Biggest movie flops show some of the most spectacular financial failures in cinematic history, where high expectations and massive budgets crashed against disappointing box office returns.
These films are often combined with costly production, marketing missteps, and audience disconnect, resulting in huge monetary losses.
In this article, we will explore the biggest movie flops and how even major studios and star-studded casts cannot guarantee success, showing the unpredictable nature of the film industry.
Top 10 Biggest Movie Flops of All Time
John Carter stunned audiences with ambitious world-building but just got $284 million against its $540 million cost. The Lone Ranger fell flat despite star power, earning $240 million and wiping out its budget. The Marvels underperformed, bringing in $206 million to incur a $237 million loss.
Here is a list of the top 10 biggest movie flops based on their financial loss.
| Rank | Movie | Year | Worldwide Gross | Financial Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Carter | 2012 | $284.1 Million | $255 Million |
| 2 | The Lone Ranger | 2013 | $240 Million | $240 Million |
| 3 | The Marvels | 2023 | $206.1 Million | $237 Million |
| 4 | The 13th Warrior | 1999 | $61.7 Million | $227 Million |
| 5 | Mortal Engines | 2018 | $83.7 Million | $204 Million |
| 6 | Cutthroat Island | 1995 | $18.3 Million | $202 Million |
| 7 | Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas | 2003 | $80.8 Million | $199 Million |
| 8 | Battleship | 2012 | $303 Million | $199 Million |
| 9 | Strange World | 2023 | $73.6 Million | $197 Million |
| 10 | Pan | 2015 | $128.4 Million | $185 Million |
Let’s get into the details about each of these movies, covering everything you need to know.
1. John Carter
| Released In | 2012 |
| Directed By | Andrew Stanton |
| Worldwide gross | $284.1 Million |
| Domestic Box Office | $73 Million |
| International Box Office | $211 Million |
| Where To Watch | Apple TV |
John Carter was the most significant box office failure of all Disney movies, losing approximately $255 million. Despite dazzling visual effects and an adventurous storyline based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ novel, the film’s marketing failed to clearly communicate its plot, confusing audiences.
The massive production and marketing costs, combined with reshoots, made it impossible to recoup its budget. The flop led to the firing of Disney’s studio chief and the cancellation of planned sequels.
2. The Lone Ranger
| Released In | 2013 |
| Directed By | Gore Verbinski |
| Worldwide gross | $240 Million |
| Domestic Box Office | $86 Million |
| International Box Office | $154 Million |
| Where To Watch | Apple TV |
Disney’s attempt to revive the classic Western hero “The Lone Ranger” with Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer was a high-budget spectacle that ultimately misfired. With a production budget estimated at around $225-250 million and significant marketing costs, the film needed a massive global turnout.
However, it was met with largely negative reviews criticizing its tone, length, and Depp’s portrayal of Tonto. The film’s failure to connect with modern audiences, particularly in North America, led to staggering financial losses for the studio.
3. The Marvels
| Released In | 2023 |
| Directed By | Nia DaCosta |
| Worldwide gross | $206.1 Million |
| Domestic Box Office | $84.5 Million |
| International Box Office | $121.6 Million |
| Where To Watch | Apple TV |
“The Marvels,” part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe projects, brought together Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, and Ms. Marvel. Despite its connection to the highly successful franchise, the film significantly underperformed at the box office.
Reports showed a production budget of around $220 million, and with additional marketing expenses, its break-even point was considerably high. Factors cited for its disappointing performance include perceived superhero fatigue, a muddled marketing message, and a shorter theatrical window before its streaming release, leading to a substantial financial misstep for Marvel Studios.
4. The 13th Warrior
| Released In | 1999 |
| Directed By | John McTiernan (and Michael Crichton, uncredited) |
| Worldwide gross | $61.7 Million |
| Domestic Box Office | $32.7 Million |
| International Box Office | $29 Million |
| Where To Watch | Amazon Prime |
Starring Antonio Banderas, “The 13th Warrior” was adapted from Michael Crichton’s novel “Eaters of the Dead.” The film endured extensive reshoots, a soaring budget reported to be as high as $160 million (a massive sum for its time), and a change in directors.
Its troubled production, coupled with a confusing marketing campaign and a title change from its source material, resulted in a film that failed to attract audiences, leading to one of the biggest box office bombs of the late 1990s.
5. Mortal Engines
| Released In | 2018 |
| Directed By | Christian Rivers |
| Worldwide gross | $83.7 Million |
| Domestic Box Office | $83.7 Million |
| International Box Office | $67.7 Million |
| Where To Watch | Amazon Prime |
Produced and co-written by Peter Jackson, “Mortal Engines” was a post-apocalyptic adventure based on Philip Reeve’s novel. With a reported production budget of around $100-150 million plus marketing, its unique concept of cities on wheels didn’t translate into box office success.
The film received mixed reviews, with criticism aimed at its script and lack of character development, while its visuals were praised. It faced stiff competition during its release and ultimately failed to resonate with a broad audience, resulting in significant losses.
6. Cutthroat Island
| Released In | 1995 |
| Directed By | Renny Harlin |
| Worldwide gross | $18.3 Million |
| Domestic Box Office | $10 Million |
| International Box Office | $8.3 Million |
| Where To Watch | Apple TV |
“Cutthroat Island” is infamous in Hollywood history for its colossal financial failure, which effectively bankrupted Carolco Pictures. It is also one of the worst movies of all time.
The pirate adventure starring Geena Davis and Matthew Modine was beset by production problems, including multiple rewrites, casting difficulties, and a spiraling budget estimated at $98 million (excluding marketing).
Its critical reception was overwhelmingly negative, and audiences stayed away, leading to a devastating loss that for years held the Guinness World Record for the biggest box office bomb.
7. Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas
| Released In | 2003 |
| Directed By | Patrick Gilmore, Tim Johnson |
| Worldwide gross | $80.8 Million |
| Domestic Box Office | $26.5 Million |
| International Box Office | $54.3 Million |
| Where To Watch | Amazon Prime |
DreamWorks Animation’s “Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas” was a traditionally animated adventure featuring the voices of Brad Pitt and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Despite its notable cast and a budget of around $60 million, it significantly underperformed, contributing to DreamWorks’ move away from traditional animation towards computer-animated features.
The film struggled against strong competition and a declining interest in classically animated epics at the time, leading to a substantial write-down for the studio.
8. Battleship
| Released In | 2012 |
| Directed By | Peter Berg |
| Worldwide gross | $303 Million |
| Domestic Box Office | $65.4 Million |
| International Box Office | $237.6 Million |
| Where To Watch | Apple TV |
Loosely based on the Hasbro board game, “Battleship” was a big-budget ($209-220 million) alien invasion action film. While it performed moderately overseas, its domestic reception was poor. Critics panned its derivative plot and loud, effects-driven action.
Despite a cast including Liam Neeson and Rihanna, the film couldn’t overcome its weak premise and the audience’s apparent disinterest in a movie adaptation of a strategy game, resulting in a significant financial disappointment for Universal Pictures relative to its massive investment.
9. Strange World
| Released In | 2023 |
| Directed By | Don Hall |
| Worldwide gross | $73.6 Million |
| Domestic Box Office | $38 Million |
| International Box Office | $35.6 Million |
| Where To Watch | Apple TV |
Disney’s animated feature “Strange World” was a throwback to pulp adventure stories, featuring a family of explorers. With a reported production budget of $180 million, its box office returns were alarmingly low.
The film received mixed reviews, and its marketing campaign was criticized for failing to highlight its unique premise or generate significant audience excitement. Its quick transition to Disney+ also limited its theatrical earning potential, making it one of Disney Animation’s biggest financial flops.
10. Pan
| Released In | 2015 |
| Directed By | Joe Wright |
| Worldwide gross | $128.4 Million |
| Domestic Box Office | $35.1 Million |
| International Box Office | $93.3 Million |
| Where To Watch | Apple TV |
“Pan” was an origin story for J.M. Barrie’s classic characters Peter Pan and Captain Hook, envisioned as the start of a new franchise. Warner Bros. invested heavily, with a budget of around $150 million.
However, the film was critically panned for its muddled storytelling, visual excesses, and controversial casting choices. It failed to capture the magic of the source material or attract families and consequently performed very poorly at the box office, leading to a substantial write-off.
Top 10 Flop Animated Movies
Animation often promises family-friendly blockbusters, yet these films suffered critical and financial setbacks, with huge budgets and underwhelming returns. The following list ranks the top 10 biggest animated flops by estimated loss.
| Rank | Movie | Financial Loss |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strange World | $197 M |
| 2 | Mars Needs Moms | $110.8 M |
| 3 | Lightyear | $106 M |
| 4 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows | $75 M |
| 5 | Treasure Planet | $30 M |
| 6 | The Good Dinosaur | $28 M |
| 7 | Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken | $24 M |
| 8 | Fantasia | $20 M |
| 9 | Return to Oz | $17 M |
| 10 | The Road to El Dorado | $14 M |
Conclusion: John Carter is The Biggest Flop Movie of All Time
John Carter is the largest flop ever, losing $255 million through overambitious scale and mismarketing. The Lone Ranger lost $240 million despite star power and a large budget. The Marvels takes third place, losing $237 million amid franchise fatigue.
Among animated flops, Strange World, Mars Needs Mom, and Lightyear top the loss chart, each exceeding $100 million in deficits through mismatched expectations and delayed word-of-mouth.
Cinematic grandeur and star power can’t ensure success — the film industry’s wildest gambles sometimes crash spectacularly, reminding studios and creators that audience connection is the ultimate currency.
FAQs
High production costs, poor marketing, weak storylines, and audience disconnect often cause movies to flop financially.
Disney’s John Carter holds the record for the biggest box office flop, losing around $255 million.
Not always; even star-studded casts cannot guarantee box office success if other elements fail.
Despite their popularity, many animated films have suffered huge losses due to competition and marketing issues.
Major flops can lead to financial losses, studio restructuring, and cancellation of planned sequels or projects.
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