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Marvel Studios appears to have an almost effortless grip on the superhero movie market, and they have a remarkable ability to create innovative cinematic universes. But prior to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) becoming a global phenomenon, the superhero genre saw some genuinely catastrophic box office bombs. If talking about recently, a few superhero films have recently had a difficult time at the box office, with more failures than successes compared to potential tent poles like Brie Larson’sThe Marvels.
With a $274.8 million gross production budget, the Nia DaCosta-directed movie has made $202 million worldwide, making it the lowest-grossing MCU movie and a box-office disaster.Though things go through cycles, it seems like the genre is having trouble. As long as there have been superhero movies, there will inevitably be superhero failures.
Without further ado, the top five superhero movie failures of the 20th century are listed below, in order of box office earnings, critical acclaim,and public perception.
1.Batman & Robin(1997)
For years to come,Batman & Robindamaged the reputation of the Caped Crusader beforeChristopher Nolanrestored it to its former glory. Audiences were taken aback when their favorite Dark Knight became entangled in a disastrous mess that devolved into unintentional comedy.
With George Clooney playing Bruce Wayne/Batman, the movie brought in only $238 million globally despite having a $125–160 million production budget. At the time, it was regarded as one of the worst movies ever made and received primarily unfavorable reviews from critics.
Batman & Robinis available to stream on Max.
Also read:Brie Larson Was Saving a Sinking Ship: The Marvels Plot Hole Makes Whole $274M Movie Pointless
2.Judge Dredd(1995)
Judge Dredd, based on the 2000 AD comic character of the same name and starringSylvester Stalloneas the renowned law enforcement figure, appeared ready to be a huge hit. It failed to convey the essence of the dark and dystopian world it attempted to depict, though, because of a mediocre adaptation. Critics and fans alike were greatly disappointed with the film’s final product due to a lack of originality and poor writing.
With only $34.7 million in domestic box office receipts in North America, the movie is regarded as a failure (viaBox Office Mozo). On a $90 million budget, it performed better internationally, bringing in over $78.8 million globally. This brought the total to $113.5 million.
Judge Dreddis available to rent on Apple TV.
3.Superman IV: The Quest for Peace(1987)
Superman IV: The Quest for Peacewas a total bust; not even the Man of Steel could save it. This movie fell short of the high standards set by its predecessors due to a tight budget, which resulted in shoddy production values and visual effects.
According to theLA Times, the 1987 superhero film was the least successful of the four Christopher Reeve-starringSupermanmovies at the box office, and the franchise was retired for the next nineteen years. It made $36.7 million against a $17 million budget upon its release, but it was greatly criticized by both critics and fans for having subpar special effects, inconsistent storylines, and holes in the plot.
WatchSuperman IV: The Quest for Peaceon Max.
Also read:Brie Larson’s The Marvels Completely Disregards the Events of Secret Invasion and All that Nick Fury Went Through
4.Steel(1997)
Steel, a bold endeavor that ultimately failed miserably, starred former professional basketball player Shaquille O’Neal in the lead role. The film struggled to establish itself as a worthy addition to the superhero genre due to its subpar acting and screenplay.
Thus, it was unable to create the same level of excitement that other superhero movies were able to, primarily due to its hurried and unclear plot.Despite an estimated $16 million budget, the movie only made $1.7 million domestically and was ultimately deemed a huge box office bomb.
You can watchSteelon Tubi TV.
5.Supergirl(1984)
Before the days of Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel, a female superhero was finally brought to the big screen with the Helen Slater filmSupergirl. Regretfully, this movie was a bust. It lacked the depth and gripping storytelling that would have held the attention of viewers, even with its strong premise and remarkable cast.
Critics and viewers alike gave Jeannot Szwarc’s film negative reviews, and despite spending $35 million, it made $14.3 million. As reported by theNew York Times, despite opening weekend #1 at the North American box office, the movie is regarded as a box office bomb, grossing only $14.3 million in North America. This resulted in a $21 million loss.
Supergirlis streaming on Max.
Also read:“Stop trying to push C list heroes in the MCU”: Brie Larson And Iman Vellani’s The Marvels Ends Its Run As The Lowest Grossing MCU Movie Of All Time
Consequently, it is safe to say that not every superhero story is meant for box-office success; not all superhero movies can reach unfathomable heights.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3309
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
