20 Box Office Bombs That Got Sequels – MovieWeb

Movie sequels are always an exciting venture, both for filmmakers and audiences. Studios often greenlight these follow-ups based solely on the financial potential, even if the previous installment failed to truly connect with viewers. After all, the first rule of Hollywood is to make money, so box office receipts often matter more than critic reviews or audience scores.

Some films underperform upon release but become cult classics years later after growing on the audience. These movies inspire studios to take another stab at the material. Other times, a mediocre entry from a franchise, even after stumbling at the box office, attempts to rise from the ashes and land a resurrection from producers who simply cannot bear the idea of letting go.

Related: 11 Movies That Were Expected to Be Huge Box Office Hits, but Bombed Instead

Either way, as you scroll through this list of box office bombs that were granted second chances, try to consider what exactly was it that drove studio executives to renew a failing formula. Perhaps it was blind optimism, a refusal to accept defeat. Or it was the magic of better marketing, a hope that next time, with more explosive trailers and fancy stunts, a dud could be reborn as a hit. Perhaps its simply the nostalgia of rebooting a once-beloved brand or characters that filmmakers want to play with. Whatever the motivation, these sequels showcase Hollywoods credo that in show business, no bomb is too big to ignore. These cinematic reincarnations of box office bombs remind us that a sequel, like any other story, lives or dies on the intangible heart, spirit, and the magic of meaning.

Starring Keanu Reeves as Kai, a devoted disciple, this action-adventure flick from 2013 tells the story of a band of samurai who seek revenge against the treacherous overlord who hurt their master, Lord Kira, and falsely banished them. Regardless of bringing feudal Japan to life with some jaw-dropping sets and true-to-picture costume design, the movie was a commercial flop.

As a half-Japanese-half-British outcast, Reeves' character was all about loyalty and honor as the band of warriors faced off against the enemy and ultimately pulled off an extensive plan to take down Lord Asano. Without a doubt, 47 Ronin had talent involved, but the movie still failed to capture hearts and box office success. A sequel, Blade of the 47 Ronin, was recently released on Netflix, resulting in another underrated movie with stylized cinematography and action scenes.

Donnie Darko is a cult classic if there ever was one, and yet fans are confused as to how they feel about to date. Richard Kelly's mind-bending debut follows the surreal journey of a troubled teenage boy named Donnie Darko, who sees visions of an ominous 6-foot rabbit named Frank. Frank warns Donnie that the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds, and meanwhile, he oversees everybodys path to doom.

The movie meshes elements of sci-fi, horror, and dark comedy to create a psychological thriller that bombed upon release but found new life on DVD and VHS. Donnie Darko attracted a devoted fanbase for its brilliantly weird tone and themes of existentialism. Eventually spawning a directors cut and a much-maligned sequel, S. Darko, the original remains an underground treasure.

Way before CGI and extreme special effects dominated popcorn cinema, Disney made an attempt to bless the big screen with an imaginative feat of practical effects and storytelling. The aim was to whisk away the audience into a computer mainframe for an adventure of light cycles and matchbox-sized programs bringing the machine world to life. But unfortunately, the visual spectacle of Tron could not compete with an audience that was accustomed to Star Wars groundbreaking effects.

Despite a compelling storytelling involving a hero and an ally defeating a malevolent software, the movie received mixed reviews. It gradually (and deservedly) gained a following of tech enthusiasts and animation buffs who recognized how awesome it was for its time, keeping the film alive until the visually stunning sequel Tron: Legacy arrived nearly 30 years later, showing how even a box office dud can launch a successful franchise.

Not a rare example of a movie trying to outshine its predecessor, The Chronicles of Riddick is a sci-fi thriller that picked up the story of Vin Diesels antihero Riddick a decade later after the modest cult hit Pitch Black. Boasting a $105 million budget, elaborate production design, and expansive world-building, Chronicles also brought stars like Karl Urban, Thandiwe Newton, and Keith David into the mix.

While the movie aimed to increase the scope of the franchise, it stumbled to match mainstream audiences tastes. But because Vin Diesel and director David Twohy collectively thought to keep the crook-turned-reluctant-messiahs saga alive, they returned with another charming, sci-fi-bent film titled Riddick in 2013. This time, keeping the spending low, the franchise earned a place among the most unlikely and strangely satisfying sequel stories ever told.

Another modest entry starring Vin Diesel that put XXX on the map; it wasnt until the film franchise returned with Ice Cube taking up the role of a new agent Darius Stone sent to Washington D.C. to protect the President of the United States that fans finally gave up. Thanks to its turgid plot, tedious action sequences, and overall fading feeling of the narrative, XXX: State Of The Union's attempt at succeeding at the box office was a huge no-no.

That isnt to say director Lee Tamahori didnt try. There were elements of spy cynicism and political commentary, but there were subpar at best and ended up alienating all but the most diehard XXX fans. So, even though the State of the Union crashed and burned at the box office, Paramount refused to scrap this property. The result was XXX: Return of Xander Cage, a disastrous threequel that came years later.

As surprising as it seems today, the Coen Brothers' stoner comedy classic about "The Dude" and his White Russian-fueled bowls bowling adventures arrived dead at the box office, making a little over double its $15M budget. Yet through late night-night showings and word-of-mouth, Lebowski grew into a cultural phenomenon rivaling only a few other such feats. Besides, The Big Lebowski stars Jeff Bridges as the lead, who is considered one of the greatest actors of the generation.

The movie gave us countless catchphrases, costumes, and rituals that seemed to work in transforming the films lovable losers into self-styled heroes. Nearly two decades passed before rumors about a long-awaited sequel began swirling, and in 2019, the studio gave us The Jesus Rolls, which followed John Turturro's Jesus. Regardless of tapping a timeless vein of counter-culture cool, it seems like the movie is just another commercially failed comedy.

Related: The Big Lebowski: A Look Back at One of the Coen Brothers' Most Underrated Films

Starring Christopher Lambert as Connor Macleod, an ancient Scottish immortal warring through the centuries, Highlander bursts in through the doors as a very promising sword-swinging action adventure with a dash of fantasy. For the time, the narrative and the visuals were clearly fresh. While the B-movie tried taking itself to higher highest by using a legendary Queen soundtrack, neat visuals, and attractive leads, it still could not make up for the weak writing and uneven tone, and deadpan delivery.

The audiences were left cold, and they simply demoted Highlander to a bargain movie. However, in 1991, the studio decided to go big for some reason and dropped Highlander II: The Quickening, which again was a failure. Even after keeping the franchise with increasingly ridiculous sequels, comics, and TV shows, there never seemed to be an influx of Highlanders, showing that sometimes passion isnt enough to make an idea live through the years.

Irish twin brothers on a righteous crusade against Bostons underworld evildoers whats not to love? Boondock Saints introduced an unusual mix of dark comedy and vigilante justice featuring Norman Reedus and co-starring Sean Patrick Flannery and Willem Dafoe before any of them were too famous. But Troy Duffy's directorial debut flopped upon release. Whether it was the scattered plot or the rough technical aspects, the movie just could not break through on the commercial front, and it has since served mainly as a cautionary tale for indie filmmakers.

Yet, over a decade later, a poorly received sequel snuck out in the form of Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day. The movie upped its marketing game and managed to endure. The brothers, now retired, returned to Boston after being accused of murder, proving that maybe Boondock Saints' powders were still wet.

Wet Hot American Summer was a pitch-black satire of 80s camp movies that naturally became a belly flop of epic proportions. Propelling the careers of stars like Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, and Paul Rudd, the movie followed a group of counselors at a summer camp, filled with so much pent-up energy, impatiently waiting for the talent show to go well so they can all go home. It commits entirely to its silliness and humor, but watching it becomes a test of endurance.

But if the movie is popular at all, it is purely through the power of home video services because beneath the calamities was a genuinely sweet story that founds its audience a bit too late. In 2015, the messy magic returned with Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, which proved to be more hilarious than the original. Honestly, it kinda grows on you.

Another example of a high-profile box office bomb that granted an unlikely sequel over two decades later, the Ivan Reitman sequel to the inaugural movie in the franchise that came out in 1989, was a weirder entry in the classic franchise. Fans thought Ghostbusters II otherwise essentially trod the same waters as the first, with the retired party returning for some fun-filled supernatural mission involving an ectoplasmic slime threat.

The movie was also followed up by another entry in 2016, chronicling the adventures of Abby, Erin, Jillian, and Patty as they try to stop an apocalypse in New York City. The comedy and spectacle had nothing to do with the franchise except a few references here and there, and the backlash only demonstrated how the reboot could have only ever succeeded had it followed the same trajectory as its original. Only recently, the comedic cast returned to grace viewers with nostalgia and a healthy mix of heart and humor with Ghostbusters: Afterlife as an unlikely sequel.

Often hailed as one of the greatest films ever made, it may come as a surprise to many that MGMs classic musical fantasy was initially dismissed as a box office bomb upon its release. Even though the cost of production was extremely high, The Wizard of Oz received indifferent reviews from critics. Plus, there was competition from 1940's Gone with the Wind, and the technical difficulties of making Ozs fantasy world come to life seemed to conspire against the movie at first.

It wasnt until after multiple TV earrings over decades that Oz came to capture the hearts of generation after generation. From its charming fable teaching morals to its iconic characters like the Cowardly Lion and the Wicked Witch, every aspect worked together to make it a timeless work of magic that has entertained audiences for over 80 years. The sequel, Return to Oz, took a darker tone but did nothing to diminish the formers appeal.

Related: The Wizard of Oz: The Real Story of the Famous Production

A midnight movie that graced the big screen decades before the term even existed, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was a campy musical parody of 1950s B-movies. The story revolves around a transvestite alien named Frank N Furter, who provides refuge to Brad and Janet on a stormy night. The movie seems very compelling to horror fans right now, but it failed spectacularly upon release, closing within a week of its premiere.

After goth became popular and counterculture rose in the following decade, Rocky Horror grew into an underground phenomenon. The audience would participate in rituals formed around the film's strange characters and sing along to Richard O'Briens campy songs. In 1981, Shock Treatment came out and followed Brad and Janet returning to their hometown and playing along with the folks in their reality television drama. Although odd, the sequel never diminished the inaugural movies glow.

Based on Rhode Islands beloved Hasbro toy franchise, this big-budget adaptation hoped to launch a billion-dollar movie universe just like Transformers. But alas, it disappointed both critics and fans with a bloated mess of nonsensical storytelling and one-dimensional characters. Despite having a star-studded cast led by Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Sienna Miller, the film sputtered at the box office. It spelled only doom for G.I. Joe on the silver screen.

Yet, Hasbro held fast to their most prized military action figure property and remained undaunted by the failure of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. It was determined to bring him back with bigger ambitions, and 2013's G.I. Joe: Retaliation was a strangely self-aware sequel that somehow managed to improve upon the first film. Where big brands and childhood icons joined hands, the name alone was enough to spark an interest.

Despite featuring a high-caliber cast including Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, this Halloween comedy about witch sisters wreaking havoc in Salem failed to cast a spell on audiences when it was released. Hocus Pocus may have become one of the greatest holiday fantasies now, gradually enchanting a new generation of kids who embrace it as a campy, feel-good staple.

Still, in 1993, the movie was a surprising bomb. Whether it was the infectious energy, Sarah Sanderson's iconic cackle, or the amusing nature of Midler's outrageous Winifred, the film continued to inspire everything from Halloween costumes to parodies. The box office dud was resurrected in 2022 with a sequel titled Hocus Pocus 2, which premiered on Disney+.

Probably the most famous box office bomb turned beloved classic, Its A Wonderful Life was Frank Capra's heartwarming Christmas tale that has served as an inspiration for audiences and filmmakers alike for almost eight decades. The movie follows a man named George Bailey, who is shown the value of his life by a guardian angel. Its philosophical nature and poignant themes of life failed to resonate with the public back then, but its repeated screenings on television earned the film a whole new life.

The audiences were captivated by its emotions, small-town charm, and profound message of cherishing life's simple joys and making every moment count. Whats more surprising is that Wonderful Life's overnight success decades later brought in a sequel. Unbeknownst to many, Clarence was told from the guardian angels perspective, and it follows almost the same storyline.

While the violently subversive sci-fi action of the original Robocop filled theaters with blood-soaked glee, RoboCop 2 threw its cyborg hero into a dystopian crime war in Detroit where hes supposed to save the day. The movies plot may seem wildly appealing, but the truth is that it bored the audience and flopped at the box office. Even for the most devoted fans, Robocop 2's racier R rating, larger body count, and over-the-top villains did nothing but represent a true adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novels.

Action junkies do consider it a favorite and embrace its unfiltered excess, but the mainstream audiences always turn up their noses. The sequel that came out in 1993, RoboCop 3, also crashed, proving the sagas second life less commercially successful even after cranking up everything that would have made the original successful.

Related: RoboCop 2: Why Its One of the Best Sci-Fi Sequels of All Time

Nobody attempted to bring back this 1998 monster for over two decades. But the latest iteration in Warner Bros monster universe tried to pit Godzilla against Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah. The movie, written and directed by Michael Dougherty, promised epic visual spectacle and a starry cast. And it delivered both, but the critics and audiences were both unfazed.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters had an unnecessarily long runtime and a convoluted plot that failed to match the simple fun of previous Godzilla outings. So much that it threatened to derail the franchises revival before it truly began. But for some moviegoers, the film's monster mayhem and jaw-dropping creature designs breathed new life into the classic kaiju, ensuring another cinematic showdown looming on the horizon. Godzilla vs. Kong was first delayed, but it did provide some action in the form of giants stomping cities and breathing fire.

Adapted from Mike Mignola's beloved graphic novel titled Dark Horse Comics, Guillermo del Toro's vision of a gruff, cigar-smoking demon who fights monsters for a secret government agency may have won over critics, but it surely failed to set the box office ablaze. There have long been fans of the character his mix of horror, humor, and engrossing pulp action.

And so, when Hellboyblended del Toro's inventive visual style and Ron Perlman's swaggering lead performance, the franchise made sure to stay back as an underrated fantasy. Way before the movie was even announced, del Toro was already preparing a sequel. The release was moved from 2006 to 2008, but Hellboy II: The Golden Army was again poorly received by the new generation. After all, the DIY spirit that sometimes powers the world of comic books does not suffice for a great franchise.

Narrowing it down to an honest opinion, some literary material simply resists the alchemy of moviemaking. And even though Ayn Rand's libertarian dystopian novel seems an unlikely candidate for a box office bomb-turned-sequel, writer-director Paul Johansson's passion project managed to bring the text-heavy volume to the screen. The movie seemed lazy in its obscurity and was harshly criticized for butchering Rand's complex themes.

Atlas Shrugged: Part I greatly disappointed fans of the novel, but its political allegory sparked enough controversy for a sequel to emerge the following year. Needless to say, Atlas Shrugged: Part II fared no better critically or commercially. This type of misguided persistence only reminds us that some box office bombs are less cinematic failures and more victims of their own dogma.

Ridley Scott's neo-noir sci-fi cult classic came out the same year as Tron. And it underperformed at the box office despite groundbreaking production design, sleek visuals, and a picture-perfect portrayal of a dystopian future. Rick Deckards mission to obliterate the army of androids and save the day was anchored by poor marketing and received with mixed criticism. Plus, there was also competition from blockbusters like E.T.

Naturally, Blade Runner was doomed commercially at first. But over time, its visionary world-building, thoughtful examination of what it means to be human and iconic performances by Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer cemented its status as a science fiction masterpiece that influenced a genre and was imitated countless times. Thirty-five years later, a sequel, Blade Runner 2049, arrived to renewed interest and proved that some box office bombs are destined to become timeless hits.

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20 Box Office Bombs That Got Sequels - MovieWeb