Top 10 Movies That Tanked at the Box Office
It’s easy to be cynical about movies that tank at the box office, but plenty of worthwhile titles have failed to generate huge crowds.
While these films may not have landed on the top 10 lists of best-rated or highest-grossing movies, they are still worth checking out and are a must-see for any moviegoer’s library.
Home Alone (1990)
Originally released in 1990, Home Alone became a box office smash and remains one of the most popular holiday movies ever. It features a strong cast, lots of slapstick comedy, and some positive messages about family.
The film tells the story of eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), who accidentally gets left home alone when his family goes on vacation. While he initially enjoys the time to himself, he soon comes face-to-face with two burglars, Harry and Marv, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern.
Director Chris Columbus keeps the pacing lively and energetic, and Macaulay Culkin carries the bulk of this movie on his little shoulders. His bumbling battles with the burglars are a running slapstick that kids will love.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2001)
When the hobbit Frodo (Elijah Wood) and his trusty gardener Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) set out to destroy the One Ring, Sauron closes in with all manner of evil to thwart them. He also leads a duplicitous Gollum (Andy Serkis) as their guide on a journey that will take them to Mordor and beyond.
The Lord of the Rings is a cinematic masterpiece popular among moviegoers and book readers for years. This epic trilogy was directed by Peter Jackson and is based on the books by J. R. R. Tolkien.
In addition to its powerful narrative, the film also features a great cast. Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, and Orlando Bloom are just a few of the actors that portrayed characters from the book. Their performances are excellent, and the characters remain true to the book’s spirit.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2017)
When Disney bought the Star Wars franchise, it had much to do to resurrect the storied saga. It needed to please old and new fans, make up for the prequels, and introduce the series to a whole new generation of fans.
The result is a fun space-themed adventure that is as slick and well-crafted as family-friendly. But like all films, there are some serious slapstick moments to get the laughs going.
There’s also a good cast of familiar faces and a few new ones. Daisy Ridley’s Rey is a genuinely interesting character and may be the best new Star Wars addition since the original trilogy. Harrison Ford and Domhnall Gleeson are both solid and charismatic.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
In the sequel to Avengers: Infinity War, Endgame finds Earth’s Mightiest Heroes surviving Thanos’ disastrous snap and battling to reclaim the galaxy. But this time, the Avengers must also reunite with Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), who is stuck in the quantum realm and trying to figure out a way to reverse Thanos’ snap.
With a spirited, fun-loving cast, this film is a rousing homage to the Marvel Cinematic Universe that also offers plenty of surprises and heartfelt moments. It’s a good movie for new and longtime MCU fans.
Its story is well-paced, with lots of action and dynamic character development. While it may be too long, it is still a genuinely satisfying finale. Ultimately, it’s all about the Avengers and how they overcome past challenges together. It’s a remarkable achievement that the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe will benefit from.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2019)
Tom Holland is taking his Spider-Man legacy to the next level in Sony and Marvel’s No Way Home. The film follows after the MCU’s Far From Home cliffhanger in which J. Jonah Jameson framed Peter Parker and revealed his secret identity, leaving him with no way to hide from the world.
This is a massive cliffhanger for the Spider-Man franchise, which has been building up hype for months. As a result, the film is one of the most highly-anticipated in history.
No Way Home shattered expectations in its opening weekend, bringing in a towering $260 million domestically. That makes it the second-largest domestic debut for any December movie and the best for December, the Spider-Man series and Sony Pictures.
Jurassic World: Dominion (2019)
The latest chapter in the Jurassic Park saga brings back the original trio of Sam Neil, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum for one final bloody confrontation with carnivorous dinosaurs. It’s a fine and thrilling film with plenty to offer, even if it isn’t as ingenious as its predecessors.
There are some genuinely gripping moments here, but they often come in the form of perilous rehashings of bone-crunching apex predators and a potential world-threatening blunder derived from what began as good intentions.
It also takes the franchise in a bizarre direction with human clones, massive locusts and dinosaurs running amock in the wild, all of which feel like digital paint-by-numbers. But for the most part, it does manage to keep things interesting thanks to a decent story and the continuing chemistry between veteran actors Dern, Goldblum and Neill.
Avatar: The Way of Water (2019)
Almost 13 years after the original Avatar, James Cameron returns to Pandora with Avatar: The Way of Water. The sequel focuses on Jake Sully and his Na’vi wife, Neytiri, as they go to great lengths to protect their family.
The film is visually stunning, featuring a massive step up in the technology used to create Pandora. The CG of the Na’vi is three-dimensional, with their skin texture and expressions leaping forward from the first movie.
The story is a bit regressive, but it’s still a strong one that keeps the viewer on edge as the Na’vi and human characters face various dangers. It also features some of the most breathtaking visual effects work ever put on the screen.
Top Gun: Maverick (2019)
Starring Tom Cruise, Top Gun: Maverick is the sequel to the 1986 film, a major cultural phenomenon that influenced many other movies. Now 34 years later (following a few delays due to the pandemic) and once again with Cruise in the cockpit, Paramount is ready to release Maverick.
Originally slated for a summer 2019 release, the film stars Cruise as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a test pilot ordered to train a detachment of young and diverse Top Gun graduates to carry out a specialised mission of which they’ve never seen. Among the other cast members are Jon Hamm, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris and Val Kilmer as Ice Man.
Minions: The Rise of Gru (2019)
The newest entry to Illumination’s global animated franchise, Minions: The Rise of Gru, is the ultimate comedy-filled origin story of how the world’s most notorious supervillain first met his Minions, forged cinema’s most despicable crew and faced off against the most unstoppable criminal force ever assembled. Featuring more spectacular action and wit than any film in the franchise’s history, MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU is available to own now on Digital August 30, 2022, and on 4K UHD, Blu-rayTM and DVD September 6, 2022, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
Long before he became the master of evil, Gru (Oscar(r) nominee Steve Carell) was just a kid in 1970s suburbia trying to take over the world from his basement. When a popular supervillain supergroup known as the Vicious 6 ousts their leader, Gru attempts to join their ranks but soon finds himself the mortal enemy of the apex of evil.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2019)
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a big-screen MCU movie that reunites Marvel’s superhero team with Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen. This time, they’re not battling to save our reality — they’re competing to save the multiverse.
It’s a wild ride that combines stimulating visual effects with mind-bending twists and surprises. And while it doesn’t have the emotional heft of Black Widow or Eternals, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is still an exciting superhero film.
Sam Raimi and Michael Waldron (Rick and Morty) helm this MCU sequel with a flair for horror and a healthy dose of trippy action sequences. With a little help from the Marvel multiverse, Doctor Strange goes on an adventure that’ll make you think twice about everything you know about the world.