker Punch” did earn admiration for its innovative action scenes, it was widely criticized for its lackluster performances and confusing narrative. The movie was a massive flop at the box office, losing millions in the process, and has since been labeled as Zack Snyder's worst film. Since then, debates about his films have only intensified, with each new project becoming a controversial topic among movie fans.
8. Glass (2019)
2016’s “Split” marked a major comeback for director M. Night Shyamalan. The story of three kidnapped teenage girls held by a man with 24 distinct personalities took audiences by surprise, transforming the film into a sleeper hit and restoring Shyamalan’s reputation as a legendary director after a string of disappointments. The real twist came when it was revealed that “Split” was an indirect sequel to his 2000 cult classic “Unbreakable”, which set the stage for the announcement of “Glass”, the film that would unite both “Split” and “Unbreakable” in an epic conclusion. The hype was through the roof… and then, the movie was released.
The release of “Glass” left both critics and audiences disappointed. While some were caught off guard by its failure, others saw it coming due to Shyamalan's hit-or-miss reputation. Despite the impressive cast including Samuel L. Jackson, Sarah Paulson, James McAvoy, and Bruce Willis, “Glass” couldn't live up to expectations. Its box office numbers were decent, but the studio still deemed it a major letdown. Shyamalan even admitted to crying over the movie's reception. Ouch.
7. Only God Forgives (2013)
Nicolas Winding Refn stands as one of Hollywood's most controversial directors. Some view him as a misunderstood genius, while others see him as a pretentious artist prioritizing style over substance. Nevertheless, his 2011 film “Drive” has earned near-universal acclaim, building immense anticipation for his follow-up, “Only God Forgives”. The reunion with Ryan Gosling only added to the excitement, with fans eagerly expecting the film to be even more intense and provocative than “Drive”. The hype was intense for two years.
At its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2013, “Only God Forgives” was met with boos and harsh criticism. The film was slammed for its gratuitous violence, which many felt overshadowed a plot that lacked depth. Ryan Gosling’s performance as Julian Thompson received some praise, but the rest of the movie was widely rejected. “Only God Forgives” eventually flopped at the box office and vanished from theaters almost as soon as it arrived.
6. The Dark Tower (2017)
Stephen King has built an undeniable cinematic and television empire over the past few decades, with his influence peaking in the last ten years. Films like 'IT,' 'Doctor Sleep,' and the series '11.22.63,' along with King-inspired shows like 'Stranger Things,' have captured the global audience's attention. Fans eagerly anticipate any project bearing his name, even if the source material is unknown to them. The announcement of a 'Dark Tower' adaptation starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey caused a wave of excitement.
The trailer teased a bold concept: a prequel to Stephen King's original novel. Soon after, news broke about a TV show that would extend the story from the film into the world of the book. This out-of-the-box thinking sparked even greater excitement, as viewers eagerly awaited what was next. But what followed was nothing short of disappointing.
'The Dark Tower' turned out to be a colossal failure. The film's financial disaster, along with its tarnished director Nikolaj Arcel's career—he has yet to helm another film—was just the beginning. Stephen King himself voiced his disdain for the movie, criticizing producer Ron Howard for his decision to make the film R-rated. Any plans for sequels were scrapped, and the TV show that was supposed to continue the film's narrative was abandoned in development, leaving fans in a deep sense of letdown.
5. After Earth (2013)
When the trailer for the sci-fi film 'After Earth' dropped, the concept of Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith surviving together on an alien planet was incredibly appealing. But the twist—that the alien world was actually a post-apocalyptic future Earth—sent the excitement crashing down. The idea of a father-son duo on a thrilling sci-fi adventure had initially captivated audiences, but the revelation left them with a crushing sense of disappointment.
It turns out that M. Night Shyamalan, the director of 'After Earth,' was a detail the marketing campaign strategically avoided mentioning. This was due to the fact that audiences had grown disillusioned with his work following flops like 'Lady In The Water,' 'The Village,' 'The Happening,' and the infamous 'The Last Airbender,' which severely damaged his reputation.
'After Earth' was widely regarded as a disaster. Many were dismayed to discover that Will Smith, the film’s major draw, had a minimal presence in the movie. Instead, the focus was on his son, whose performance was widely panned and continues to be ridiculed a decade later. Will Smith himself even apologized for the film, calling it the most painful failure of his career.
4. The Tourist (2011)
The announcement of 'The Tourist' in 2010, a remake of the 2005 French thriller 'Anthony Zimmer,' didn’t initially generate much excitement. But everything changed when Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie were cast in the lead roles, marking their first on-screen pairing. Their involvement turned 'The Tourist' into a highly anticipated project, but that anticipation quickly turned to disappointment when the film hit theaters.
Despite its decent box office performance, primarily due to international audiences, 'The Tourist' was ruthlessly critiqued by both critics and viewers. It was slammed for its dullness, with many pointing out that it relied too heavily on superficial visuals. The screenplay was deemed lazy and uninspired, and both Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie’s performances failed to impress. The film's popularity overseas quickly waned, and it faded into obscurity.
3. Jupiter Ascending (2015)
The Wachowskis will forever be revered in Hollywood for creating 'The Matrix.' Despite their involvement in mostly controversial projects (including the Matrix sequels), the sibling duo still manages to generate immense anticipation with every new film they announce. Fans hoped for a comeback as grand as 'The Matrix,' and when the first trailer for their enigmatic film 'Jupiter Ascending' dropped, it seemed like this could be the project to restore the Wachowskis' legendary status. It became their most anticipated film since the conclusion of the Matrix trilogy, 12 years earlier. But things didn’t unfold as expected.
'Jupiter Ascending' did deserve credit for its groundbreaking visuals. However, beyond an overload of CGI and explosions, the film lacked substance. The story was criticized as predictable and uninteresting, and all performances were met with criticism, including Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne’s portrayal of one of the most monotonous villains in recent memory. The movie ultimately flopped, losing around $100 million at the box office, cementing itself as the Wachowskis' most disappointing project since 'The Matrix Revolutions.'
2. Suicide Squad (2016)
Following the underwhelming reception of 'Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice' in March 2016, DC's next big release, 'Suicide Squad,' was fast approaching. The trailers promised an action-packed thrill ride with a star-studded cast and, notably, the debut of Jared Leto's Joker, the first live-action portrayal of the character since Heath Ledger’s iconic performance in 2008’s 'The Dark Knight.' Fans were eager for the spectacle, hoping that 'Suicide Squad' would be the movie to redeem the problems of 'Batman V Superman.' Unfortunately, it didn’t.
The 2016 film *Suicide Squad* received harsh criticism for its incoherent plot and its general messiness, including a lackluster villain. Like its predecessor, it was a box-office disappointment. However, the backlash against Jared Leto's portrayal of the Joker was far worse. The negative reaction was so intense that Leto’s Joker was eventually written out of the series, allowing Joaquin Phoenix to take over in his own solo film. The planned sequel to *Suicide Squad* was reworked into a loosely connected movie that will serve as a template for rebooting the franchise.
David Ayer, the director, later confessed that he deeply regrets some of the decisions made during the movie's production. He attributed much of the film’s final form to the studio, who rushed the process and excluded him from the editing phase at the last minute. Instead of the director taking the reins, a trailer editing team was hired to complete the movie. This could explain why *Suicide Squad* is often criticized for feeling like an overblown music video stretched to two hours.
1. *The Last Airbender* (2010)
Nickelodeon's animated series *Avatar: The Last Airbender* is regarded as one of the finest animated shows ever made, boasting a massive, dedicated fanbase. When a live-action movie adaptation was announced in 2009, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, the news sparked a mix of excitement and skepticism. The film’s first teaser was so spot-on that it managed to convert even the most doubtful fans into supporters, and anticipation for *The Last Airbender* reached a fever pitch, becoming one of the most eagerly awaited films of the 2010s.
However, *The Last Airbender* turned out to be one of the most disastrous films in recent memory. It was widely panned for its poor acting, lackluster writing, and underwhelming visual effects. The film’s disappointing box-office performance resulted in the cancellation of planned sequels. With a paltry 5% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, *The Last Airbender* has earned a notorious place in cinematic history, and M. Night Shyamalan continues to be asked about it during interviews.
