Summary
The sci-fi movies that flopped at the box office in the last decade are illustrative of how tricky the genre can be. Like its counterpart and often overlapping genre of fantasy,sci-fi typically connotes extensive world-building that can easily mean a movie bogged down in exposition.Thebest sci-fi movies of all timemanage to strike a balance between showing and telling how the world works, or simply feature a setting where the rules can mostly be inferred by the audience based on genre tropes.
Sci-fi and fantasy movies also typically require a larger budget to cover the production design and special effectsthat characterize a visually appealing setting. This means that if the movie flops, the losses will be even greater. Massive movie franchises have proven that sci-fi has the potential to be the most profitable outlet in the industry, motivating studios to bet on would-be blockbusters that then failed spectacularly.
Domestic gross
Worldwide total
Estimated loss
$93,436,322
$209,035,668
$120-150 million (viaTHR)
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets(2017)
$41,189,488
$225,973,340
$83 million (viaTHR)
$92,071,675
$276,605,984
$130 million (viaSlashFilm)
$32,732,301
$43,070,915
$57 million
$15,951,040
$83,869,818
$175 million (Deadline)
$213,767,512
$392,924,807
$77 million (viaDeadline)
$48,546,770
$173,469,516
$62,253,077
$261,119,292
$123 million (Deadline)
$37,686,805
$157,386,805
$320 million
$52,548,452
$117,748,452
Likely $200-300 million
Domestic and worldwide box office earnings are according toboxofficemojo.com. If a movie’s losses were not reported by news outlets, the estimate is based on the general rule that a movie needs to earn 2.5 times its budget to break even.
10 Most Expensive Movies That Released In 2023
Between high-recognition actors, entire worlds generated by CGI, and COVID-related production delays, 2023 saw the release of some big-budget films.
10Annihilation
Grossed $43 Million Against $40 Million Budget
Annihilation, based on the novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer, is a highly surrealistic adventureintertwined with broad philosophical themes. The movie includes many stunning visuals and noteworthy actors giving compelling performances. However, audiences have to work to understand the plot, which is largely abstract and demands that they ponder the symbolisms of what is literally happening on screen.
Metacritic score
Audience score
88%
79%
67%
ThemovieAnnhilation’sending is differentfrom the book, and both versions are somewhat open-ended and certainly confusing. While critics were mostly impressed by the movie’s metaphorical storytelling, this characteristic did not imbue it with the widespread appeal needed to gross above $100 million.Annihilationwas saved from the most devastating fallout by not having spent as much money on production as some sci-fi blockbusters,but it still lost tens of millions of dollars.
Annihilation
Alex Garland’s Annihilation is based on the novel of the same name by Jeff VanderMeer. It follows a group of explorers - comprised of biology professor Lena (Natalie Portman), psychologist Dr. Ventress (Jennifer Jason Leigh), physicist Josie Radek (Tessa Thompson), geomorphologist Cassie Sheppard (Tuva Nvotny), and paramedic Anya Thorensen (Gina Rodriguez) - as they enter “the Shimmer”, a quarantined zone of mutated plants and animals caused by an unknown extra-terrestrial phenomenon. Lena agrees to enter the Shimmer in search of her husband, Kane (Oscar Isaac), who was sent in as part of a special forces operation.
9Solo: A Star Wars Story
Grossed $393 Million Against $257 Million Budget
Han Solo is at his best when there is a certain amount of mystery about his past.
DirectorRon Howard suggests thatSolo: A Star Wars Storyfailed becausefans weren’t as interested in seeing this character’s origin story as studio executives might have hoped. Han Solo is at his best when there is a certain amount of mystery about his past. Alden Ehrenreich does a commendable job of living up to Harrison Ford, while Woody Harrelson and Donald Glover also give noteworthy performances. However,this wasn’t enough to draw in the kind of audience typical of aStar WarsmoviewhenSolowas arguably the most lackluster installment yet.
69%
62%
63%
Timing also likely played a part inSolo’sbox office flop. It had the misfortune of sharing the beginning of the summer blockbuster season withAvengers: Infinity War, while theStar Warsbrand was beginning to lose its"once in a lifetime"feel with so many spinoffs and TV shows in development. However,Solocould have done much worse by its iconic title character,and it’s not as if Disney could afford the monetary loss.
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Solo: A Star Wars Story explores the early adventures of Han Solo, showcasing his beginnings and key encounters with significant characters in the Star Wars universe. Set in a backdrop of galactic turmoil, the film delves into the origins of his famed relationships and his rise as a rebellious smuggler.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
47%
51%
53%
Meanwhile, the praisedWar for the Planet of the Apeswas released in theaters a week beforeValerian and the City of a Thousand Planetsand was still the better option a week later. The latter movie did not have the same mainstream marketability to draw in large audiences. The only way it would have worked is if it had turned out to be one of the best sci-fi movies ever — which, clearly, it didn’t.
Luc Besson’s big-budget space opera Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets stars Dane DeHaan as Valerian and Cara Delevingne as Laureline, two officers from the United Human Federation’s police force in the distant future. When Valerian receives a telepathic message from an unknown alien, the pair find themselves uncovering corruption and conspiracy from within the Federation itself.
7Gemini Man
Grossed $173.5 Million Against $138 Million Budget
Gemini Man’sratings would indicate that critics hated it while general audiences loved it, making it a very divisive movie. The poor reviews are the simplest explanation for why the movie failed at the box office.Gemini Manwas widely criticized for certain technical aspects,most notably the de-aging of Will Smith, so he could also portray the younger version of his character. The movie’s plot revolves around a younger clone hunting the older, original version of himself.
27%
38%
83%
This was an unexpected outcome with established action actor Smith leading the movie and famous sci-fi director Ang Lee in charge. DespiteGemini Manflopping, it was recently in Netflix’s Top 10, holding its spot for several weeks. Generously speaking,Gemini Mancan be summed up as a movie lacking in artistic merit but which is still enjoyableif viewers approach it with a non-critical attitude; it is just another fun action movie starring Will Smith (with Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Benedict Wong for bonus points).
Gemini Man
Will Smith pulls double duty in Ang Lee’s Gemini Man as retired sniper Henry Brogan, whose biggest enemy turns out to be a younger clone of himself. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Benedict Wong, and Clive Owen round out the main cast of this 2019 action thriller.
6Terminator: Dark Fate
Grossed $261 Million Against $185 Million Budget
TheTerminatorfranchise had been suffering from a consistent decrease in quality in the years leading up toTerminator: Dark Fate.Terminator 3: Rise of the Machineswas a disappointing follow-up to the iconic first two movies, whileTerminator SalvationandTerminator Genysisare universally considered theworstTerminatormoviesdue to sloppy writing, poor acting, and plots that destroyed the franchise’s continuity.Dark Fatewas actually something of a surprise comeback,with better reception thanTerminatorhad seen in decades.
70%
54%
82%
James Cameron and Linda Hamilton’s return to the franchise and the new characters of Grace and Dani served the story well. However, it was not enough to undo years of disappointment in theTerminatormovies.The consensus is thatTerminator’sheyday is ancient history,a feeling that was reflected at the box office; the franchise’s best hope for a true renaissance now is not a movie but the TV showTerminator Zero.
Terminator: Dark Fate
Terminator: Dark Fate is a direct sequel to Terminator 2: Judgement Day, ignoring the rest of the future films to re-canonize the franchise. Set years after Sarah Connor successfully stopped the impending Judgement Day, a new Terminator is sent to destroy the resistance before it forms. Now forced to team up with a former T-800 terminator model, Sarah will seek vengeance and protect Dani Ramos, the new target of Skynet.
5Blade Runner 2049
Grossed $276.6 Million Against $150 Million Budget
Blade Runner 2049is considered by many to be one of thebest legacy movie sequels of all time, making its box office flop puzzling. Its ratings reflect the strong performances and story, which expands upon the AI discourse introduced by the classic sci-fi adventure through the lens of new main characters, with appropriate legacy cameos. Both theoriginalBlade Runnerand the sequel bombed at the box officebut became cult hits, suggesting that there is something fundamentally flawed about the franchise’s marketing.
81%
In the case ofBlade Runner 2049, a reexamination of the reviews demonstrates the divide that characterized the first installment, while further highlighting the franchise’s underdeveloped female characters. Additionally,Blade Runner 2049is another movie with an interesting premise but execution that fails to appeal to a larger audience. Being a slower and longer movie, not as many moviegoers were going to take the time to go see it.
Blade Runner 2049
Set thirty years after the original film, Blade Runner 2049 is a sci-fi neo-noir film by the director of Dune, Denis Villeneuve. The film follows LAPD replicant officer K, who discovers a devastating secret that could throw society into total chaos. To stop a potential war between replicants and humans, he’ll need to locate missing former blade runner Rick Deckard and uncover the truth.
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4Tomorrowland
Grossed $209 Million Against $190 Million Budget
Thehuge box office flop ofTomorrowlandis an early example of Hollywood’s growing dependence on IP, with mediocre results that would not discourage Disney from producing more theme park-inspired movies and live-action remakes.Like many recent movies that fit the same criteria,Tomorrowlandflashed the names of A-listers like George Clooney and Hugh Laurie,hoping that their presence and the association with the beloved Disneyland"land"would make it profitable. Director Brad Bird had proven that he was capable of leading a successful live-action movie as well as an animated one withMission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.
50%
60%
Disney then proceeded to spend too much money onTomorrowland, sure that it would be a hit. However,Tomorrowlandproved difficult to advertise without spoiling the movie,while it faced competition from the other, better-reviewed summer blockbustersMission: Impossible - Rogue NationandAnt-Man. These factors and overall mixed reviews led toTomorrowlandbombing at the box office.
Tomorrowland
George Clooney and Britt Robertson star in Brad Birds' take on Tomorrowland - a sci-fi action-adventure movie based around the idea from Disney’s attractions. Clooney plays Frank, a rough-around-the-edges jaded man who is teaming up with the equally bright but optimistic teen Casey (Britt Robertson) to find Tomorrowland, a mysterious place full of wonder and futuristic technology with the power to change the world.
3Mortal Engines
Grossed $84 Million Against $100 Million Budget
There are no extensive debates —Mortal Enginesflopped at the box office because it was a bad movie. Based on Philip Reeve’s novel of the same name,Mortal Engineslikely hoped to become the next blockbuster franchise,with plenty of source material to draw upon and several famous names involved. However, the consensus was that the movie was empty: all spectacle, but no solid story. Mirroring the circumstances ofGemini Man,Mortal Engineswas also recently popular on Netflix, giving it a strange afterlife following its box office failure.
26%
44%
48%
With the recent uptake in sci-fi and fantasy literature being adapted,a new studio may look into reviving or rebootingMortal Engines.It is a classic sci-fi series with an extensive story that should have been the start of a successful franchise. However, it will be necessary for any hopeful new filmmakers to closely study theMortal Enginesto figure out where they went wrong.
Mortal Engines
Mortal Engines is a 2018 action/adventure film from director Christian Rivers and writer Peter Jackson. Based on the novel by Philip Reeve, Mortal Engines is set 1,000 years in a post-apocalyptic future where cities are turned into giant vehicles that try to destroy one another. The film stars Hera Hilmar, Robert Sheehan, Hugo Weaving, and Jihae Kim.
2The Matrix Resurrections
Grossed $157.4 Million Against $190 Million Budget
The Matrix Resurrectionsproved to be the most divisive addition to the franchise yet. Most legacy sequels are met with skepticism, butThe Matrixfaced the additional challenge of following up to two sequels in the original trilogy that are generally derided.Factors including the recasting of Morpheus and Agent Smith, the constant meta humor about being a legacy sequel, and more were met with mixed reactions, at best.
However,Resurrections’box office flop was cemented when the studio opted for a hybrid release.They tried to have the best of both worlds — the profits of a theatrical release while meeting the increased preference for watching movies at home — and didn’t get either. Most people wouldn’t waste money on tickets for a movie they didn’t have high hopes for when they could watch it in their living room if they watched it at all.
The Matrix Resurrections
Set sixty years after The Matrix Revolutions, The Matrix Resurrections is a sci-fi action movie that sees the return of Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne moss nearly twenty years after the release of the previous film. Neo has become a game developer who struggles to grasp reality, and his concerns are validated when a new visage of Morpheus arrives to free him from his prison - a newly created Matrix. Learning that Trinity is alive and being held prisoner, Neo will join a new rebel force to save her and confront a new, dangerous foe known as the Analyst.
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Grossed $75 Million (As Of June 2024) Against $168 Million Budget
Even if Furiosa somehow manages to triple that $75 million, it is still looking at a loss close to $200 million.
While the final box office numbers are not yet set (at the time of writing),Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagahas seen shockingly underwhelming box office revenues given its critical acclaim, suggesting that it is a worthy addition to theMad Maxfranchise if not quite reaching the same heights asMad Max: Fury Road.Fury Roadgrossed close to $380 million during its six-week theatrical release;Furiosahas grossed $75 million in about a third of the time.Even ifFuriosasomehow manages to triple that $75 million, it is still looking at a loss close to $200 million.
90%
It has been argued thatFuriosa’spoor box office performancemay be due to audiences expecting that the movie will be available to watch at home soon enough, and competition with more family-friendly movies coming out in the same release window. Even so,the gap betweenFuriosaand its predecessor is startling.Of the sci-fi movies that have flopped at the box office in the last decade,Furiosahas the most troubling implications for the rest of Hollywood.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
A prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa is an action-adventure film that tells the origin story of the headstrong and fearless Furiosa. Set shortly after the beginning of the “end of the world,” Furiosa is kidnapped and brought before a powerful warlord, now forced to work for him. To find her way back home, Furiosa will adapt to the new harsh and arid world as she grows into the Furiosa she becomes known to be.
