Top 10 Most Disappointing Moments of 2024

#10: Uzumaki[a] Misses the Mark

The doubters said it would never work and, well, they were probably right. 2024 in general was a pretty strong year for anime, but the long-awaited adaptation of horror master Junji Ito's most famous manga just couldn’t hit the billing. With only a four-episode run, the first of those four actually turned out pretty well… but it was a rapid decline from that point onwards. Reported problems behind the scenes at Adult Swim hardly helped matters, but viewers generally felt that the pacing was a major issue. The show tries to squeeze too much of the original greatness into far too short of a run, and it (and we) ended up paying the price.

#9: Katy Perry's Comeback Disaster

With the likes of Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and Beyonce all hitting new heights in 2024, a Katy Perry comeback might’ve felt like it made a lot of sense. But boy oh boy, how badly wrong it went. Her seventh album, “143[b]”, was her first in four years, and the lead single, “Woman’s World” was apparently meant to carry an empowering message. But it was met with near-universal criticism. The main headline; Perry had made the song with the producer Dr. Luke… the same Dr. Luke who’d previously been accused (by Kesha) of physical, sexual and emotional abuse. In the accompanying video for “Woman’s World”, Perry channeled the ionic Rosie the Riveter, for yet another massive misstep which left fans feeling let down, to say the least.

#8: Apple’s Year of Nothing Much

Traditionally speaking, if you need a measure of what the cutting edge of technology looks like, you tune in to an Apple-organized event. But, not so this year. The annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June was taglined as “action packed”, but delivered very little - and nothing by way of new hardware. Another event on Sept 9th was widely criticized for just how much of a non-event it ultimately was. For fans and onlookers, the company appears to have gotten very bogged down in Apple Intelligence. But, at a time when AI is the next big thing, Apple so far isn’t offering anything that’s particularly exciting. The brief global outrage at the cost of a PS5 Pro was another tech story that left many shaking their heads… but in 2025, it’ll be all eyes on Apple to up its game again.

#7: The River Seine

Up until the Olympic Games in the summer of 2024, the River Seine was just an unassuming waterway flowing through what many still thought of as the most romantic city in the world. With all eyes on Paris for the planet’s greatest sporting spectacle, however, the Seine became an always-looming symbol of dirt and pollution. The constant headlines relating to poor water quality and sewage drainage eventually led to some of the open water swimming events being delayed and canceled. The Games didn’t start off swimmingly for the Seine, either, with organizers opting to stage the Opening Ceremony along the river - rather than inside the Olympic Stadium, as usual. It was a bold and creative move, but not everyone was on board.

#6: The Acolyte Gets Axed

When it comes to the “Star Wars” universe, it takes something special to be widely deemed worthy of the franchise. And, ultimately, “The Acolyte” fell short. It was never universally panned. There were elements that fans felt did have promise, and arguably intriguing storylines that hinted at something new. But the show became tied up in claims of a review bombing campaign and, at best, it divided fans while never fully convincing the masses. It was canceled after just one season and, despite online petitions to reverse that decision, it now seems destined to simply be forgotten. Whether or not you enjoyed the show itself, this was a disappointing episode in the saga as a whole.

#5: Mega-flopolis

This could’ve been the epic blockbuster to end all epic blockbusters. But, instead, it turned into a film that not many people knew about, and even fewer went to see. Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis” was more than forty years in the making. A long-held passion project for the legendary “Godfather” director, the story tells of an alternate New York City shaped as though by the history of ancient Rome. There’s action, corruption, an epic vision of the future and an ensemble cast laden with big names. But it all came together like a rocket that never went bang. After decades of not being able to get the project off the ground, Coppola reportedly self-funded the movie… and by all accounts made a huge loss. Kinder reviews called it inventive, others labeled it incoherent. Was it worth all these years of waiting? Probably (and unfortunately) no.

#4: Willy's Chocolate Experience

One movie that certainly was a success - commercially, at least - was “Wonka”. After debuting in late 2023, it comfortably ran beyond the holidays and well into 2024. With Timothée Chalamet in the title role, surely nothing could go wrong. Except it really did for those who decided to attend “Willy’s Chocolate Experience”, in Glasgow, Scotland, in February. The experience was an unlicensed event that promised visitors “stunning and intricately designed settings” and “an array of delectable treats”. Upon arrival, they found a barely decorated, essentially abandoned warehouse, and were given half a plastic cup of lemonade. The laughable letdown soon became a viral sensation, as second-hand anger spread across the internet. With tickets costing up to £35 (around $45) the outrage was all too real, as were the disappointed faces of many, many children.

#3: Concord Quickly Crashes and Burns

There’s no doubt that 2024 was a rough year for gamers. From “Kill the Justice League” to “Skull & Bones” to the ongoing meltdown at Ubisoft… it was just a mess. But easily the standout letdown was “Concord” for PS5. A first-person shooter set against a retrofuturistic backdrop, in a world populated by humanoid alien beings… it sounds like it should have been quite a lot of fun. With a reported $400 million budget, as well, you might’ve expected massive hype, queued out stores and global surges online as avid gamers eagerly settled in for the next great console title. What actually happened, though, was an extremely huge lack of interest, to the point that Sony admitted defeat and pulled the game after only two weeks.

#2: Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson

In the age of YouTube boxing, this was billed as being the biggest and best fight to date. What actually transpired, though, was a slow, sad and awkward contest that only truly served to highlight how age catches up with us all. Paul won the fight on points via unanimous decision, while Tyson appeared spent even in the early rounds. Which, ultimately, is fair enough. The guy was 58 years old at the time, and 31 years Jake Paul’s senior. He had previously been forced to postpone the fight in May 2024, after a stomach ulcer flared up, causing him to cough up blood. For many, the fight simply should never have gone ahead. Nevertheless, a reported 65 million did tune into Netflix, all to follow the lack of drama as it laboriously unfolded.

#1: Joker’s Downfall

In 2019, Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker shone as the cinematic psychopath that Gotham needed, wanted, and that the watching world praised all the way to a win at the Oscars. And, when a sequel was announced, perhaps there was some trepidation, because where would (where could) Phoenix, under the guidance of Todd Phillips, go next? As it turns out, the only way was down. In “Joker: Folie à Deux”, the musical elements fell flat, the story went nowhere, the character dissolved into a sorry shadow of his former self. Many critics were unimpressed, many fans felt laughed at by the movie itself. While there is still some debate about the film’s overall message, it ultimately gets entered into the Hollywood annals as a prime example of spectacular failure.

Which 2024 pop culture moment left you feeling most disappointed of all? Let us know in the comments! And, if you do want to look on the bright side, as well… then why not tell us something that pleasantly surprised you this year, while you’re there!

[a]https://forvo.com/search/%E3%81%86%E3%81%9A%E3%81%BE%E3%81%8D/

JJJJEUN-jjjee ee-TOH https://forvo.com/search/%E4%BC%8A%E8%97%A4%20%E6%BD%A4%E4%BA%8C/
[b]one four three https://youtu.be/KjiuS98MJdE?si=Crk94nN4PH32yW2U&t=104