When someone produces a movie, everyone involved hopes for a blockbuster. All too often, though, the result is a bust, a movie that for whatever reason doesn’t connect with audiences and fares poorly at the box office.
Worst of them all are the true bombs that actually lose money; ticket sales fail to meet or exceed production costs. Let’s look at the 20 biggest money-losing movies ever, based on worldwide earnings.
Turning Red
This Pixar film follows a 13-year-old girl who, when experiencing strong emotions, turns into a giant red panda. Although critics loved the film, audiences didn’t nearly as much.
Production Cost: $175,000,000, Loss: $167,444,190
Jungle Cruise (2021)
Despite having a strong cast, this film was a dud where it really mattered. A Disney production, it’s a fantasy adventure based on the eponymously named Disney ride. In it, a riverboat captain steers a scientist through the jungle in search of the Tree of Life.
Production Cost: $264,216,000, Loss: $150,196,038
Mars Needs Moms (2011)
Another Disney dud, this animated film starts with Martians needing to kidnap and Earthling mom. The goal: extract her “mom-ness” and implant it into nanny-bots.
Production Cost: $170,166,000, Loss: $143,382,285
Mulan (2020)
This live-action remake of the animated Disney classic had some strong headwinds. First, it came out during the pandemic, when ticket sales plummeted. Additionally, fans of the original didn’t like it, and there was strong criticism of its depictions of Chinese people and culture.
Production Cost: $200,000,000, Loss: $140,694,174
Moonfall (2022)
When the moon suddenly leaves its orbit, two former astronauts and a conspiracy theorist learn a hidden truth about it. Unfortunately, this ship never really took off, and it was one of the biggest box-office bombs ever.
Production Cost: $170,784,000, Loss: $138,088,546
Strange World (2022)
In this animated sci-fi adventure, a legendary family of explorers goes on a quest to a subterranean world. Their goal is to save a miracle plant that’s the source for the energy on their planet.
Production Cost: $172,646,000, Loss: $137,392,632
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
A sequel to the 2017 hit, this one didn’t do nearly as well, largely because of the pandemic. Set in 1984 during the Cold War, Wonder Woman and a former love square off against two villains who want to steal strength and life force from people.
Production Cost: $258,940,000, Loss: $136,592,512
The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
Maybe 18 years was too long to wait to produce the 4th installment in this series. Criticisms included casting decisions, the writing, and fight sequences that fell short of their predecessors.
Production Cost: $218,710,000, Loss: $130,403,393
Onward (2020)
Another victim of the pandemic, this film received generally positive reviews and did well in VOD (Video on Demand). It follows two elf brothers who embark on a quest for an artifact that can bring their dead father back for 24 hours.
Production Cost: $217,240,000, Loss: $130,217,979
Lightyear (2022)
Given the success of the Toy Story films, everyone assumed this spinoff about Buzz Lightyear as a human, not a toy, would do well, too. That wasn’t the case, and Pixar lost big on it.
Production Cost: $235,160,000, Loss: $122,285,129
The Suicide Squad (2021)
Comic book adaptations have generally done well in recent years, but this was an exception. In exchange for lighter sentences, some convicts join a “Suicide Squad” sent on a mission to destroy a giant alien starfish.
Production Cost: $218,942,000, Loss: $119,596,500
John Carter (2012)
A sci-fi adventure film, this movie is about a man who goes on an interplanetary adventure. While at it, he tries to mediate between two warring kingdoms. The characterization and plot got most of the blame for its poor performance.
Production Cost: $295,824,000, Loss: $112,492,391
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
Director Guy Ritchie’s films typically do well, but this one fell short. Based on the legends but not strictly following them, the film features a tyrannical king out to kill Arthur.
Production Cost: $199,580,000, Loss: $112,408,189
Deepwater Horizon (2016)
This disaster epic based on the real-life oil spill seemed to have plenty going for it, including an excellent cast and generally good reviews. It was a major disappointment at the box office, though.
Production Cost: $189,348,000, Loss: $112,263,856
Chaos Walking (2021)
On a dystopian planet where there are no women, a young man meets a woman who crash-lands and decides he must protect her. This movie suffered from an underdeveloped plot, bad pacing, a lack of character development, and poor chemistry between the two main characters.
Production Cost: $128,552,000, Loss: $111,715,731
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
The original was a hit, but this sequel featuring LeBron James instead of Michael Jordan wasn’t. James even “won” a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor.
Production Cost: $187,638,000, Loss: $110,715,821
Monster Trucks (2017)
Stars such as Danny Glover and Rob Lowe weren’t enough to save this one. It’s about a high-school boy who finds that an escaped monster is living in his truck.
Production Cost: $149,450,000, Loss: $108,847,638
West Side Story (2021)
The remake of the classic musical had Steven Spielberg as director, a stellar cast, critical acclaim, and numerous awards and nominations, including an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. That didn’t win audiences over, and the film bombed.
Production Cost: $143,240,000, Loss: $104,470,194
How Do You Know? (2010)
Reese Witherspoon plays a softball player caught in a love triangle with two men. Critics hated this romantic comedy, and so did audiences. Not even Jack Nicholson was able to breathe some life into it.
Production Cost: $140,454,000, Loss: $104,263,000
Jack the Giant Slayer (2013)
This is an adaptation of the well-known fairy tale about Jack and the beanstalk. The director wanted something darker and geared more to adults, but the studio wanted it more family-friendly. The PG-13 compromise ended up pleasing neither target demographic.
Production Cost: $228,504,000, Loss: $102,850,363
22 Disturbing Movie Moments That Will Haunt Your Dreams
A mark of a good movie is that viewers will remember a particular scene for years to come, or one day, randomly, it will pop up in their heads. Now, if that movie moment is creepy, gruesome, or horrifying, you will find it will haunt your dreams for years.
Below are fans’ top choices of movie scenes that plague their nightmares to date!