Top 3 Box Office Flops of All Time: The Movies and Stars Behind Them
Box office flops can be a fascinating topic for film enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. Despite the huge budgets and star-studded casts, these movies ended up performing poorly at the box office, far below their expectations and earning themselves the dubious title of movie history's biggest failures. This article will explore the top three box office flops of all time, providing an overview of the films and the star power that starred in them.
1. John Carter (2012)
Directed by Andrew Stanton and starring Hollywood heartthrob Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins, John Carter is a space adventure epic that failed to resonate with audiences and critics alike. The film, based on the novella by Edgar Rice Burroughs, cost approximately $240 million to produce, making it one of the most expensive movies of its time. Despite the high production cost, the movie grossed just $104 million at the box office, resulting in a significant loss for the studio.
Taylor Kitsch, an up-and-coming actor with lead roles in films such as Friday Night Lights and Inferno, took on the lead role of John Carter. His co-star, Lynn Collins, is best known for her role in The Town and The Big Sick. The film received poor reviews from critics, with Rotten Tomatoes only giving it a 15% approval rating based on 108 reviews.
2. The Lone Ranger (2013)
>The Lone Ranger, a high-budget action film starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer, was released to theaters in 2013. Set in the American Old West, the movie was based on the popular radio and television series. However, despite its star-studded cast and impressive production values, the film failed to impress critics and audiences alike. It also cost around $240 million to produce.
Johnny Depp, the enigmatic and versatile actor, played the iconic character of Tonto, the Native American sidekick to the Lone Ranger, while Armie Hammer played the Lone Ranger himself. The film grossed approximately $372 million worldwide, well below expectations. Critics slammed the movie, particularly for its clichéd, one-dimensional portrayal of the Lone Ranger and Tonto, as well as Hammer's lackluster performance. The movie received a disappointing 13% on Rotten Tomatoes.
3. The Marvels (2022)
The Marvels, the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, released in 2022, starred Brie Larson and Teyonah Parris. The movie aimed to be a reboot of the Marvel series and showcase the interconnectivity of different Marvel films, but it failed to live up to expectations. It cost around $110 million to produce and grossed only $76 million at the box office.
Brie Larson, an Academy Award-winning actress, took on the role of Captain Marvel, while Teyonah Parris played Kamala Khan, also known as Ms. Marvel. The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. Larson's performance as Captain Marvel was praised, but some felt that the movie overall lacked the depth and humor of previous Marvel films. Parris's performance as Ms. Marvel was also well-received, but the film failed to live up to the high expectations set by the Marvel brand.
Though star power from Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, Brie Larson, and Teyonah Parris didn't save these movies from commercial failure, they served to create compelling marketing campaigns and pre-release hype. Investments in these movies underscore the risks studios are willing to take on films with high production values but with uncertain audience appeal.
It's worth noting that while these films may have been box office flops, they did not necessarily spell disaster for the careers of the actors involved. Often, these films can be stepping stones to better, more critically and commercially successful roles down the line.
In conclusion, the top three box office flops of all time are John Carter, The Lone Ranger, and The Marvels. While these films may not have met the industry's expectations, they offer valuable lessons about the complexities of film production and the unpredictable nature of audience tastes and trends in the field of cinema.