Top 50 Movies That BOMBED So Hard They Had To Cancel The Sequel

Welcome to WatchMojo and today were counting down our picks for the movies that either killed a franchise or failed to get one off the ground.

#50: Hellboy (2019)

The 2000s Hellboy films hold a special place in the hearts of comic book fans. And a new Hellboy movie without the combined powers of Ron Perlmans charisma and Guillermo del Toros directorial sensibility would be a tough sell. But the 2019 Hellboy completely failed to justify its existence. David Harbour does well in the title role, but that hardly matters with a film so tonally incoherent and desperately edgy. It was so bad that director Neil Marshall even disowned it, blaming studio interference. Between that and the dreadful box office, there was no chance in hell this reboot would continue

#49: Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)

When the original adaptation of Frank Miller's neo-noir comic series was released in 2005, it was hailed for its cutting-edge visuals and gritty tone. After its release, co-directors Miller and Robert Rodriguez announced a sequel was in the works. But it wasnt for another nine years that it would actually be released. By then, what was once groundbreaking was now old news, and the film felt like an overly graphic retread of its predecessor. Just to give you an idea of how disinterested audiences were, Sin City: A Dame to Kill Fors total North American box office gross was less than half what the original madein its opening weekend. A third film was planned, but this awful performance led to the franchise's indefinite hiatus.

#48: Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000)

While many TV characters have successfully transitioned to the big screen, that does not include Thomas the Tank Engine and his locomotive friends, who came to theaters in 2000 and were soon sent back to the station. Even if critics reviewing it knew they werent the intended audience, they couldnt look past the shoddy special effects and inept storytelling. Some even noted that the interwoven plotlines would likely make Thomas preschool fans confused and restless. A couple of weeks before its release, a sequel was announced. But that fizzled out once it barely managed to recoup its meager budget. The film's underperformance also resulted in writer-director and Shining Time Station creator Britt Allcroft resigning from her company. Ouch.

#47: Mortal Kombat Annihilation (1997)

Though the first Mortal Kombat was no cinematic masterpiece, it was about as good as you could expect from a mid-90s video game adaptation. Its follow-up, on the other hand, wasnt just bad, it was incompetent. One of its producers even admitted that it was sent to theaters with unfinished special effects. Even the most undiscerning teenagers could tell this was an absolute stinker. Though it managed to top the box office in its first weekend, it was a short-lived victory. A third film was on the horizon, but the toxic reception to this one kept it from getting off the ground. A reboot film was released in 2021, one infinitely better than this mess.

#46: Jem and the Holograms (2015)

A rather loose adaptation of the beloved 80s animated series, Jem and the Holograms left fans cold. Lacking the giddy, colorful fun of its source material, it feels like a movie designed to turn off its target audience. A year before the film's release, star Aubrey Peeples expressed optimism that further Jem films would be made. But the horrendous box office performance made it clear that wouldnt be happening. Not only did it fail to recoup its meager $5 million budget, but it also debuted outside of the top 10. When a movie cant even meet the lowest of financial expectations, theres no point in even entertaining further installments.

#45: Van Helsing (2004)

In the months and weeks leading up to Van Helsings release, it seemed like the new action horror franchise was upon us. After all, it was the director of The Mummy and the star of X-Men teaming up for a movie that features Dracula, Frankensteins monster, and plenty more fearsome foes. How could that go wrong? Universal was so convinced of the film's financial prospects that they kept the Transylvania sets intact, assuming they would be used again soon enough. However, while Van Helsing turned a profit, it clearly wasnt what the studio was hoping for. And with critics largely loathing it and audiences mostly shrugging, a stake was put through the heart of any potential future installments.

#44: Uglydolls (2019)

"The Lego Movie" proved that even a piece of brand extension could have artistic merit. "Uglydolls," based on the popular plush toys, is a perfect example of trying to cash in on name recognition. The first animated film produced by STX Entertainment, it was given a massive marketing push and was intended to start a whole new media franchise. But the next Trolls, it was not. Instead, Uglydolls was just another mediocre animated movie, one that arrived far too late. Not only were there no additional movies, but a television series in development at Hulu was also quietly scrapped. Talk about ugly.

#43: Dragonball: Evolution (2009)

Live-action adaptations of beloved manga/anime dont have the best track record. And this is possibly the most infamous example. Upon release, this American take on the beloved Dragon Ball franchise was despised by the series devoted fans, who found it had little in common with the property they knew and loved. And anyone who wasnt already familiar with the series wasnt going to be persuaded by this schlocky mess. It certainly doesn't help that series creator Akira Toriyama essentially disowned it, saying it "ticked [him] off."] With feedback like this, its no wonder that plans for further live-action Dragon Ball movies were soon cancelled.

#42: Land of the Lost (2009)

Will Ferrell starring in a big-budget comedic adaptation of the beloved cheesy television series Land of the Lost may have seemed like a surefire recipe for summer success. Unfortunately, a raunchy take on a childrens show from the 70s was not the way to go. Opening the same weekend as The Hangover likely put a dent in its box office prospects. But it couldve easily recovered if it was, you know, funny? Though no sequel was officially announced, its easy to imagine the studio wanting to turn this into a franchise. But between being critically derided and ignored by audiences, any chance of that happening was lost.

#41: Chaos Walking (2021)

Movie adaptations of Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games collectively raking in billions means that studios are forever on the hunt for the next YA sensation to turn into a blockbuster franchise. Chaos Walking, based on the first film in Patrick Ness book trilogy, was a big-budget production with two stars in Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley, based on an acclaimed series set in a dystopian world where women have all but gone extinct. And it was chaos, and not in a good way. Critics found it dull and derivative, and audiences stayed away. Costing at least $100 million, it couldnt even make back half its budget worldwide.

#40: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)

As we just mentioned, the Harry Potter films were massively successful. The next series in the Wizarding World franchise, Fantastic Beasts, was, to put it mildly, a disappointment. Though the first film performed very well and received positive notices, sequel The Crimes of Grindelwald was a noted step down. While the third film, "The Secrets of Dumbledore," was generally seen as an improvement, it wasnt enough to bring back people turned off by its predecessor. The initial plan for the "Fantastic Beasts" series was five films. But it ultimately stalled out at a tepid three.

#39: Enders Game (2013)

An adaptation of the cherished YA sci-fi novel "Ender's Game" was something countless readers imagined while excitedly turning the pages. But many, including author Orson Scott Card, considered it to be unadaptable. But against all odds, an Enders Game movie was made starring the likes of Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Viola Davis, and Harrison Ford, and it wasfine. But it didnt resonate the way the book had for generations. And its lukewarm box office performance means that none of the novels sequels were adapted. Sometimes, things are just better off being left on the page.

#38: The Darkest Minds (2018)

Yup, it's yet another failed YA adaptation. Based on the dystopian book series about super-powered teens, The Darkest Minds played to the emptiest theaters. Okay, it wasnt that bad. But it was close. It largely feels like a set up for future installments that never were, And critics, already burnt out on similar fare, had little in the way of compliments. After debuting with one of the worst opening weekends for a movie released in 3,000-plus theaters, it became evident that the future for The Darkest Minds as a film series was decidedly dim.

#37: Artemis Fowl (2020)

While other YA adaptations on this list performed poorly in theaters, at least they made it to theaters. A movie version of Eoin Colfers fantasy novel had been in the works since 2001. And once Disney got the rights, it seemed poised to be another book-to-screen sensation, especially with Kenneth Branagh directing. Then, it was finished, and Disney, in their wisdom, decided not to put it in theaters. Instead, "Artemis Fowl" debuted on Disney+. Some have attributed this decision to the COVID-19 pandemic. But its far likelier that Disney knew they had a dud on their hands. Fans of the book series derided it for its lack of adherence to its source material, and critics were left flummoxed. Talk about foul.

#36: Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)

The series of films starring the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation wasnt intended to end with Nemesis. But once box office returns came in, it meant the premature end of Captain Picard and company on the big screen. Sure, it doesn't help that it was released just days before "The Two Towers". But it's also just not up to par, as a Star Trek movie or as effective sci-fi entertainment. Many consider it to be the worst film in the entire series. Among its detractors are its cast members, who have criticized director Stuart Bairds lack of familiarity with the source material. But the script is also just an utter mess. The Enterprise crew deserved better.

#35: Catwoman (2004)

An A-list actress fresh off an Oscar win playing one of the most iconic comic book characters of all time? Thats an attempted franchise-starter if weve ever heard one. But after Catwoman was released and flopped hard, it became clear its only legacy would be as one of the worst superhero movies of all time. Halle Berry, who famously accepted her Worst Actress Razzie award in person, does her best with what she's given. The problem is, what she's given is...this. Even DC fans desperate to see something new that was even tangentially Batman-related knew to stay away. Cats may have nine lives, but this ill-fated take on Catwoman barely had one.

#34: Treasure Planet (2002)

The early 2000s were rough for traditionally animated movies, and not even Disney was immune. Treasure Planet, a sci-fi update on the classic pirate story Treasure Island, is something of a bridge between old and new ways of storytelling, incorporating both 2D and 3D animation to give it a particularly dynamic visual look. But that wasnt enough to draw in families amidst a crowded holiday season. The hope was that it would earn enough to launch a direct-to-video and TV franchise. But Treasure Planet found very little treasure at the box office, becoming one of the costliest flops of all time.

#33: Battleship (2012)

Hasbro had seen major success with live-action versions of Transformers and G.I. Joe. So, they likely figured that Battleship could be their next opportunity for turning one of their properties into a blockbuster franchise. But theres a difference between adapting something with recognizable characters and a board game involving guessing where plastic pegs are. Battleship used its recognizable brand name for a Navy vs. aliens movie thats loud and stupid without ever being much fun. And when your budget is $209 million, thats not good. Any chances of Battleship becoming a new summer franchise were swiftly sunk by its poor performance.

#32: Dark Phoenix (2019)

Tracing the trajectory of Fox's "X-Men" series is fascinating. At its peak, it proved just how good comic book movies could be. At its nadir, it was Dark Phoenix. The fourth and final film in the prequel series that began with "X-Men: First Class," "Dark Phoenix" is an origin story centered on Sophie Turner's Jean Grey. But it's all but impossible to get invested in any story when the execution is this lifeless. Though Disney's acquisition of Fox earlier that year was inevitably going to affect the inaugural "X-Men" film franchise, "Dark Phoenix" all but confirmed the series had hit a painful dead end.

#31: The Cat in the Hat (2003)

After the success of The Grinch, Universal quickly got to work on another live-action adaptation of a Dr. Seuss classic. This take on "The Cat in the Hat" had Mike Myers' comedic energy and an elaborate production design. But it had none of the whimsical charm of Seuss' work. Critics savaged it for its obnoxiousness and overly crude humor, and word-of-mouth was not great. While the studio had also planned to adapt Seuss follow-up, The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, the poor response to this ended that. In fact, Seuss widow Audrey Geisel, decided to stop allowing live-action adaptations of her husbands work after seeing it. Ouch.

#30: Speed Racer (2008)

Based on a beloved anime and helmed by the lauded directors of The Matrix, youd think this wannabe franchise would go all the way past the finish line. Its too bad, then, that it stalled out on its very first leg. While Speed Racers eclectic visuals have earned it a rabid cult following over the years, that same quirky tone made it a tough sell for casual moviegoers. This movie couldnt even recoup its own budget at the box-office, let alone deliver any profits. Despite ideas for a follow-up already revving up, the returns were so bad, its unlikely well ever see this version of Speed on the big screen again.

#29: Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

When Disney sought to make a film series about everyones favorite space cowboy, they made

Alden Ehrenreich sign on the dotted line for a whole trilogy. But, therein also lies the problem. No one wanted a Han Solo movie without Harrison Ford, and audiences said as much with their wallets. The depressing box-office ensured Solo would be Hans one and only big screen adventure. The impact went way beyond this one film, though. No, Solos underperformance had repercussions all across the galaxy far, far away, with many reporting that it scared the Mouse House away from producing any more theatrical Star Wars spinoffs. So, if youre ever wondering where those big-budget tent poles went, blame Solo.

#28: Mortal Engines (2018)

A buzzy, young adult series, a steampunk aesthetic, and a cushy December release date seem like a foolproof formula for a new industry juggernaut. Unfortunately, both fans and reviewers disagreed. Lambasted by toxic word-of-mouth, Mortal Engines failed to garner much traction during the busy Holiday frame, and it has the poor profits to prove it. Or, it would if it had any profits at all. The movie is often cited as one of the biggest box-office bombs of all time, losing its studio around 175 million dollars. Given the wallet-burning results, you can imagine why distributor Universal Pictures wasnt very eager to adapt the remaining three books.

#27: Sahara (2005)

Even if this disaster flick had been a smashing success - which, for the record, it most definitely was not - prospects for a sequel still wouldve been as barren as an actual desert. Saharas fate as a franchise was actually decided in a courtroom, where the original books author tried suing the films producer. Theres a laundry list of reasons why, but most of them boil down to the movies extremely bumpy path to theaters. It wasnt even worth it, either; the adaptation got a total yawn from audiences. So, considering theres no money in the brand and a decade-spanning lawsuit to smooth over, its no wonder everyone abandoned Sahara 2.

#26: Showgirls (1995)

Theres an old saying in Hollywood; sex sells. Sadly, Showgirls is the exception. While there were tons of headlines about the films explicit content, it didnt translate to ticket sales. You can probably blame the bad reviews for that one. Modern critics have come back around to give Showgirls its due, but they came too late to rescue the in-development sequel. Well, technically, we did get Showgirls 2. However, it didnt star Elizabeth Berkeley, and was released primarily through film festivals, DVD, and video-on-demand. If Showgirls had hit theaters today, we may have actually gotten the proper sequel it always deserved.

#25: I Am Number Four (2011)

Despite its name, I Am Number Four couldnt even make it past movie number one. Keep in mind, this was also at a time when every studio in town was looking for the next young-adult craze. Dreamworks thought theyd struck gold with this book series. So much so, they fast-tracked development on a sequel before I Am Number Four even hit theaters. But, when the mediocre film delivered even more mediocre results, the franchise-hopeful quietly turned into a disappointing one-off, instead. All in all, theres seven, long books in the series. However, to this day, theres still only one movie. That alone should tell you everything you need to know.

#24: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

For the record, casting Jim Carrey as the maniacally inept Count Olaf was a stroke of genius. Its tragic, then, that it didnt end up moving the needle all that much. Despite the popular source material, A Series of Unfortunate Events suffered from soft audience turnout. Distributor Paramount Pictures wanted to adapt the other ten books into feature films. But, the lower-than-expected profits slowed down development, and by the time everyone was on board, the child actors were too old to reprise their roles, anyways. This turned out to be a series of unfortunate events, indeed. Just, not in the way that helped anyones pocketbook.

#23: The Dark Tower (2017)

Stephen King may be a household name on bookshelves, but his forays to the big screen have had some very mixed results. Looking at you, The Dark Tower. Its even more embarrassing when you realize it took ten years of development for this movie to finally see the light of day. When it did, audiences outright rejected the final project, disappointed in the way it crammed Kings epic story into a two-hour snorefest. Reviews were bad, profits were worse, and any thoughts of adapting the rest of the series were simply nonexistent. No one was touching this stinker with a ten-foot pole, and honestly, thats for the best.

#22: Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)

Whoever thought it was a good idea to revive this franchise without Will Smith needs a major wake-up call. His star-power almost single-handedly catapulted the original to popcorn entertainment staple. So, when Independence Day came back twenty years later without him, all it got was some major diminishing returns. 20th Century Fox hoped the franchise name alone would drive interest for a third film. But, considering Resurgence finished its run as a serious financial disappointment, its clear they shouldnt have even made it in the first place. So, dont expect to see these aliens return for a third time. At least, not without Will Smith.

#21: The Mummy (2017)

It takes a special kind of box-office poison to ruin a film, a franchise, and a whole universe in one fell swoop. 2017s The Mummy was just that bad. Headlined by Tom Cruise, the film underwent rigorous production delays in order to kickstart a whole cinematic universe of monster flicks. Dracula, The Invisible Man, Frankensteins monster - it was all riding on the groundwork laid by The Mummy. But, then came the box-office tallies. Lets just say the numbers were so crummy, this Mummy was promptly put back in its tomb, alongside any hope for future crossovers. Maybe this time, theyll let it rest for good.

#20: The Lone Ranger (2013)

Disneys The Lone Ranger is a modern adaptation of the classic radio series and 50s television show. However, it seems as if the Ranger and Tonto arent quite the superstars they were sixty years ago. The film was lambasted for its bloated length and overreliance on action while also being accused of whitewashing by casting Johnny Depp as a Native American. The film cost roughly $400 million to produce and market, but it ended up making only $260 million at the worldwide box office. Stars Armie Hammer and Ruth Wilson were signed to do at least three movies, but these plans fell off a horse upon The Lone Rangers abysmal performance.

#19: Conan the Barbarian (2011)

Did you know that they made another Conan movie in 2011? Neither did most people. Despite the movie featuring a few respectable actors, including Jason Momoa and Ron Perlman, it was severely criticized for basically every aspect of its filmmaking and for relying too heavily on its 3D effects. The film ended up grossing a meager $48 million on a $90 million budget. There were plans to follow-up the remakes story, but it was soon announced that they would be making a sequel to the original 1982 film instead. However, these plans eventually fell through too, meaning the 2011 movie likely ended Conans appearances on the silver screen.

#18: Eragon (2006)

Its probably best that there were no more films, because we dont know if we could sit through another one. Eragon was considered one of the worst movies of 2006 due to its atrocious writing and derivative storyline. Despite the movies roasting by critics, it admittedly didnt do terribly at the box office, as it grossed a rather respectable $250 million on a $100 million budget. However, this was deemed a disappointment, and the sequels (which were set to film back-to-back, LOTR style), were cancelled. Fans of Christopher Paolinis Inheritance Cycle will just have to wait for a more respectable film adaptation, because Eragon wasnt it.

#17: King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)

If there is one movie audiences werent asking for, it was yet another King Arthur movie this time directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Charlie Hunnam. Dont get us wrong, we love those guys, but we dont think a fantastical King Arthur film was a good fit for their talents. And neither did audiences. The movie grossed only $148 million on a Marvel-esque $175 million budget, effectively making it one of the biggest bombs of the year. Legend of the Sword was meant to serve as the first entry in a six (yes, six) film series, but after losing Warner Bros. $150 million, its sequels were swiftly and understandably given the axe. Or sword, in this case.

#16: Planet of the Apes (2001)

Tim Burtons Planet of the Apes had one thing going for it Rick Bakers incredible makeup effects. Aside from that, the movie was a total wash, as it was a confusing mess with a twist ending that tarnished the iconic nature of the original. While the movie was a financial success, Fox decided to scrap its plans for a sequel, and Tim Burton stated that hed rather jump out a window than do another Apes movie. However, this was no great loss. Fox decided to reboot the series instead, resulting in 2011s Rise of the Planet of the Apes and arguably one of the greatest movie trilogies of all time.

#15: Jumper (2008)

Jumper was another relatively successful movie whose sequels were cancelled. Jumper starred many notable actors, including Hayden Christensen, Michael Rooker, and Samuel L. Jackson, but it received horrible reviews due to its lack of coherence and awful special effects. However, the movie did gross over $200 million on an $85 million budget. But while producer Lucas Foster hoped to turn the movie into a trilogy, these plans have yet to come to fruition. A spin-off, titled Impulse, premiered on YouTube Red in June 2018, so, you know, thats something.

#14: Godzilla (1998)

Godzilla is one of the greatest monsters to ever grace movie screens. It deserved better than this abomination. Godzilla was set to be the movie of the summer, as it was made for a massive $130 million. And while it made a very respectable $379 million at the box office, it was viciously attacked by critics for being nothing more than a dumb disaster flick. There were plans to produce a trilogy based around Godzilla and similar monsters, but plans fell through when they failed to generate interest among moviegoers and theater owners. The sequels were scrapped, and Godzilla was rebooted over fifteen years later.

#13: Ghostbusters (2016)

The all-female reboot of Ghostbusters was immediately met with an unfair amount of disdain. Its trailer was heavily downvoted on YouTube and many people personally attacked the filmmakers and cast over social media. Regardless of the reasons for the vitriol, the movie ended up grossing $229 million on a $144 million budget. Because of the films huge marketing budget, the studio needed $300 million just to break even. Sony head Rory Bruer hoped that the movie would spawn a franchise, and it was reported that the cast had signed on for two more movies. However, director Paul Feig later confirmed that they were canceling the sequels due to the films mediocre reception.

#12: The Divergent Series: Allegiant (2016)

Young adult movies are big business. Ever since Harry Potter dominated the world throughout the 2000s, producers the world over have been trying to replicate its success. The Divergent series did not do that, despite a respectable lead performance from Shailene Woodley. Allegiant was the third movie in the series, but it only grossed a disappointing $179 million at the worldwide box office. Due to the films underperformance, plans for the second part of the movie fell through, and it was announced that the story would continue as a television film and/or TV series without Shailene Woodley. Talk about two serious blows.

#11: Battlefield Earth (2000)

Battlefield Earth is infamous for being one of the worst movies of all time, filled with bad acting and curiously-angled shots. The movie also has its roots in Scientology. Scientologys founder, L. Ron Hubbard, wrote the novel on which the movie is based, and famous Scientologist John Travolta hoped that the novel would be adapted in two parts. Those hopes were soon dashed post-release. The movie dramatically fell off the box office charts after its opening weekend, eventually grossing just shy of $30 million on a $73 million budget. The commercial failure, coupled with the eventual bankruptcy of production company Franchise Pictures, meant that we never got to see the conclusion of Hubbards story onscreen.

#10: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

There wasnt exactly a strong demand for a reboot of the Spider-Man franchise only five years after Spider-Man 3, and unfortunately, the mediocre quality of these films didnt do much to win over audiences. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 received a mixed reception, and eventually grossed a disappointing (relative to the property) $709 million. While this iteration of the Spider-Man series was meant to spawn an entire universe, including more Spider-Man films, and Sinister Six, Venom, and Black Cat movies, these plans were indefinitely delayed after the performance of The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Sony then reached a deal with Marvel to bring Spider-Man to the MCU, effectively cancelling The Amazing Spider-Man franchise in the process.

#9: Batman & Robin (1997)

Like Battlefield Earth, Batman & Robin is known for being one of the worst movies of all time. And like Battlefield Earth, there were high hopes that it would pave the way for future installments. Warner Bros. had commissioned a sequel based solely on the dailies of Batman & Robin. It was to be called Batman Unchained and planned to feature Scarecrow as the main antagonist with George Clooney reprising his role as the caped crusader. However, Clooney decided that he was done with the cowl after the harsh reception of Batman & Robin, and the sequel was cancelled. Warner Bros. then hired Christopher Nolan to completely reboot the franchise, resulting in Batman Begins.

#8: Fantastic Four (2015)

Fox had big plans for their rebooted Fantastic Four. A sequel was announced beforeFantastic Four even began filming, with a planned release date of July 14, 2017. However, the movie was a massive critical and commercial bomb, earning only $168 million at the worldwide box office and a 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The future of the franchise was immediately thrown into question, although it wasnt looking very good for the Marvels First Family. In December 2017, Dsney announced that it was purchasing Foxs TV and film assets, a move that would place the future of the Fantastic Four in the hands of Marvel Studios. We saw how well it worked for Spider-Man, so fingers crossed.

#7: Terminator Genisys (2015)

There once was a time when the Terminator series was the pinnacle of action cinema. Nowadays, we get the likes of Terminator Genisys - which many people found to be a convoluted, watered-down mess. The film earned only $89 million at the domestic box office, which was considered a massive disappointment for the iconic franchise. Worse yet, Genisys was set to be the first movie of a new trilogy, but these plans were cancelled after the movies numbers came in. It was then announced that James Cameron would be returning to the series, and that the next film would serve as a reboot and continue the story of Terminator 2. Hasta la vista, Genisys.

#6: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013)

Hollywood desperately wants to find the next Harry Potter. While some young adult adaptations like The Hunger Games and Twilight have found success, many others have failed but few as spectacularly as The Mortal Instruments. City of Bones opened poorly and never recovered, earning only $90 million on a $60 million budget. Plans for a sequel, City of Ashes, were made before the release of City of Bones, but due to the disappointing box office performance, these plans were put on hold. It was eventually announced that the sequel was cancelled and that The Mortal Instruments would continue as a television series.

#5: Superman Returns (2006)

Superman Returns served as a reboot/sequel of the first two Superman movies and ignored the third and fourth entries (which, lets be honest. was for the best). Unfortunately, while many people considered it a decent movie, it was a disappointment at the box office, earning only $391 million against a $200+ million budget. A sequel was planned and set to star Brainiac and Bizarro as villains, with much of the cast reprising their roles, but it was scrapped after the underperformance of Superman Returns. A reboot was planned instead, and Zack Snyders Man of Steel was released seven years later.

#4: The Golden Compass (2007)

Warner Bros. was really swinging for the fences with The Golden Compass, but hey, like we said, you gotta find the next Harry Potter. It was made on a $180 million budget and starred various A-listers, including Nicole Kidman, Ian McKellen, and Daniel Craig. However, fans of the novel were incensed that the adaptation diluted the storys anti-religious themes, and significant studio interference negatively impacted the finished product. The movie received mediocre reviews and grossed only $70 million in the domestic market. Due to the movies underperformance and alleged pressure from the Catholic Church, New Line cancelled the remaining two entries of the series, leaving His Dark Materials fans without a satisfying conclusion to the onscreen story.

#3:The Last Airbender (2010)

We didnt really have high hopes for M. Night Shyamalans The Last Airbender, but it turned out to be even worse than we imagined. Not only did the movie generate a measly 6% on Rotten Tomatoes, it was heavily criticized for whitewashing many of its Asian characters. Despite the bile spat at the movie from both critics and fans, it managed to generate a respectable $319 million at the box office. While Shyamalan had planned to make a sequel featuring Azula as the villain, these plans never came to fruition. However, Shyamalan has expressed interest in making more Airbender movies at a future date, should the opportunity arise. Lets hope hes just trolling.

#2: John Carter (2012)

Suffice it to say that Disney had big plans for the John Carter name. They allegedly put upwards of $350 million into the movie (including marketing costs), and the filmmakers reported that they were planning to make the series into a trilogy. The producers even began work on the second movie, The Gods of Mars, before John Carter was released to theaters. However, the film only made $284 million and plans for the remaining two movies were quickly cancelled, while director Andrew Stanton returned to the world of 3D animated films, directing Finding Dory instead.

#1: Green Lantern (2011)

Of all the superhero bombs, Green Lantern was the most spectacular. The film was yet another swing and a miss for DC, as it earned a 26% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed only $220 million on a massive $200 million budget. When you consider that the movie needed to make $500 million to be considered a financial success (as speculated by The Hollywood Reporter), its clear that Green Lantern was a massive failure. The studios plans for an extended Green Lantern series were immediately scrapped, making its end-credit teaser more than a little embarrassing.

How would you fix any of these movies? Let us know in the comments!