From thrilling horror flicks to thought-provoking sci-fi, some incredible films just didn't get their due at the box office. Join us as we explore recent releases that deserved better financial success, featuring stellar performances, innovative storytelling, and critical acclaim that sadly didn't translate to ticket sales.
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00:00Do you got it? I don't got it.
00:06What's the little one for? Is that just a mystery?
00:09Welcome to WatchMojo! And today we're counting down our picks for the best films from early 2025
00:14that didn't earn as much at the box office as they should have.
00:17A friendly heads up though, film budgets are often arranged
00:20and should always be taken with a healthy dose of skepticism.
00:3010. Hard Eyes
00:34Love and Murder were both in the air in this Valentine's-themed slasher flick.
00:38However, even with a modest budget and a prime February release date,
00:42Hard Eyes struggled making a profit in theaters.
00:44Got it? Yes!
00:48Oh, good job.
00:51Thanks.
00:53Hey, you good?
00:56Yeah.
00:56The movie, which was supposed to be a gory alternative to Date Night over the Valentine's Day weekend,
01:02really only drew in horror diehards.
01:07So in love!
01:16With nearly half of Hard Eyes' audience showing up without a significant other,
01:19the horror film's box office ended with a broken heart.
01:22At the very least, those who did check it out left with hearts in their eyes.
01:26And probably a queasy stomach, too.
01:29Just like this story.
01:33St. Valentine
01:34must beheaded.
01:41Number 9. The Assessment
01:42How do you flub a cast of Elizabeth Olsen,
01:55Alicia Vikander,
01:56and Haimesh Patel?
01:58Add in a sophisticated sci-fi premise about parenthood,
02:01and you'd think the assessment would sell itself.
02:03So, what went wrong?
02:04Well, the movie never really got a chance.
02:07That's what.
02:07Describe Mia with three words.
02:11Funny.
02:11Smart.
02:15Sharp.
02:16She can be a little sharp, but I like that.
02:19Keeps me on my toes.
02:20Released in precious few theaters,
02:22and shuffled to digital less than three weeks later,
02:24the intimate thriller didn't get the push it needed to make any kind of serious cash.
02:28The assessment's final tally
02:30totaled less than a million dollars,
02:32a far cry from its budget,
02:34which is reportedly eight times that.
02:35It's a tragic fate for what is undeniably
02:38one of the most thought-provoking movies of the year.
02:40You shouted at me.
02:41I did not.
02:43I did not.
02:44You did?
02:44You shouted.
02:45No, I raised my voice.
02:47Did?
02:48I did not.
02:49I raised my voice.
02:49Did.
02:50Number eight.
02:52Novocaine.
02:53Basically makes it so I can't feel pain or hot or cold.
02:59And that's why I can't have the pie or any solid food, really, because unknowingly, I could bite my tongue off.
03:09Looking at the bottom line, you'd think Novocaine was yet another boring, forgettable actioner.
03:15It's maddening, then, that it's actually the opposite.
03:17Sporting tight thrills, clever humor, and a star-making turn from the always-lovable Jack Quaid,
03:23Novocaine had all the makings of a crowd-pleasing success, including baffo reviews.
03:27The only thing it didn't have going for it was a large audience.
03:32I'll give you another one for free.
03:37Let me show you how it's done.
03:41Despite glowing word of mouth, Novocaine didn't convince enough people it was worth seeing on the big screen,
03:47and it has the poor returns to prove it.
03:49Jack Quaid's character may not be able to feel pain, but Paramount Pictures' wallet definitely will after this.
03:54Hi.
03:58Who the hell are you?
03:59Uh, I'm just a thief.
04:02You know, just came here to, uh...
04:04Thieve.
04:07Number seven, Drop.
04:08Wow, you look, uh, very beautiful.
04:11Oh, thank you so much.
04:13Sorry I'm late. How you doing?
04:14Oh, it's not fine. I mean, it is fine. It's not a problem.
04:17Sorry, I got a drink because I was nervous. It clearly hasn't helped.
04:21Most of the time, horror movies are safe bets at the box office.
04:24They're usually cheap to make and easy to market, no matter the quality.
04:28But, in a cruel twist of fate, sometimes a genuinely great one comes along and fails to connect for whatever reason.
04:34Looking at you, Drop.
04:36That's you.
04:37Yeah.
04:37Violet Gates.
04:39With your name and your photo for everybody to see.
04:41There's your friend.
04:43And then this is everybody else that's in the restaurant.
04:45I know you gotta be within 50 feet, I think, to send or receive a Diddy Drop.
04:51That's a fun fact.
04:52We can figure this out.
04:55Chronicling the story of a woman tormented by progressively sinister requests over her phone,
04:59the movie is one of those cutting-edge techno-thrillers destined to be fondly remembered.
05:04Here and now, though, Drop is a total flop, failing to pass even $30 million at the worldwide box office.
05:10While a scant budget means it's not a total disaster, Drop deserves so much more.
05:14Cal?
05:16Cal?
05:16Oh, shit.
05:22We should really get out of here.
05:26Can I have my eyeliner back?
05:29Number six, Companion.
05:31Don't be all mopey and weird.
05:34Just remember to smile and act happy.
05:38Okay?
05:38Okay?
05:38Man, it's been a rough year for horror and Jack Quaid, huh?
05:45Well, poetically, this one has both, and met a very similar fate.
05:49It's endlessly frustrating, since these are all excellent films, especially Companion.
05:53Its deconstruction of artificial intelligence, and the way it relates to sexual desire, is nothing short of brilliant.
05:59Not to mention, scary as can be.
06:01Drive.
06:04Drive.
06:06Drive.
06:07Drive.
06:08Drive home.
06:10Drive.
06:11Drive home.
06:13Drive.
06:14Drive.
06:15Drive home.
06:16Drive home.
06:19Still, all the positive reviews in the world couldn't save it for box office disappointment.
06:25We don't envy the marketing team, who were tasked with selling Companion to a wide audience, without spoiling his twisted plot.
06:31But, based on the soft returns, it's clear whatever plan they chose, didn't pan out.
06:36How's old Sergei, by the way?
06:37Er is tot.
06:39Ich habe ihm mit deinem tache messer in den haus gestachen.
06:43Number five, Last Breath.
06:45Hey, can you repeat?
06:46The ship is moving.
06:48Get out of the manifold, right now!
06:50It's genuinely impressive that director Alex Parkinson managed to make a sprawling, under-the-sea nail-biter for just $23 million.
07:01Sadly, that's also how much it made in theaters.
07:03Even with a brilliant performance from the ever-reliable Woody Harrelson, Last Breath was gasping for air as early as its opening weekend.
07:11Chris, our umbilicals are over the manifold.
07:14We've got to use them to climb to the top.
07:16There was hope the strong reviews would buoy the sinking ship, but then sales dropped again the next weekend, and the one after that, too.
07:30By the time it fell out of the box office top 10, Last Breath had already been quietly shuffled to streaming.
07:36It's a shame Woody Harrelson went down with a ship that shouldn't have been sinking in the first place.
07:40Number four, My Dead Friend Zoe.
08:05Well, you should learn to talk about your dead loved ones more often.
08:10What is with this trend of sending the best films to the fewest number of theaters?
08:16Based on a gripping true story, My Dead Friend Zoe is a laugh-out-loud exploration of duty, trauma, and personal growth.
08:24You don't just have to hear it from us.
08:25Want a hand?
08:28No.
08:30Reckon you just tell me it ought to be replaced.
08:33Isn't that what your generation does?
08:37Something needs repair, you just get a new one.
08:39Well, I can't speak for my generation, but I was at 63 Bravos, so I can repair just about anything.
08:43It earned high marks at both the South by Southwest and Woodstock Film Festivals in 2024.
08:48So why then did its formal debut in 2025 barely scrape past a million dollars in revenue?
08:54It's just plain unfair.
08:56If you enjoy comedy with a side of heartfelt messaging, then do yourself a favor and uncover this hidden gem before it's too late.
09:02Aren't we better than this?
09:04Than this woe-is-me shit?
09:06Did we join the most powerful military of all time?
09:10Did we survive the dumbest wars of all time?
09:13Just to sit here, broken, and all kumbaya, and oh, ouchy, my feelings.
09:18No!
09:19Number three, Mickey 17.
09:21After Bon Joon-ho achieved mainstream success with the Oscar-winning Parasite, you'd think his follow-up would be a must-see event, right?
09:39Well, that's at least what Warner Brothers probably thought.
09:42Unfortunately, it appears Mickey 17 was not worth the $100 million budget.
09:47You got you, time!
09:51Most movies this year would kill for box office numbers around there, but because Mickey 17 costs so much to make, it's barely going to break even at the end of the day.
10:13That's not because of its quality, rest assured.
10:15While certainly a specific flavor, seeing almost 20 Robert Pattinson's on-screen is hard to pass up.
10:22I don't like you.
10:24You're such a little bitch.
10:26But I'm you.
10:28Number two, Warfare.
10:31You're not!
10:33You're not!
10:36Nowadays, movie-making is its own kind of war zone, and not even these skilled soldiers could come out victorious.
10:42They did unanimously win over critics, though.
10:45Warfare wasn't just well-received, it earned full-on critical acclaim, and has a shot at being one of the best movies in 2025, period.
10:52Now, if only it had the profits to match.
10:55Whether it was because of the questionable April release date, surprisingly strong competition for Minecraft, or general audience disinterest with war films, the fact-based story simply didn't generate any buzz.
11:18If there's any silver lining, it's destined to be remembered more for its artistry than its box office anyways.
11:23We have an enemy on our building and all surrounding buildings.
11:26Roger that. Stand by.
11:27Going hot.
11:30We gotta get ready, guys. It's gonna hurt.
11:31On my count!
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11:48Number one, Black Bag.
11:50We go around the table, and each of us makes a resolution.
11:55The way you might at New Year.
11:58Some personal issue that needs to be addressed.
12:01We've got three words for you.
12:03Steven.
12:04Freaking.
12:05Soderbergh.
12:05If that's not enticing enough, the esteemed director helmed an edgier seat rollercoaster starring, wait for it,
12:11Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, and Naomi Harris.
12:15Yeah, this movie rocks.
12:17You are one naughty husband, George.
12:20You asked how it works.
12:23To be with someone in this business, this is how.
12:26You each know what you know, and you know what you will do, and you never discuss certain things again.
12:31I watch her, I assume she watches me.
12:35If she's in trouble, even of her own making, I will do everything in my power to extricate her.
12:42However, in a truly disheartening turn of events, general audiences completely miss the memo.
12:47At the end of the day, Black Bag couldn't recoup even two-third of its production budget in theaters.
12:52It's a fact Soderbergh himself has expressed frustration over, and we get it.
12:56If a movie this good can't get people in seats, it's hard to say what can anymore.
13:00Which of these films would you most want to save from box office infamy?
13:12Commiserate down below in those comments.
13:13Dive control, Diver 2 is on bailouts.
13:19What's the cast of the air left?
13:2210 minutes.