They called it “Tomorrowland.” Critics say, however, that as a Sci-fi film it veers too much into Fantasyland. Maybe George Clooney and Brad Bird, director of “The Incredibles” and “Ratatouille” could save it? Well, no. “Tomorrowland” is a science fiction adventure where the two heroes, Frank (Clooney), an embittered, former boy-genius, and an optimistic teen partner, Casey (Britt Robertson), must save the world and the fantastical world of Tomorrowland! With the use of a lapel pin with a “T”, space/time warping and shuttling, a robot named Athena, and a staunch faith in science and technology, the task is managed — it’s Disney, don’t forget.
But all the magic didn’t save them from losing $79-$155 million, adjusted for inflation. And it won’t bring back the $180-$190 million budget. It grossed $209.2 million. On the upside, however, Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 50%, so, not too bad.
Estimated loss: $76 – $150 million
Pan (2015)
This could be one of those movies that really deserved to crash and burn. It had a ginormous budget, a weak script, and a story that’s been told again and again and again... Yet again, some liked it. And not just a few found it delightfully entertaining. In this film’s case, however, the critics won out. The story of Pan works as an alternative tale of Peter from the originator’s "Peter and Wendy," a prequel to that tale. Film reviewers were not impressed.
Plainly, it flopped. Every which way. The budget, screaming to $150 million, is only matched by its marketing campaign that clocked in at around $125 million. And then there’s the extensive financial loss: $89 - $155 million, almost eclipsing the gross, $128.4 million.
Estimated loss: $86 - $150 million
Gods of Egypt (2016)
Spoiler alert: it flopped. Splat. The flood of bad reviews may have in fact sunk hopes for a strong box office release, triggering director Alex Proyas to liken the critics to “diseased vultures”. It must be frustrating standing by while ravenous scavengers tear your project apart on the eve of its release.
"Gods of Egypt," tells the story of Bek (Brenton Thwaites), a human on a mission to take down the evil god Set. Of course, he also saves the beloved princess from the underworld. The movie also stars Gerard Butler, Chadwick Boseman, and Courtney Eaton. In the end, the fantasy-fiction film flopped. The production budget was $140 million. The box office brought in $150.7 million. All told, the loss for Lionsgate’s investment totaled $81-$92 million, adjusted for inflation.
Estimated loss: $79 - $90 million
R.I.P.D. (2013)
Let’s clear up the frustrated ignorance right away. It stands for Rest in Peace Department, and it comes from the comic book series of the same acronym. Its ripping cast includes Jeff Bridges, Ryan Reynolds, and Kevin Bacon, and it failed commercially and critically. Add it to the ‘books are better than the movie’ pile. Critics liked the cast but not much else.
The massive production budget cost Universal $130 - $154 million, leaving box office cumulative sales infinitesimally dwarfed at $78.3 million. And, finally, the total loss was also massive: $96-$121 million.
Estimated loss: $91-$115 million
Ali (2001)
"Ali" is a biopic that depicts the life of Cassius Clay, most famously known as Muhammad Ali. The movie was nothing short of promising. So who was to blame for its inadequate box office gross? Well, fingers were definitely pointed at director Michael Mann, who said that he couldn't manage to make the film on its original $107 million production budget, which was already considered expensive. By the end of its production, the costs rose up to $118 million.
Unlike most of the movies on this list, "Ali" isn't a bad movie by any means, on the contrary. Will Smith, who played Ali, was nominated for several awards for his outstanding performance, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Actor. Supporting actors, like Jamies Foxx and Jon Voight, were also acclaimed for their exceptional execution. Nonetheless, it didn't manage to compensate for its insane production budget.