Top 10 Movies That BOMBED in 2023
#10: “Blue Beetle” (2023)
Superhero Origins Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle
The upcoming DCU may be the shot in the arm that the floundering superhero genre needs. However, Warner Bros. jumped the James Gunn when they announced this soft reboot, making any remaining DCEU movies feel nonessential. Despite mostly positive reviews and a likable, diverse cast, “Blue Beetle” became the lowest-grossing DCEU film. Considering that it was initially developed as an HBO Max exclusive, it’s not like Warner Bros. ever expected “Blue Beetle” to be a huge moneymaker. Yet, the fact that the film’s box office intake barely surpassed its $104 million budget is a testament to growing superhero fatigue. Had it come out ten years ago, “Blue Beetle’s” profitability might’ve been guaranteed. In 2023, though, it couldn’t reach an estimated break-even point of $208 million.
#9: “Air” (2023)
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If you make a witty drama for adult audiences, people will take notice… just maybe not right away. Exploring the fascinating story behind Air Jordan, this sports biopic received universal critical acclaim and an A CinemaScore. On its opening weekend, though, “Air” couldn’t jump as high as “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” only falling from there. While the film made back its $90 million budget, that doesn’t account for its hefty advertising campaign, which included a $7 million Super Bowl ad. Since Amazon originally intended to send the film straight to streaming, “Air’s” success shouldn’t be measured based on box office alone. Although “Air” has performed well on Prime Video, we may be past the days when a mid-budget drama could turn a profit theatrically.
#8: “Haunted Mansion” (2023)
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Disney’s 100th anniversary unfortunately coincided with one of its worst recent years at the box office. Part of that might be because Disney+ has damaged the company’s theatrical brand, but quality is another factor. In the case of “Haunted Mansion,” the reviews were only slightly better than the Eddie Murphy version released twenty years earlier. Too scary for little kids and not mature enough for older audiences, this $150 million horror comedy proved to be a ghost town when it opened in July. That release date didn’t help, as an October opening would’ve been ideal given the subject matter. Disney made the same mistake with “Hocus Pocus” thirty years ago, but where that film became a Halloween classic, “Haunted Mansion” seems DOA.
#7: “Renfield” (2023)
Just because Bram Stoker’s novel is public domain doesn’t mean that Dracula movies are the soundest investment. Universal delivered two Dracula-centric films in 2023 that failed to take a bite out of the box office. “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” didn’t even make back half of its $45 million production budget. “Renfield” drained even more money from the studio, making a meager $26.7 million against a $65 million investment. While Nicolas Cage as Dracula is chef’s kiss casting, studios have repeatedly overestimated his ability to pack cinemas. The people who constantly meme Cage on social media aren’t necessarily the same demographic buying tickets. The film may have cult potential, but much like Renfield himself, Universal’s relationship with Dracula is probably beyond salvaging.
#6: “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” (2023)
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Let’s be honest. There would’ve been a lot more hype surrounding the “Shazam!” sequel if it had marked Dwayne Johnson’s introduction to the DCEU as Black Adam. Since Johnson insisted that Black Adam get his own movie, Warner Bros. wound up producing two giant bombs. Where the original “Shazam!” stood out with its quirky sense of humor, the follow-up failed to bring anything flesh to the equation. Lightning didn’t strike twice on Rotten Tomatoes, and the same goes for the box office. Reportedly losing the studio around $150 million, “Fury of the Gods” was an early sign that 2023 would be a rough year for DC and superheroes in general. Sorry, Sivana, but it doesn’t look like Mister Mind is coming back for you.
#5: “The Marvels” (2023)
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For nearly fifteen years, the MCU printed money simply by existing. Between an overabundance of content and a dip in quality, that’s no longer the case. Whereas the original “Captain Marvel” had the advantage of coming out between two “Avengers” pictures, people had a hard time getting excited about the sequel. Casual fans who slept on “WandaVision” and “Ms. Marvel” were likely confused by the marketing. Loyal fans didn’t expect it to drastically shake up the MCU beyond a post-credit scene, which was spoiled in a trailer anyway. Suffering the MCU’s worst opening weekend to date, “The Marvels” still might’ve prevailed with a smaller budget. With reshoots bringing the price tag to more than $270 million, Marvel no longer has the luxury of burning cash.
#4: “The Expendables 4” (2023)
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“The Expendables” is one of those franchises that audiences kept giving a chance, but it never quite lived up to its action-packed potential. Seeing how the last entry in the series underperformed almost a decade ago, we can’t imagine that anyone was clamoring for a fourth installment. Since Hollywood values brand recognition above all else, however, Lionsgate brought Syl Stallone back for one last job. We know that it’s always “one last job,” but if the box office returns are any indication, Barney Ross can officially retire. Grossing just over $50 million, “The Expendables 4” struggled to recoup half of its budget. Barely making a quarter of the previous film’s intake, this sequel proved every bit as expendable as the title suggests.
#3: “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” (2023)
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“Quantumania” marked a rocky start for the MCU’s fifth phase, falling short of its break-even point by more than $100 million. Fans of the previous two films were generally disappointed by this overblown third entry, which traded screwball comedy for empty spectacle. Despite her name being in the title, the Wasp was underutilized with more attention going toward Kang the Conqueror. The film was meant to introduce theatrical viewers to the MCU’s next big bad, but given Jonathan Majors’ recent legal troubles, the investment in Kang has backfired in more ways than one. “Quantumania” would’ve benefited from a smaller scale, centering on Scott and Hope’s relationship. Instead, Marvel went big with a $200 million “Kang Dynasty” preview, getting crushed like an ant.
#2: “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (2023)
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With “Crystal Skull” being a punchline, Indiana Jones’ final adventure needed to be nothing short of exceptional if Disney was gonna win back old fans and whip up new ones. Since Harrison Ford was almost 80 when filming commenced, “Dial of Destiny” already had some limitations in the stunt department. But hey, it’s nothing that expensive de-aging effects can’t compensate for, right? With delays from COVID only contributing to the budget, “Dial of Destiny” cost as much as $300 million. Any hope that Indy’s legacy sequel might be this year’s “Top Gun: Maverick” was shot down following a lackluster opening weekend, going on to lose Disney around $100 million. If you want fortune and glory, spending big bucks to make big bucks isn’t always practical.
#1: “The Flash” (2023)
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Warner Bros. wishes it could travel back five years when multiverse movies were fresh, superheroes provided reliable revenue, and Ezra Miller wasn’t so problematic. While this long-awaited DC project had a ton of baggage, it was still a Flash movie featuring Supergirl and Michael Keaton’s Caped Crusader comeback. How disastrous could the results be? Well, “The Flash” made about $30 million more than “Batman & Robin” did 26 years ago. When adjusted for inflation, “Batman & Robin” actually sold more tickets! “The Flash” still outgrossed “Blue Beetle” and “Shazam! 2,” but it also had a much higher budget. Although WB’s higher-ups championed it as one of the greatest superhero movies ever, the estimated $200 million loss has left the studio in dire need of a new hero.
Which film do you think can save the box office in 2024? Place your bets in the comments.
