From failed reboots to disappointing sequels, Hollywood's attempts at modernizing beloved franchises haven't always landed well with audiences. Join us as we examine some notable box office disappointments that prioritized social messaging over storytelling and fan service.
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00:00To honor the day I was born, my father named me Snow White.
00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the films that crashed and burned despite their noble intentions.
00:12Who's in the mood to save New York City?
00:15Woo!
00:17Number 10, Men in Black International.
00:20When you hear Men in Black, you think slick action, well-designed aliens, and plenty of laughs.
00:25You know what the difference is between you and me?
00:30I make this look good.
00:32So when the fourth installment was released, we certainly didn't expect what we got.
00:36No Will Smith, no Tommy Lee Jones, and a healthy dose of representation and diversity.
00:41Welcome Agent M. Please report to new agent orientation.
00:46Audiences were hardly impressed with this addition to the franchise.
00:49In fact, certain critics considered the film a cheap attempt to modernize the series, and the movie offered little else as far as story or humor.
00:56Sorry, he's just so yummy.
00:59Who is he?
01:00If you're a big fan of the original films, you may want to sit this one out.
01:03Number 9, Charlie's Angels.
01:06The early 2000s Angels movies were generally well-received, but certain scenes haven't aged well, with some feeling they cater to what's known as the male gaze.
01:13Meanwhile, the 2019 reboot, directed by Elizabeth Banks, endeavored to portray the Angels in a more empowered light.
01:20We know about a lot of things.
01:22That you graduated top of your class at MIT, that you take Krav Maga on Sundays, you ride your bike to work, you think yellow is one of your colors, when in fact it's no one's.
01:30But upon its release, the new installment struggled at the box office and received lackluster reviews.
01:35Banks later expressed frustration with the marketing, saying it framed the movie as a feminist manifesto.
01:41Then again, Banks herself had previously described it as having sneaky feminist ideas.
01:45Are you doing like a joke thing for the handsome nerd?
01:49Of course not.
01:49These mixed signals didn't help, and audiences largely considered the reboot unnecessary and unwelcome.
01:55Number 8, The Marvels.
01:57If you're a die-hard MCU lover, there's a chance you shudder at the very name of this flick.
02:02Released in November 2023, The Marvels aim to unite Brie Larson's Captain Marvel, Teyona Paris' Monica Rambeau, and Iman Veleny's Miss Marvel in a Cosmic Adventure.
02:12Professor Marvel.
02:13Oh, Professor Marvel.
02:15No, no, no, she will not.
02:19The Marvels.
02:19In spite of these high expectations, the movie grossed only $206 million worldwide, making it the lowest-grossing MCU movie to date.
02:27I'm really sorry for the way I spoke to you.
02:30Critics and audiences alike felt the plot was convoluted, and some perceived the film's overt feminist themes as pandering.
02:36This combination led to an underwhelming performance, and left viewers questioning the franchise's next move.
02:41Let's fly this thing.
02:43I actually don't have the key.
02:46I'm just looking after it.
02:47Number 7, The Hustle.
02:49This comedy, starring Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson, was meant to be a fresh take on the 1988 film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
02:56Why are women better suited to the con than men?
03:00Because we're used to faking it.
03:02But whereas the classic with Steve Martin and Michael Caine was praised for its charm and cleverness,
03:07The Hustle's reception was overwhelmingly negative.
03:09It sounds like a party.
03:11Yeah?
03:11How much?
03:12How about your net worth?
03:13Despite a modest box office return of $97.4 million against a $21 million budget, the movie was panned for its uninspired humor and lack of chemistry between leads.
03:23Are there many women in your industry?
03:26Sisters in arms, as it were.
03:28Well, not at my level, no.
03:30Perhaps we'll live to see Hollywood absorb this word of advice.
03:33If you're going to do a gender swap, at least do it well.
03:36Number 6, What Men Want.
03:38Where Nancy Meyer's 2000 film What Women Want explored the thoughts of women from a male perspective, Adam Shankman's 2019 remake reverses this concept.
03:46You know what's weird about this?
03:47When people hear voices, it's usually God or Satan, not their assistant.
03:51The movie follows a sports agent, played by Taraji P. Henson, who gains the ability to hear men's thoughts, leading her to use this newfound power for both career and personal gain.
04:01While the idea had potential, What Men Want was criticized for its heavy-handed approach to gender dynamics, which some felt overshadowed the humor and storytelling.
04:09What are you mumbling about?
04:11I am thinking about my favorite dessert, so that you can't hear my actual thoughts.
04:15The film performed decently at the box office, but failed to leave a lasting impact, with many considering it a forgettable attempt at woke comedy.
04:22Number 5, Tomb Raider.
04:24When this video game-based series returned to the big screen in 2018, the goal was to give Lara Croft a modern, grounded makeover.
04:31What?
04:32What were you up to?
04:40Gone were the exaggerated male gaze aesthetics of the early 2000s films.
04:44This reboot, starring Alicia Vikander, sought to present a more realistic and capable heroine.
04:50Well, then I need to talk to him.
04:51You and a hundred other people yield my...
04:53Where are you?
04:54Although some praised the attempt to move away from Lara's over-sexualized image, others felt the film lean too heavily into gritty realism at the expense of death.
05:03Despite Vikander's committed performance, Tomb Raider received mixed reviews and modest box office results.
05:08Something doesn't add up.
05:11She's not a monster in any of these paintings.
05:14Reported plans for her sequel stalled, and the reboot ultimately failed to revive the franchise as hoped.
05:20Number 4, Terminator Dark Fate.
05:22This 2019 installment to James Cameron's franchise was meant to rejuvenate the series, but instead, the film only served to terminate its continuation.
05:30Is that true?
05:31Yes, but I'm not what you think I am.
05:35Intended as a direct sequel to the original two movies, Dark Fate underwhelmed both critics and audiences, some of whom believed it sidelined legacy characters and overemphasized its themes.
05:45Nice family.
05:46Is she a Terminator too?
05:51That's your little Terminator kid?
05:53What's more, it was among the biggest box office bombs of all time, leading to estimated losses of around $122.6 million dollars.
06:01Cameron had envisioned Dark Fate as the beginning of a new trilogy, but the film's failure resulted in the cancellation of these plans.
06:07This time, chances are, he won't be back.
06:10My past has caught up with me.
06:14And
06:14I won't be back.
06:19Number 3, Snow White.
06:21Bet you didn't expect to see this one here.
06:22I was thinking the same thing.
06:24Many Disney fans aren't thrilled with the live-action remakes of recent years.
06:27We're looking at you, Mulan.
06:36But seriously, has any movie in history been more vehemently disliked before even hitting theaters?
06:41This is our kingdom.
06:42And now we're here to take it back.
06:45You were saying?
06:462025's Snow White was mired in controversy from the start, beginning with the casting of a non-white actress as a character.
06:52Described as having skin white as snow.
06:54It didn't take long for audiences to point out a slew of additional issues, with the movie's plot, effects, and deviations from its source material.
07:02You know, I really don't remember you being this... opinionated.
07:06In fact, Snow White's IMDb rating tanked due to review bombing, prompting a disclaimer about unusual voting activity.
07:12Certainly not a contender for...
07:14The fairest of them all.
07:22Because Patty Jenkins' 2017 blockbuster was met with thunderous acclaim, expectations for the 2020 sequel were sky-high.
07:30And boy, were audiences disappointed.
07:31I shouldn't probably go and figure out how a stone brought my boyfriend back in someone else's body.
07:39Outside of performances by leading ladies Gal Gadot and Kristen Wiig, viewers found little to enjoy in Wonder Woman 1984.
07:45Some felt its messaging was heavy-handed and overshadowed the story, while others criticized its convoluted plot and sluggish pacing.
07:52He's great, but...
07:55All I see is you.
07:56The film grossed around $169 million worldwide, against a reported $200 million budget, resulting in major financial losses.
08:05Not that the COVID-19 pandemic did it any favors.
08:07Gadot's badassery notwithstanding, lightning didn't strike twice here.
08:11You must be the hero.
08:15Only you can save the day.
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08:34Number 1.
08:35Ghostbusters.
08:36Who you gonna call?
08:37Preferably not the female Ghostbusters.
08:39There's something strange in the neighborhood.
08:42Who you gonna call?
08:44Ghostbusters!
08:45This reboot faced backlash long before it hit theaters.
08:48The cast, including comedic heavyweights Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig, brought their A-game.
08:53But it wasn't enough to save the movie from criticism over its perceived wokeness.
08:57Many fans saw the all-female lineup as forced, and felt the film lean too heavily into the feminist factor, rather than honoring the original franchise.
09:05You did it, huh?
09:06Yeah, you did it.
09:07Yep.
09:08We all did it.
09:09Ghostbusters also underperformed at the box office, ultimately costing the studio over $70 million.
09:14In the end, some argued this beloved 80s classic might have been better left in the afterlife.
09:20If there's something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call?
09:26Ghostbusters!
09:27Are there any other movies you think went woke and flopped?
09:30Let us know in the comments.
09:32What do you mean, thank you all?
09:33No, where's my cashola?
09:35Where's my cup?
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