Some movies look promising in trailers, pre-release footage, and posters, but when we finally watch them, they turn out to be bland, unoriginal, and tasteless. Take, for example, Timur Bekmambetov’s attempt to revive Ben-Hur.
Despite its potential, the film failed to impress and ended up becoming a box-office bomb. Ben-Hur isn’t the only one; there are numerous other films that fell flat due to weak plot, characters, execution and everything in between.
In our latest article, we explore 10 of the most promising movies that failed to deliver on anything other than disappointment.
Jupiter Ascending (2015)
Jupiter Ascending chronicles Jupiter Jones’ who suddenly discovers that she’s a galactic royal. The movie boasts stunning visuals and a detailed world, but it left people with mixed feelings. The Reason: the story got a bit tangled, the pace was all over the place, and the characters didn’t get their time to shine. Some liked the flashy visuals and big ideas, but the story had a bit of a tough time.
Too much explaining, a story that felt all over the place, and characters not making clear sense left the audience bored. Trying to pack a whole complex sci-fi universe into one movie made things more confusing than clear, clouding the sparkle of the cool visuals with a plot that seemed a tad lost.
Tomorrowland (2015)
Tomorrowland is about a teenager, Casey Newton, who stumbles upon a magical pin that whisks her away to a futuristic paradise. Joining forces with ex-boy-genius Frank Walker, they set out on a mission to unlock Tomorrowland’s secrets and prevent a global disaster. While folks appreciated the positive vibes, likable visuals, and great performances, not everyone was sold.
Similar to Jupiter Ascending, the plot was a bit weak, filled with many twists and struggling to balance its utopian dreams with a clear story. The big ideas sometimes overshadowed what was happening, making it hard for the audience to really feel the emotional punch and connect with the plot.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is a space adventure with Valerian and Laureline, special agents on a mission to save the city of Alpha. The movie got a mix of reviews – some loved the amazing visuals and the chemistry between the leads, but there were some hiccups. The characters didn’t quite get the attention they needed, and the story felt a bit scattered.
Even with the stunning visuals, the word-building kind of stole the spotlight, making it tricky for the film to have a strong and engaging story arc. It had potential, but it struggled to really grab the audience’s attention.
The Giver (2014)
The Giver paints a picture of a utopian society where emotions and memories are kept under wraps. Jonas, played by Brenton Thwaites, gets the special role of inheriting the past’s memories from The Giver, played by Jeff Bridges. But, the film, inspired by Lois Lowry’s novel, got a mixed bag of reviews.
People liked the visual style and the performances, but the plot took a hit. As per critics, the story felt a bit rushed, the characters didn’t get the depth they needed, and the film didn’t dive deep into the original novel’s themes. For both fans and newbies, the movie left them wanting more emotionally and thematically.
The Lone Ranger (2013)
The Lone Ranger rides into the Old West with John Reid, played by Armie Hammer, and Tonto, played by Johnny Depp, fighting against corruption. The film scored points for its top-notch production, thrilling action, and Depp’s performance, but it also caught some flak.
The plot was knotted, but there were issues with keeping the story on track; the pacing felt a bit off, and the film tried to juggle action, humor, and darker themes without finding the right balance. The struggle to keep a consistent tone and direction left audiences feeling like the plot could have been stronger, even with some entertaining scenes.
Prometheus (2012)
Prometheus takes us on a space journey with scientists exploring a distant moon, searching for the origins of humanity. Sounds interesting, right? Well, the audience didn’t share the same enthusiasm. People liked the stunning visuals and the big ideas, but the plot took a hit.
There were some unresolved questions, characters didn’t quite click, and the film tried to be both a prequel to the celebrated Alien franchise and a standalone sci-fi epic. Balancing those ambitions ended up leaving the audience a bit confused and unsatisfied with how things were dealt with.
The Happening (2008)
The Happening talks about a strange global crisis where people start taking their own lives because of some airborne toxin. Elliot Moore, played by Mark Wahlberg, and his wife Alma, played by Zooey Deschanel, try to get away from the chaos. Despite showing great promise—people weren’t too thrilled about the movie.
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, it got mostly negative reviews because of the off-putting plot. There were iffy explanations for the strange happenings; the characters felt a bit flat, and it just didn’t bring the suspense and horror that Shyamalan’s earlier works did. These shortcomings make The Happening one of Shyamalan’s less successful adventures.
Suicide Squad (2016)
Suicide Squad brings together a bunch of antiheroes, led by Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and Deadshot (Will Smith), on government missions to earn a shot at freedom. Seems intriguing, doesn’t it? So, opinions on the film were divided. The audience liked the lively performances and characters, but the plot was all over the place.
The pacing was inconsistent, the villains weren’t fully fleshed out, and handling a big ensemble cast proved problematic, especially with a vibrant opening half hour and a dour second half. The film’s attempts at humor clashed with its darker moments, making it struggle to fully connect and live up to its promising premise.
Eragon (2006)
Eragon invites us into a world of dragons, and at its core is a farm boy named Eragon (Ed Speleers). Eragon’s discovery of a dragon egg catapults him into an epic journey as a Dragon Rider, where he is to battle against an evil king. The premise sounds like a recipe for fantasy greatness, but like all the other films on the list, this one falls flat, too.
Critics weren’t impressed, pointing fingers at a plot that felt a bit too familiar, dialogue that didn’t connect, and characters that failed to shine. The plot bumbled because of rushed storytelling, a world that lacked depth, and an ineptitude to capture the source material.
Despite its dreams of launching a fantasy franchise, the film tripped over clichés, struggled with pacing, and left audiences yearning for the emotional impact found in the successful book series.
Rebel Moon (2023)
Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon had a lot of promise, especially coming from the mind behind 300 and The Sucker Punch. The film recounts the story of Kara, a former soldier living a peaceful life in the intergalactic village of Veltd. However, when trouble arises, Kara sets out to find warriors to protect her village and its people.
While the movie impressed fans with its visuals and cinematography, it fumbles its plot completely. It follows a familiar storyline of people seeking help to save something dear, a trope mastered by Kurosawa decades ago. The choice of a female lead was interesting but didn’t add much to the overall story, especially as she comes across as a Mary Sue. The result was a film that looked good but didn’t offer much substance, likely a one-time watch.
And there you have it, our picks for the top 10 movies that failed to live up to their potential. Do you have any others that aren’t listed? Do let us know in the comments below!