15 Record-Breaking Box Office Failures in Film History

Calculating Box Office Failures

Before you go and write us hate comments about our math, here's a quick explanation: loss numbers include not just the production budget but also expenses like marketing, distribution, and other costs. This means that even if a movie earns nearly as much as its production cost at the box office, it can still end up losing a significant amount of money. With that out of the way, let's dive right in! | © Walt Disney Pictures

15. The Adventures Of Pluto Nash

Loss: $156 Million (adjusted for inflation)

The Adventures Of Pluto Nash is a 2002 sci-fi comedy starring Eddie Murphy that failed to attract audiences. With a 6% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and five Golden Raspberry Award nominations, it ended up losing $156 million at the box office. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

14. Turning Red

Loss: $167 Million (adjusted for inflation)

Turning Red follows a teenage girl who finds herself turning into a giant red panda every time her emotions run high. Despite a big budget of $175 million, the film earned only $20 million in theatres due to a limited release and the pandemic, resulting in a $167 million loss. | © Walt Disney Studios

13. Titan A.E.

Loss: $170 Million (adjusted for inflation)

Titan A.E. was an ambitious animated sci-fi adventure that aimed to chart a new course in the genre with its futuristic storyline and striking visuals. However, the film only grossed $36.8 million worldwide, suffering a $170 million loss for Fox Animation Studios. | © 20th Century Studios

12. King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword

Loss: $183 Million (adjusted for inflation)

Legend of the Sword reimagined the classic tale with Charlie Hunnam as a resistant hero trying to kick off a larger universe. However, the staggering budget of $175 million couldn't be recouped as it made less than $150 million at the box office – factoring together all expenses and revenues, the calculated loss is at $183 million. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

11. Tomorrowland

Loss: $185 Million (adjusted for inflation)

Tomorrowland marked the highly anticipated return of Brad Bird to live-action movies after his success with both animated classics and blockbuster thrillers. Despite the promising futuristic story and a $190 million budget, the film earned less than $210 million at the box office, resulting in a $185 million loss. | © Walt Disney Studios

10. Pan

Loss: $185 Million (adjusted for inflation)

Pan tried to reveal the backstory of Peter Pan, showing how he arrived in Neverland and gathered his band of Lost Boys. With a production budget of $150 million and earnings under $130 million, the film ultimately lost about $185 million, proving that not every classic tale has a place on the big screen. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

9. Strange World

Loss: $197 Million (adjusted for inflation)

Strange World was one of the worst attempts to create a fresh animated adventure, but it ended up falling short at the box office. The film lost $197 million and became the first Disney animated movie in over a decade to miss an Oscar nod, leaving many to question the studio's future moves. | © Walt Disney Studios

8. Battleship

Loss: $199 Million (adjusted for inflation)

Battleship took a simple board game concept and turned it into a high-budget movie where Navy soldiers fight off an unexpected alien invasion. Despite spending over $200 million on production, the confusing tone of this movie left audiences disappointed, resulting in a nearly $199 million loss. | © Universal Studios

7. Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas

Loss: $199 Million (adjusted for inflation)

Sinbad is a big adventure where the famous pirate sets out to find a stolen treasure to break a curse on a prince. It cost $60 million to make but only earned $80 million, leading to a nearly $200 million loss that almost sank DreamWorks. | © DreamWorks Animation

6. Cutthroat Island

Loss: $202 Million (adjusted for inflation)

Cutthroat Island follows a daring female pirate racing against rivals to find a legendary treasure island. This movie suffered from a messy production that pushed its cost to nearly $100 million while earning only about $10 million, leading to a massive $202 million loss that nearly sank its studio. | © Lionsgate Films

5. Mortal Engines

Loss: $204 Million (adjusted for inflation)

Mortal Engines is based on a popular young adult book by Philip Reeve that shows a future where cities move and swallow smaller towns to survive. When the film hit theatres in 2018, it failed to draw enough viewers, losing $204 million in the process. | © Universal Studios

4. The 13th Warrior

Loss: $227 Million (adjusted for inflation)

The 13th Warrior reimagined Eaters of the Dead, a daring twist on the Beowulf legend. Despite a hefty $160 million budget, the grim, brutal film managed to gross less than $62 million, resulting in a staggering $227 million loss that left many questioning its appeal. | © Walt Disney Studios

3. The Marvels

Loss: $237 Million (adjusted for inflation)

The Marvels brought together Captain Marvel with the energetic presence of Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau, offering a fresh team-up in the sprawling MCU universe. Despite the promising release and over $200 million in global earnings, the production and marketing costs hit $250 million, which led to a staggering $237 million loss. | © Walt Disney Pictures

2. The Lone Ranger

Loss: $240 Million (adjusted for inflation)

The Lone Ranger tried to capture the classic spirit of the Old West by pairing a wronged cowboy with a mysterious Comanche ally, but production troubles and expanding budget quickly set the stage for disaster. The movie didn't make enough money at the theatres and ended up losing a huge amount, a shocking $240 million. | © Walt Disney Pictures

1. John Carter

Loss: $255 Million (adjusted for inflation)

John Carter was created to revive the classic 1930s adventure serials, but it languished in development hell for years. Despite a staggering $263 million production budget and nearly $100 million in marketing spend, the film only pulled in $284 million at the box office, resulting in a phenomenal $255 million loss. | © Walt Disney Pictures