Top 10 Movies Released at the Wrong Time

#10: Haunted Mansion (2023)

Not everything is meant to be a mid-year blockbuster. Considering the beloved source material and its star-studded cast, 2023s The Haunted Mansion couldve been an easy slam dunk at the box office. Unfortunately, it ended up earning below its budget instead. It came out during a perfect storm of pop culture moments: Barbenheimer and the SAG-AFTRA strike. Both meant the film was getting only a fraction of the publicity it needed to succeed. Additionally, the spooky story and special effects made little sense for a summer release. Had they waited a few more months and dropped it during the Halloween season, it couldve had a better chance at standing out and being properly promoted by its cast.

#9: Treasure Planet (2002)

You may think that releasing a film during one of the biggest holiday weekends of the year would be a cheat code. In this case, it proved to be a detriment. Treasure Planet had everything it needed to succeed, including a compelling story and gorgeous animation. Unfortunately, it came out just after three huge franchises released their newest installments, giving it steep competition. It also came out just a day before Thanksgiving of that year, meaning viewers were likely too busy celebrating that and Black Friday to prioritize the movie. All in all, it made just over $16 million during that first long weekend. A summer debut wouldve made more sense for this underrated family flick, and given it a chance to properly shine.

#8: Surviving Christmas (2004)

Considering its less than favorable reviews from audiences and critics alike, its hard to say just how much more successful this movie could have been. However, Surviving Christmas was doomed from the start with an October release, rather than a winter one. It came out at a time when horror movies usually reign, and before people even want to be reminded of the season. As such, hardly anyone went out of their way to go see it, resulting in a disappointing first weekend. Moreover, it ended up leaving theaters just before Thanksgiving, meaning it missed the entire holiday season. If the studio waited another month, they couldve taken advantage of peoples elevated Christmas cheer and had a better chance at turning a profit.

#7: The Frighteners (1996)

This is proof that you should usually go with your first instinct. The Michael J. Fox-led The Frighteners was initially scheduled for an October release date, which wouldve all but guaranteed its success with horror fans. Unfortunately, higher-ups at the studio loved it so much that they decided to take a chance and drop it during the height of summer. Though their intentions were good, it would end up being the reason behind its failure. The hilarious story and groundbreaking special effects were completely overshadowed by the other blockbusters and that years Olympics. Had they just stuck to their guns and waited until the fall, they couldve capitalized on the Halloween market and made a killing.

#6: Onward (2020)

Unexpected life events can derail any project, no matter how good it is. With its wholesome, family-centered plot and A-list voice cast, Onward had all the right pieces to become Pixars next biggest hit. Its March 2020 premiere meant that it took an instant backseat to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions that followed. After just two weeks of being out, theaters across the world had to close, severely limiting its financial growth almost immediately. It was disappointing, especially for a movie that had spent six years in development. A theatrical debut just a few months sooner followed by a March streaming release couldve helped it be seen both before and during the global crisis.

#5: The Thing (1982)

Its influence is undeniable now, but one would never guess that based on its premiere. The cards were stacked against The Thing from the beginning, with a study that showed that interest in horror flicks had sharply declined. Still, the studio persevered and committed to a June release only for it to be slapped down by the much more wholesome E.T. the Extraterrestrial. The family-friendly alien representation dominated that summer, providing a cheery and optimistic foil to bleak pictures like The Thing and Blade Runner. The formers legacy proves it had what it took to be successful, and it being slotted for an autumn drop instead couldve helped that reflect in the box office numbers.

#4: Hocus Pocus (1993)

The Sanderson sisters may be magic, but even theyre powerless against an inopportune theatrical premiere. Hocus Pocus is practically synonymous with Halloween, and has become a cult favorite. Youd think a film centered around three witches would be perfect for an October debut. Instead, it was released at the height of the summer in an attempt to capitalize on kids being home from school. This caused it to go relatively unnoticed at the time, leaving it to rely on TV airings to help gain the fanbase it has today. Its proof that some movies were made to be seasonally successful, and how forcing them outside of that box can lead to their financial downfall.

#3: Justice League (2017)

The superhero movie boom of the 2010s shouldve helped propel this ensemble to the top of the box office. Yet, Justice League struggled compared to its counterparts. It coming out in November of 2017 put it in a tricky spot, forcing it to go up against award-winners and direct competition alike. Its biggest issue is that it had always been intended to be a summer blockbuster, with an original release planned for 2015. The extended production time made that initial date impossible, and further reshoots in 2017 made them miss their chance at a mid-year debut then. Thus, it was sentenced to a fall drop, making it miss the most profitable time of year.

#2: Glitter (2001)

Some productions are doomed from the start. Mariah Careys Glitter was already facing rough odds when it was delayed due to her health concerns. It had been rescheduled for September of 2001. Unfortunately, the soundtrack albums release date ended up being the 11th the same day as the horrific attacks on the twin towers. This led to it being rightfully overshadowed by the national disaster. The movie itself came out a few weeks later, but people were still so shell-shocked by the catastrophe that it made less than a million on its opening night. Though the tragedy couldnt have been predicted, sticking with the originally planned August debut or withholding the film for several months after the soundtrack fiasco couldve helped its odds.

#1: Antz (1998)

Going up against a huge name was always going to be an uphill battle. Despite the witty dialogue and the impressive voice-acting, Antz had a huge hurdle in its path to success Pixars A Bugs Life. The two were neck-in-neck in terms of production, even sparking a battle between the studios. Dreamworks seemed to get the upper hand by rescheduling it to release in October of 1998, rather than Spring of 1999. This move may have initially helped them top the box office, but Pixar dropped their more family-friendly insect-centered film in November, capitalizing off the Thanksgiving long weekend and surpassing their competitor. Had the former stuck to their original plan and waited a few more months, then they might have surpassed their opponent.

Which movie do you think wouldve been better received had it released at a different time? Let us know in the comments below!