Everyone loves a good movie, but not all movies are successful at the box office. In fact, some films are complete disasters and fail to make even a fraction of their budget back. These huge financial losses not only affect the production company but also the actors, directors, and entire crew involved in making the film.
But which movies have lost the most money at the box office? Let’s explore the top 10 lowest-grossing movies in history!
10 Lowest-Grossing Movies of All Time:
*Please note our list is based on the estimated losses, based on budget and box office records.
1. John Carter (2012)
John Carter, a cinematic venture based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' classic sci-fi novel, hit the big screens in 2012. Despite high expectations and a whopping $250 million budget, the movie's performance at the box office proved disappointing. The film grossed a total of around $284 million worldwide.
2. Strange World (2022)
Despite its promising premise and a star-studded cast, Strange World struggled at the box office, resulting in significant financial losses. The Disney film earned $73.6 million at the box office on a budget of $317.4 million.
3. The Lone Ranger (2013)
Unfortunately, The Lone Ranger fell short of the industry's box office expectations, as it earned $260 million at the worldwide box office and cost roughly $225 million to make.
4. Mortal Engines (2018)
Mortal Engines was expected to be a major player during the holiday season due to its December release, but it failed to captivate audiences on a large scale. Its worldwide gross was a disappointing $83.7 million against a production budget that reportedly ranged between $100 to $150 million.
5. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, with its impressive visual effects and a star-studded cast, including Charlie Hunnam and Jude Law, still underperformed. The movie earned just $148.7 million globally against a production budget estimated to be around $175 million.
6. Battleship (2012)
Battleship, while a fun and intense board game, failed to make that same magic happen on screen. With an estimated budget of $209 million, the worldwide box office grossed $303 million.
7. Jungle Cruise (2021)
Jungle Cruise is Disney's latest big-budget summer blockbuster that embarked on a tumultuous journey at the box office. Despite a cast featuring big hitters like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt, the film faced significant hurdles in its pursuit of box office success. It earned $221 million worldwide, with an estimated combined production and promotional cost of $362 million.
8. Tomorrowland (2015)
Tomorrowland had a strong opening weekend that saw it rake in a considerable $33 million, but the film couldn't sustain its momentum at the box office. The movie grossed approximately $209 million worldwide against an estimated production and marketing budget of around $330 million.
9. Pan (2015)
Another reimaging of Peter Pan, Pan did not fly high at the box office. The movie's worldwide gross was $128 million against a hefty production budget of $150 million, not including the hefty sums spent on marketing and distribution.
10. Mars Needs Moms (2011)
Mars Needs Moms was a highly anticipated 3D computer-animated sci-fi adventure film that grossed a measly $39 million worldwide. However, that's a significant shortfall when considering its lofty $150 million production budget.
We wanted to round out our list by listing the remaining 15 lowest-grossing movies of all time:
- Mulan (2021) - $141 million
- Moonfall (2022) - $138 million
- Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) - $137 million
- Dark Phoenix (2019) - $133 million
- A Wrinkle in Time (2018) - $130 million
- The Matrix Resurrections (2021) - $130 million
- Onward (2020) - $130 million
- Terminator Dark Fate (2019) - $130 million
- The 13th Warrior (1999) - $129 million
- Sinbad (2003) - $125 million
- Monster Trucks (2016) - $123 million
- Lightyear (2022) - $122 million
- Ben Hur (2016) - $122 million
- The Suicide Squad (2021) - $120 million
- Jupiter Ascending (2015) - $120 million
Box office bombs are a sad fact of Hollywood and the film industry at large. While they may be disappointing for the studio, actors, directors, and crew involved, they can often provide some insight on what not to do when making a movie. Despite their lack of success, some of these films have gone on to gain cult followings and hold a special place in the hearts of dedicated fans.
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