The Box Office Flops of 2024: Movies That Failed to Find Their Audience

In 2024, the film industry experienced its fair share of high-profile box office disappointments. Despite star-studded casts, compelling narratives, and strong critical reviews, many films failed to break even. Some had everything going for them but just couldn’t pull audiences into theatres, while others suffered from marketing missteps or genre fatigue. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most notable box office failures of 2024 and explore why these films, which seemed poised for success, ultimately flopped.

1. Arthur the King: A Heartwarming Story That Struggled to Find Its Audience

Based on the true story chronicled in Mikael Lindnord’s memoir Arthur: The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home, Arthur the King starred Mark Wahlberg and Simu Liu in an emotional adventure film. The movie had all the makings of a hit: a heartfelt narrative, solid performances, and a dog that tugged at everyone’s heartstrings. Critics appreciated it too, awarding it a 70% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Yet, the film struggled financially. With a budget of $19 million, it only made about $40.8 million globally, just barely making a profit. Some estimates suggest it may have even lost money when all marketing and distribution costs were factored in. Despite the critical acclaim, the movie couldn’t find enough of an audience to turn a profit. So, why did it flop? It could be that the adventure drama genre, while compelling, didn’t generate enough excitement for a wider audience. Or maybe it simply flew under the radar in a crowded box office season.

2. The First Omen: A Prequel That Couldn’t Revive an Old Franchise

Horror fans were excited for The First Omen, a prequel to the classic Omen series. It explored the origins of the satanic conspiracy that birthed the Antichrist, Damien. The film garnered mostly positive reviews, with an 81% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but this wasn’t enough to save it from box office failure. The production cost of $30 million seemed modest compared to big blockbusters, yet it only earned $53.8 million in return.

Why did The First Omen fail to ignite the box office? One theory is that the Omen franchise, once a horror giant, had been dormant for too long. Audiences, especially younger ones, may not have felt the same nostalgia or urgency to see a prequel to a series that had been largely inactive since the early 90s. Despite its merits, The First Omen couldn’t bring the franchise back to life in theatres, though it found new life on streaming platforms.

3. Ordinary Angels: A Feel-Good Film with a Faith-Based Label

Ordinary Angels, starring Hilary Swank, was based on true events during the 1994 North American cold wave. The film tells the story of Sharon, a hairdresser who rallies her community to help a widowed father save his daughter. With an inspiring plot and an outstanding 84% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it seemed like a feel-good movie primed for success. However, its box office earnings told a different story. The film, made on a $13 million budget, only grossed $20.5 million, falling short of breaking even.

One potential reason for the failure was the film’s marketing, which positioned it as a faith-based movie. While such films have their niche audience, they often struggle to appeal to the broader public. Ordinary Angels was undoubtedly a feel-good hit with the critics, but mainstream audiences may have been put off by its religious overtones, limiting its reach.

4. Abigail: A Vampire Movie That Couldn’t Bite into the Box Office

Vampire films have long been a staple in Hollywood, so much so that originality within the genre is hard to come by. Abigail attempted to break the Mold by presenting a young girl with a pulse who was also a vampire. The twist on traditional vampire lore excited critics, leading to an 83% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, audiences didn’t show up. The film, which cost $28 million to produce, only made $42.4 million globally well below its break-even point.

Why didn’t Abigail succeed despite its unique premise and critical approval? Oversaturation in the vampire genre is likely a factor. By 2024, audiences had already seen countless vampire stories, and perhaps Abigail didn’t feel distinct enough to draw in viewers. Poor marketing may also have contributed, failing to convey the film’s innovative take on the well-worn genre.

5. The Fall Guy: A Nostalgia-Fuelled Action Film That Didn’t Land

Ryan Gosling had a fantastic 2023 with his role in Barbie, but his luck didn’t carry over into 2024 with The Fall Guy. Based on the 1980s TV series, the film combined action, romance, and comedy with a strong performance from Gosling. The critics enjoyed it, giving it an 82% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Yet, despite its nostalgic appeal and high-energy action, The Fall Guy bombed at the box office. With a staggering $125 million production budget, the film only grossed $180 million, far below what it needed to break even.

Why did The Fall Guy flop? Nostalgia can be a powerful driver for success, but in this case, it wasn’t enough. The original TV show, though popular in its time, didn’t have the massive fan base necessary to propel the movie. Plus, nostalgia alone isn’t a substitute for broad audience appeal, and younger viewers unfamiliar with the source material likely skipped it altogether.

6. Madame Web: The Biggest Bomb in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe

Sony’s live-action Spider-Man universe has had its ups and downs, but nothing prepared audiences for the spectacular failure of Madame Web. Featuring an all-star cast, including Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney, the film delved into the origins of Cassandra Webb, a character who could predict the future. It had all the ingredients for success, but that wasn’t enough. The film cost $80 million to produce but only brought in $100 million globally far less than the $160 million it needed to break even.

Critics hated Madame Web, giving it an abysmal 11% on Rotten Tomatoes. Poor reviews, a confusing plot, and wooden performances all contributed to its failure. Even worse, the movie bore little resemblance to the comic book character it was based on, alienating fans. This, coupled with a weak script and disastrous word-of-mouth, sealed its fate as the biggest bomb in Sony’s Spider-Man universe.

7. The Watchers: A Creature Feature That Couldn’t Scare Up Success

Ishana Night Shyamalan, the daughter of famed director M. Night Shyamalan, made her directorial debut with The Watchers, a horror-thriller set in an Irish forest where creatures terrorize a group of strangers. Despite the intriguing premise, The Watchers failed to captivate critics or audiences, earning a 32% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes. At the box office, it barely scraped together $32.9 million on a $30 million budget.

What went wrong? Critics panned the film for its slow pacing and overreliance on exposition, and some even suggested nepotism had helped Ishana secure the directing gig. Poor word-of-mouth and negative reviews likely kept audiences from showing up, leading to its underperformance.

8. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga That Couldn’t Match Its Predecessor

Furiosa, a prequel to the critically acclaimed Mad Max: Fury Road, had high expectations. The film, which explored the backstory of the titular character played by Anya Taylor-Joy, brought back all the explosive action and chaos fans loved from its predecessor. Critics were kind to the movie, awarding it a 90% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But despite the positive reviews, Furiosa bombed at the box office. With a production cost of $168 million, it only managed to make $172.7 million well below what it needed to break even.

The failure of Furiosa can likely be attributed to several factors, including the recasting of the lead character and the general poor performance of prequels. Additionally, nearly a decade had passed since Fury Road, and audience interest may have waned in the intervening years.

9. Lisa Frankenstein: A Horror Comedy That Didn’t Resurrect Box Office Success

Horror comedies can be hit or miss, and Lisa Frankenstein was a definite miss. The film, which starred Kathryn Newton as a teenager who resurrects a corpse and falls in love, had a quirky premise that split critics and audiences. Rotten Tomatoes awarded it a 52% rotten rating, while audiences were more favourable, giving it an 81% score. Yet, despite the audience support, Lisa Frankenstein failed financially. It cost $13 million to produce but only earned $10 million globally.

Timing may have played a role in its failure, as it was released during the highly competitive Super Bowl weekend. Additionally, its limited marketing and short theatrical run likely contributed to its inability to recoup costs.

Why 2024 Was the Year of Box Office Flops

The common thread linking many of these box office flops in 2024 is a disconnect between critics, audiences, and marketing. Even films with positive reviews from critics, like Arthur the King and Furiosa, couldn’t