10 Promising Movie Franchises Crushed By 1 Box Office Failure

Summary

Certain movie franchises were cut short by box office flops, indicating audience disinterest.
Potential comebacks for movie franchises existed post-flop, with room for improvement after the first installment.
Marketing mishaps, narrative errors, or industry circumstances halted potentially successful franchises.

A few movie franchises had strong potential but were cut short by one box office flop. It is not uncommon for movie franchises to be ended by a box office flop, which is the clearest indicator to a studio that audiences are no longer interested in the series. However, some abridged movie franchises did have a dedicated audience — maybe just not one as big as studio executives were hoping for — or flopped for other reasons, possibly marketing or the circumstances of the industry.

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Certain franchises might have made a comeback after one bad movie or would have done better if the filmmakers were given the chance to learn from their mistakes. Good movies have suffered from bad marketing, while other movies with serious wasted potential might have turned into successful franchises if not for one mishandled narrative decision. In all these scenarios, the first movie(s) in a planned franchise set up a great story that would have supported something bigger, but the financial losses ended it too soon.

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While some movie franchises seem to have never slowed down, others surprised audiences and have roared back to success after an extended hiatus.

10 The Chronicles Of Narnia

Last Movie: The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader (2010)

The Chronicles of Narnia movie franchise saw massive success in the beginning before starting its gradual downward trajectory and heading into reboot territory. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is one of the biggest box office hits of the 2000s; while Prince Caspian also turned a profit, it was nowhere near as much, and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was even worse. Despite this, The Silver Chair was in development for some time with Millie Bobby Brown being offered the lead role.

The Silver Chair would have been a return to a more classic adventure storyline and might have allowed the Narnia movies to make a comeback.

The second and third Narnia movies faced a lot of challenges with less conventional narratives, which led to major changes from the source material. The Silver Chair would have been a return to a more classic adventure storyline and might have allowed the Narnia movies to make a comeback. However, The Silver Chair was stuck in development for too long before being canceled. Netflix now owns the rights and is planning a reboot with Greta Gerwig at the helm.

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Based on C.S. Lewis’s popular book series, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the third film in the trilogy and takes place three years after the prior film and follows two siblings joined by the new king of Narnia, Caspian, as they try to save their world from all-encompassing darkness. The group will travel the seas to save seven missing lords to prepare for the coming battle.

Director Michael Apted Release Date December 9, 2010 Writers Michael Apted Cast Ben Barnes , Georgie Henley Runtime 115minutes

9 The People Of Sparks

Last Movie: City Of Ember (2008)

The movie adaptation of Jeanne DuPrau’s The City of Ember is just a little bland in comparison to the book, the first in the People of Sparks series. The movie condensed some elements from the book that would have made the potential social commentary of Ember more impactful. Considering that the movie is only an hour and a half long, they could have afforded to better develop some of the subplots. Otherwise, City of Ember is a decent movie, featuring an early-career Saoirse Ronan, alongside Bill Murray and Toby Jones.

While this movie sticks to the basic adventure storyline, showing off the intriguing production design and rising stars along the way, the sequels might have been able to build upon it thematically. The problems of limited resources and mistrust only get bigger in the subsequent People of Sparks novels, laying the groundwork for some interesting movies. City of Ember was always going to be difficult to adapt because it is more subdued than some other novels of the same genre, but it could have been a strong movie trilogy.

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Director Gil Kenan Release Date October 7, 2008 Cast David Ryall , Ian McElhinney , Harry Treadaway , Tim Robbins , Bill Murray , B.J. Hogg Runtime 95 minutes

8 Jupiter Ascending

Last Movie: Jupiter Ascending (2015)

Almost everyone agrees that the premise of Jupiter Ascending is fascinating; it’s only the execution that fell short, mainly due to the underdeveloped characters. Following an average young woman from Earth who happens to be genetically identical to the late matriarch of an extraterrestrial dynasty, Jupiter Ascending sets the stage for some interesting intergalactic politics and power struggles. Great actors like Eddie Redmayne, Sean Bean, and Tuppence Middleton took on supporting roles, with Mila Kunis as the title character.

This is in addition to breathtaking sets and costume design that had everyone intrigued when shown in the trailers. However, Jupiter Ascending‘s weaknesses led to its box office flop, overshadowing its strengths. If the franchise had managed to survive this commercial failure, they might have even cut out things like the needless romantic subplot in the sequels, offering a stronger story with more character development for Jupiter and the rest.

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From visionary directors the Wachowskis, Jupiter Ascending follows Mila Kunis’ Jupiter Jones, a cleaning woman from Chicago who discovers that she is actually the heir to a vast intergalactic noble house. With the help of genetically modified soldier Caine Wise (Channing Tatum), Jupiter must fight to protect Earth from the greedy clutches of Balem Abrasax (Eddie Redmayne) who is intent on taking over the planet for his own means.

Director Lana Wachowski , andy wachowski Release Date February 6, 2015 Writers andy wachowski , Lana Wachowski Cast Eddie Redmayne , Sean Bean , Mila Kunis , Channing Tatum Runtime 127 Minutes

7 The Millennium Series

Last Movie: Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)

Sadly, Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig didn’t return for a Girl with the Dragon Tattoo sequel, despite being the best leads the franchise could hope for. Riding on the success of The Social Network, David Fincher was also exactly the director the Millennium movie franchise needed, well-versed in psychological thrillers. It’s even more disappointing that the sequels didn’t happen because these hires did pay off for this adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s novel, as almost everything about it was praised by critics.

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Yet The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was still a box office flop, scrambling Fincher’s plans to adapt the whole trilogy. The franchise saw a soft reboot with 2018’s The Girl in the Spider’s Web with a new director and new leads, namely Claire Foy as Lisbeth Salander. However, this movie was both a critical and commercial failure, destroying the series’ movie potential once and for all.

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Based on the award-winning novel by Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) as he searches for a woman who has been missing for 40 years. Along the way, he makes an unexpected ally in Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), who is a computer hacker and survivor of a traumatic childhood. The film is directed by David Fincher and won an Oscar in 2012 for Best Achievement in Film Editing.

Director David Fincher Release Date December 21, 2011 Writers Steven Zaillian Cast Christopher Plummer , Robin Wright , Stellan Skarsgård , Rooney Mara , Steven Berkoff , Daniel Craig Runtime 158 minutes

6 The Mortal Instruments

Last Movie: The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones (2013)

Cassandra Clare debuted the first Shadowhunters books amid the popularity of both Twilight and The Hunger Games. The Mortal Instruments clearly exhibits some of the most popular tropes of its predecessors, yet still stands out with its distinct premise and world-building. The Mortal Instruments could have been the next big movie franchise, with stunning visuals and even some strong casting choices in Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, and Lena Headey. Some of the exposition was rushed but could have been easily improved with a few rewrites.

The City of Bones movie arguably should have just cut the subplot where Clary and Jace believe they are siblings, which doesn’t come into play until the very end. In retrospect, this was an awkward storyline for the franchise to get past to become one of the best lengthy fantasy book series worth committing to. With a couple of changes — and, of course, without the first movie bombing at the box office — The Mortal Instruments could have shown more of its incredible world on the big screen.

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In The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, teenager Clary Fray discovers she is a Shadowhunter, a human-angel hybrid destined to fight demons. She delves into an underworld of magic and danger when her mother is kidnapped. Teaming up with fellow Shadowhunters Jace, Alec, and Isabelle, Clary embarks on a quest to save her mother and uncover her own hidden past. Amidst battles with dark forces and a journey of self-discovery, Clary learns the true extent of her powers.

Director Harald Zwart Release Date August 21, 2013 Writers Cassandra Clare , I. Marlene King , Jessica Postigo Cast Aidan Turner , Lena Headey , Lily Collins , Jonathan Rhys Meyers , Robert Sheehan , Jamie Campbell Bower Runtime 130 minutes

Related 11 Book Adaptations To Get Second Chances As TV Shows

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5 Wonder Woman

Last Movie: Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

Diana Prince a.k.a. Wonder Woman was doing the best out of all the DCEU heroes in her solo movies. The first Wonder Woman was highly acclaimed and a great introduction to the ideological conflicts of Diana’s character and her combative abilities. What went wrong with Wonder Woman 1984 constitutes many possibilities, but overall, it seems to have been received as a generic addition to Diana’s story. The settings and villains are less interesting while the emotional storyline is built on clichés, all leading to Diana triumphing once again.

Wonder Woman 3‘s cancellation still came as a disappointment to many. Other (mostly male) superheroes have suffered second-movie syndrome but still got a third installment. In Wonder Woman’s case, Patty Jenkins certainly knew that Wonder Woman 3 demanded something less formulaic. The result could have been Diana’s biggest adventure yet if the events of Wonder Woman 1984 were treated as building blocks for something greater.

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In 1984, Wonder Woman’s second big-screen solo adventure finds her working in the Smithsonian while secretly living a double life as the iconic superhero. When she comes across a mysterious artifact at the museum, Wonder Woman soon finds herself facing two all-new foes: Max Lord and Cheetah. Wonder Woman 1984 was one of the first theatrical films to be simultaneously released on HBO Max in 2020.

Director Patty Jenkins Release Date December 25, 2020 Writers Geoff Johns , Patty Jenkins Cast Gal Gadot , Chris Pine , Pedro Pascal , Kristoffer Polaha , Connie Nielsen , Gabriella Wilde , Kristen Wiig , Robin Wright , Manoj Anand Runtime 115 Minutes

4 Battle Angel Alita

Last Movie: Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

Based on the manga Gunnm, known as Battle Angel Alita in English, Alita: Battle Angel isn’t as bad as a movie as some might assume, even if its visuals are stronger than its story. With extensive source material providing plenty of ideas, a sequel could be the perfect opportunity to strengthen the characters and plots where they failed in the first movie. Alita: Battle Angel 2 is technically in development, but the previous installment’s failure would understandably give some people pause.

Alita: Battle Angel first entered development in 2003, but was regularly delayed because of producer James Cameron’s commitments to Avatar. The sequel is set up to face the same problem, with Cameron releasing a new Avatar movie every other year for the immediate future. Some would probably assume that the franchise is over, only waiting for an official cancellation. However, the director and producers of Alita: Battle Angel are at least enthusiastic about the sequel, which might have saved some other franchises that were once in the same situation.

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Produced by James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez, Alita: Battle Angel adapts the manga Gunnm to live-action, featuring Rosa Salazar as the titular cyborg who quests to rebuild her identity as she faces the dark forces that plague Iron City. With the help of Christoph Waltz’s Dr. Ido and Keean Johnson’s Hugo, Alita learns to play the futuristic game of Motorball, which could be her ticket to enter the floating city of Zalem. Unfortunately, not everything is as it seems in the year 2563.

Director Robert Rodriguez Release Date February 14, 2019 Writers Yukito Kishiro , James Cameron , Laeta Kalogridis Cast Rosa Salazar , Christoph Waltz , Lana Condor , Jackie Earle Haley , Eiza Gonzalez , Mahershala Ali , Jennifer Connelly Runtime 122 Minutes

3 Treasure Planet

Last Movie: Treasure Planet (2002)

Treasure Planet is one of Disney’s most expensive failures ever, although it has become a treasured cult classic since bombing at the box office. Disney was in an awkward place in the 2000s, as the glory days of the Disney Renaissance were behind them, and they faced more competition from 3D animated movies. Yet they were ambitious with Treasure Planet, incorporating some 3D elements and planning a story that extended past the framework of Treasure Island‘s plot.

If Treasure Planet’s eventual reception had happened when it was released, it might have kicked off Hollywood’s first epic animated franchise.

If Treasure Planet‘s eventual reception had happened when it was released, it might have kicked off Hollywood’s first epic animated franchise. There was even a finished script for the canceled Treasure Planet 2, which included a new villain, a rival/love interest for Jim, a backstory for John Silver, and more. In addition to this, there were rumors of a TV show spinoff — one of the first times Disney proposed such an idea. Unfortunately, plans were scrapped after Treasure Planet‘s epic commercial failure.

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Treasure Planet is a 2002 animated adventure and Fantasy film from Walt Disney studios. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, the story follows a young boy named Jim Hawkins as he attempts to find a fabled treasure and mend ways with his father who abandoned him.

Director John Musker Release Date November 27, 2002 Writers John Musker Cast Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Martin Short , Emma Thompson Runtime 95minutes

2 The Barsoom Series

Last Movie: John Carter (2012)

The source material for John Carter set Disney up with an extensive sci-fi franchise; yet Disney’s biggest animated box office flops like Treasure Planet, Mars Needs Moms, and Meet the Robinsons suggest that sci-fi is not the studio’s strength. In fact, Disney’s confidence in John Carter being a success was unlike anything before, pouring a ludicrous amount of funds into the project. This would only make it even more of a box office bomb and cement the franchise’s early ending.

However, bad marketing and the series not being as popular as Disney thought are just some of the reasons that John Carter flopped spectacularly. It could have been the beginning of another space opera franchise if Disney had been more frugal in their efforts. John Carter was all about setting up the sequel and providing as much spectacle as possible when studio executives were certain that it would pan out because of its tropes rather than its unique story.

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Adapted from Edgar Rice Burroughs’ A Princess of Mars, Disney’s John Carter brings the author’s Barsoom series to life. When American Confederate Civil War captain John Carter accidentally transports himself to Mars, he soon becomes entangled in the planet’s own internal power struggles. Using the increased strength and speed afforded to him by Mars’ atmosphere, Carter fights to achieve peace on the distant planet known by the natives as Barsoom.

Director Andrew Stanton Release Date March 9, 2012 Writers Michael Chabon , Mark Andrews , Andrew Stanton Cast Mark Strong , Willem Dafoe , Taylor Kitsch , Lynn Collins , Bryan Cranston Runtime 132 minutes

Related 10 Unfinished Movie Franchises That Are Still Worth Watching

Although these movie franchises didn’t have a proper ending, they still have redeeming qualities, meaning that they’re still worth checking out.

1 Power Rangers Reboot

Last Movie: Power Rangers (2017)

Since its average reception in 2017, more and more people have come to the defense of the Power Rangers reboot. With a strong cast of up-and-coming stars plus great veterans in Elizabeth Banks and Bryan Cranston, Power Rangers has a more serious tone but incorporates some goofy elements. With the characters being given development as individuals as well as a group and the set-up for the Green Ranger storyline, the Power Rangers sequel could have topped what is already a strong reboot.

However, Power Rangers also flopped at the box office, likely due to its failure to impress critics and Hollywood being oversaturated in reboots. Like with many similar cases, the studio was not willing to risk another, even bigger failure by producing a sequel. Yet Power Rangers and other franchises still intrigue fans who wish that the series could have been seen to completion.

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Director Dean Israelite Release Date March 24, 2017 Writers John Gatins , Matt Sazama , Burk Sharpless , Michele Mulroney , Kieran Mulroney , Haim Saban Cast Elizabeth Banks , Bryan Cranston , Becky G. , Naomi Scott , Dacre Montgomery , Caroline Cave Runtime 124 minutes

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Category: Entertainment