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Welcome to WatchMojo.World, and today we’re counting down the Top 20 Failed Movie Franchises — the big-budget films that were supposed to launch epic cinematic universes… but barely got off the ground.
Despite huge marketing pushes and star-studded casts, these movies flopped at the box office, failed with critics, or just didn’t connect with audiences — leaving sequel plans in the dust.
Featured in this countdown:
🎭 Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – Beautiful, but not bankable
💡 Green Lantern – One ring to doom them all
🌪 Mortal Engines – Big world, no audience
🌊 The Last Airbender – A bending disaster
💀 Universal’s Dark Universe – A shared universe that ended before it began
💬 Which failed franchise do YOU think had the most wasted potential?
Tell us in the comments — and don’t forget to follow WatchMojo.World for more Hollywood flops, hits, and everything in between!
Despite huge marketing pushes and star-studded casts, these movies flopped at the box office, failed with critics, or just didn’t connect with audiences — leaving sequel plans in the dust.
Featured in this countdown:
🎭 Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events – Beautiful, but not bankable
💡 Green Lantern – One ring to doom them all
🌪 Mortal Engines – Big world, no audience
🌊 The Last Airbender – A bending disaster
💀 Universal’s Dark Universe – A shared universe that ended before it began
💬 Which failed franchise do YOU think had the most wasted potential?
Tell us in the comments — and don’t forget to follow WatchMojo.World for more Hollywood flops, hits, and everything in between!
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:00We can't change the past, but we can change the future.
00:06Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we'll be looking at big budget movies that were meant to inspire multiple installments, but couldn't even get past one entry.
00:15Did you break it already?
00:16I didn't break it.
00:17Okay, it's just out of juice.
00:21Number 20. Mortal Engines.
00:24You never head south in the Outlands. Not ever.
00:27With Lord of the Rings writers Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens penning the script for this adaptation, and many of that trilogy's cast and crew returning, things seemed promising at first for Mortal Engines.
00:40The film looked to emulate the success of other young adult series following young female protagonists through a post-apocalyptic world.
00:48However, this was no Hunger Games.
00:51The film's massive scope may have been too much for first-time director and longtime Jackson collaborator Christian Rivers.
00:57While the film's ruined landscape and Predator Cities looked incredible thanks to Weta Digital's special effects, it also came with an insane budget.
01:07Its abysmal opening and even worse hold led to it losing an estimated $175 million, dooming any sequel plans.
01:15You're gonna kill me.
01:17For a little while.
01:20Number 19. Battle Los Angeles.
01:23Of all the commercial products solely designed to manipulate the male gender, Battle Los Angeles is one of the most blatant.
01:40The film is overstuffed with everything macho, including the American military, lethal aliens, explosions, video game action sequences, and Michelle Rodriguez as a tough soldier.
01:51Maybe this would be cool if there was something of substance backing it all up.
01:55But Battle Los Angeles has about as much nutritional value as a certain Michael Bay franchise.
02:01Unlike Transformers, though, this film lost the battle and the war with audiences.
02:07What the hell are all these red marks here?
02:08It means they're gone.
02:10What, you mean the units got moved?
02:12Well, I doubt.
02:14All of them?
02:15All of them.
02:16Number 18. Madam Web.
02:18Sony's desire to emulate the success of the MCU led them to create a number of superhero films with whatever rights they held, including the ill-fated Madam Web.
02:35Cassandra Web, an elderly clairvoyant with a visual disability and paralysis in her legs, was pulled from the Spider-Man fringes to the center stage.
02:44She was reimagined as a young EMT, which already snips a lot of the character's intrigue.
02:51Dakota Johnson was joined by Sidney Sweeney trying her best and a constantly redubbed Tahar Rahim, along with Adam Scott as a shoehorned-in Uncle Ben.
03:01The plot pulled from parts of Spider-Man's lore that are forgotten, despised, or both.
03:06And while it did promise multiple Spider-women, they didn't receive their powers or costumes in this film, or any other for that matter.
03:14We don't know exactly when your vision takes place, so I'm giving us a 10-year range just to be safe.
03:20Number 17. The A-Team.
03:22Russ, this is too big an enterprise. We can't let these bozos do this.
03:27An A-Team movie had been in development since the mid-90s.
03:30By the time the film finally came out in 2010, it was a little too late.
03:35While not a colossal flop, modern moviegoers were borderline uninterested in seeing a screen adaptation of an 80s series starring Oscar Schindler, Phil, from The Hangover, that one guy from District 9, and not Mr. T.
03:49It's fitting that the A-Team never had a plan B since director Joe Carnahan announced that a sequel won't be happening.
03:56I love it when a plan comes together.
03:59Number 16. Speed Racer.
04:01Every one of us has to find a reason to do this. You don't climb into a T-180 to be a driver. You do it because you're driven.
04:08Following the success of the Matrix trilogy, people were excited to see what the Wachowskis would do next.
04:14The answer was Speed Racer, a film that had been in developmental hell since the early 90s, though the filmmakers did make it truly their own.
04:23Speed Racer emulated the anime on which it was based with its bright colors and over-the-top characters.
04:29Its plot about grit and determination triumphing over corporate machinations and evil capitalists was surprisingly earnest, and people hated it.
04:39Overwhelmingly negative critical reviews and an abysmal box office return kill the planned sequel.
04:45Over the years, however, the film has earned a much-deserved reappraisal, frequently hailed as an underrated masterpiece.
04:51But I want you to know, that door is always open. You can always come back.
04:58Because I love you.
04:59Number 15. I am number 4.
05:02In the meantime, your powers will only draw attention. You keep yourself in check. You understand?
05:06So I got all these powers, but I'm not allowed to use them?
05:09Exactly.
05:10One of several teen romance films that desperately wanted to be the next Twilight, I am number 4 tells another story of an attractive outsider who falls for an ordinary girl in a quiet town.
05:21The only difference is that the protagonist is a sexy, brooding alien with no personality instead of a sexy, brooding vampire with no personality.
05:30Granted, I am number 4 has a few more action set pieces, likely included in the hopes that they'd attract a wider audience.
05:38But in the end, the film didn't attract much of anyone.
05:41You slow us down? I'll shoot you myself.
05:45And I believe you. Can we go now?
05:47Number 14. Van Helsing.
05:49Don't wish for death so quickly. I intend for you to be quite useful.
05:53Just as he did with The Mummy, Steven Summers brought many of Universal's classic monsters to life in this reimagining of Dracula's greatest foe.
06:03With characters like Frankenstein's monster, Mr. Hyde, the Wolfman, and of course Dracula himself, sequels, potential spinoffs, and even a TV show were expected.
06:13Universal was so confident that the studio paid to keep the sets and began developing a follow-up before Van Helsing even opened.
06:21However, many monster movie fans were unhappy with the transformation of the older, stoic Abraham Van Helsing into the action hero Gabriel Van Helsing with his gadgets and quippy dialogue.
06:33Despite Hugh Jackman's best efforts and some moderate success at the box office, the awful reception drove a stake through the planned sequel's hearts.
06:41We've shot him, stabbed him, clapped him, sprayed him with holy water, staked him through the heart, and still he lives. Do you understand? No one knows how to kill Dracula.
06:50Number 13. Prince of Persia. The Sands of Time.
06:54There must be a reason why you can't take your eyes off me.
06:57You're... I... I don't trust you. And you're not my type.
07:02A franchise based on a video game can be a risky proposition.
07:05While in recent years, some have found success, many more would-be franchises sputtered and died before ever getting a sequel script.
07:15Such was the case with Disney's Prince of Persia, The Sands of Time, with studio heads referring to it as their next Pirates of the Caribbean.
07:22On the surface, the similarities, a swashbuckling historical figure based on popular IP, seemed clear.
07:30However, the parallels were surface level at best, and it failed to duplicate the success of Pirates.
07:36Critics weren't fond of the film, and rightly criticized it for its whitewashing while video game fans thought it deviated too much from the game on which it was based.
07:45How can I trust the man that breached the walls of my city?
07:49Well, I'm starting to think I'm no longer the same man who breached those walls.
07:53Number 12. Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.
07:57I must say, you're a gloomy-looking bunch. Why are you so glum?
08:03Our parents just died.
08:05Oh, yes, of course.
08:06To be fair, A Series of Unfortunate Events was a fun adaptation.
08:10It captured the darkly whimsical spirit of Lemony Snicket's books, and Jim Carrey was born to play Count Olaf.
08:18With 13 novels in the series, though, there was simply too much material to squeeze into one or even several films.
08:25As a result, A Series of Unfortunate Events felt a bit rushed, while failing to attract an enduring audience.
08:32Luckily, the TV series developed by Netflix had better luck in that regard.
08:36Hello, hello, hello, children.
08:40Number 11. The Lone Ranger.
08:42Great shot.
08:44That was supposed to be a warning shot.
08:47In that case, not so good.
08:49Still desperate to recreate the success of the Pirates franchise, Disney reunited with star, director, producer, and writers of the original trilogy for The Lone Ranger.
08:58Like those films, it also carried a massive price tag, with an estimated budget of $225 to $250 million, even after budgetary concerns were raised by Disney, which caused production delays.
09:12Hopes that budget would be recouped at the box office were destroyed when it opened against Despicable Me 2, which, despite being made for a third of the Lone Ranger's budget, made triple that weekend.
09:24It fared no better critically, and wasn't helped by the controversy surrounding Johnny Depp playing a Comanche warrior.
09:30Wait a minute.
09:32You're saying your tanto?
09:34The tanto?
09:35Number 10.
09:36The Golden Compass.
09:37In my world, scholars invented an alethiometer.
09:43A golden compass.
09:45From a technical standpoint, the Golden Compass had all the right tools to bring Philip Pullman's celebrated novel to life.
09:52The film even won an Oscar for its jaw-dropping special effects.
09:56But as beautiful as the film looked, the story's complex themes regarding religion and free will were lost in the midst of all the visual eye candy.
10:04Fans of the books were disappointed.
10:06Those who never read the book were just confused.
10:09And director Chris Weitz has practically disowned the film, which he claimed was ruined due to the studio's involvements.
10:15What, mother?
10:17I heard you was an orphan.
10:19And your uncle only left you here because nobody wanted you.
10:22Come here and say that.
10:23Number 9.
10:24Power Rangers.
10:26Me and four kids from Angel Grove found a spaceship buried underground.
10:29What?
10:32I'm pretty sure I'm a superhero.
10:33While not a totally horrendous bomb, Power Rangers severely underperformed at the box office with the film barely turning a profit.
10:42Similarly, while its reviews weren't overly negative, they weren't particularly good either, splitting critics down the middle.
10:50So why is a mild disappointment middling film even here?
10:54It's because of the overwhelming confidence that Lionsgate would get not just another movie, but at least five more.
11:00It was revealed that the film was meant to be the first in an arc that could span six to eight movies, with much being held back for the potential sequels.
11:09For instance, fan-favorite Green Ranger Tony Oliver, who was teased in a post-credits scene that would ultimately go nowhere.
11:17Tommy Oliver.
11:22Trampton.
11:23That might have been my fault.
11:24That might have been my fault.
11:25I'm so sorry.
11:26Number 8.
11:27Aragorn.
11:28You have powers you do not acknowledge.
11:31But there is a doom upon you.
11:33Part of it lies in a death that rapidly approaches.
11:36Adaptations of Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings were huge financial successes in the early 2000s.
11:42Therefore, another adaptation of a popular fantasy book series seemed like a no-brainer, and Aragorn got the green light.
11:49Plans were in place to shoot the second and third installments back-to-back after what director Stephen Fangmire assumed would be a highly successful first project.
11:58The planned trilogy would never come to fruition, however, as fans of the book were united with critics in their disdain for the film.
12:06Despite it crashing and burning, fans remained passionate with the release of further books, petitioning for a rebooted TV series.
12:13Those prayers have seemingly been answered, with a show reportedly in the works for Disney+.
12:19Yet other spells, if you use them before you're ready, will kill you.
12:24Number 7.
12:25John Carter.
12:26If you can't stand behind me, this might get dangerous.
12:30Disney's lucky that they've produced some of the biggest franchises of all time, because the company has also gambled away countless millions on some of the biggest bombs, like John Carter.
12:41This space adventure tried nothing new, borrowing elements from Pirates of the Caribbean, Avatar, Thor, and every popular blockbuster in recent memory.
12:49It's kind of ironic that a film based on a revolutionary sci-fi novel, and directed by the brilliant Andrew Stanton, would amount to such a mundane and uninspired waste of time.
13:00Not to mention money.
13:01All right.
13:04You've got me.
13:06I surrender.
13:07Number 6.
13:09Warcraft.
13:09My people are to survive.
13:12All that must be destroyed.
13:14Legendary Pictures truly swung for the fences when deciding to adapt one of the biggest video game franchises of all time in Warcraft.
13:22They did this by hiring acclaimed and, at the time, upcoming director Duncan Jones, giving the film a massive budget to fully realize the world of Azeroth.
13:32All involved expected the adaptation to birth a long-running fantasy series.
13:37While the end result undoubtedly looked spectacular, it was a hollow spectacle.
13:41The script left much to be desired and was torn apart by critics.
13:46Its massive budget and marketing campaign meant that, despite a healthy tag at the box office, it failed to be profitable.
13:52One orc cannot kill the world, Durotan.
13:55Are you sure?
13:57Look around you.
13:59Does it not remind you of something?
14:01Number 5.
14:02Dragon Ball Evolution.
14:04You've never done this before, have you?
14:06Uh, yes.
14:06Many times.
14:08In my head.
14:09Dragon Ball has existed for decades through multiple iterations and mediums, and was incredibly popular in Japan, the U.S., and the world over.
14:19So, to studio execs in the late aughts, it was ripe for an incredible and long-spanning live-action franchise.
14:26Hollywood wisely decided to adapt the beloved manga and anime with an eye on making multiple entries for years to come.
14:33However, they not so wisely decided to deviate heavily from the source material, turning the cherished series into a generic action flick.
14:42Perhaps worst of all was the casting of Justin Chatwin as Goku.
14:47A few years after its catastrophic release, series creator Akira Toriyama described the movie as bland and something he could not call Dragon Ball.
14:56I'm close to a breakthrough.
14:58I can feel it.
14:59The key must be the other Dragon Balls.
15:00I have to have them all.
15:01Number 4.
15:02Green Lantern.
15:03There is no way you can succeed.
15:06You will die, Hal-Jor.
15:10I'll die trying.
15:11In an age of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Dark Knight trilogy, Green Lantern came off like a multi-million dollar after-school special.
15:19Although the cast was blameless for the most part, the effects were CGI overkill, the villains were literally cartoon characters, and the plot never took off.
15:28Fortunately, it at least looks like DC is trying to get their act together with Nathan Fillion newly cast as the new Green Lantern, an actor who seems perfect for the role after so many years of voicing the character.
15:41We can only hope the writing will be stronger this time around.
15:44I feel your fear growing.
15:47You will be dead soon.
15:50Number 3.
15:51Fantastic Four.
15:52You always said I had the potential to do something important.
15:55Who's to say this isn't it?
15:56Marvel's first family have always had a rocky relationship, no pun intended, with film adaptations.
16:03After some moderate success in the 2000s, Fox decided to give the franchise a gritty reboot when they brought in director Josh Trank.
16:10Problems arose from the start with bickering over the script during pre-production and a number of complaints aimed at Trank's behavior during filming.
16:19Allegedly, he and star Miles Teller almost even got into a fistfight on set.
16:24Problems were compounded by massive reshoots, leading to a film where actors' facial hair and obvious wigs varied between scenes.
16:32Upon release, the film was widely panned and considered one of the worst superhero movies ever made, with its announced sequel's release date quietly removed from Fox's schedule.
16:43The matter from Earth is being converted to energy.
16:46We need to stop Victor.
16:47He's the source.
16:48Number 2.
16:49The Last Airbender
16:51I'm taking you to my ship.
16:53If you don't come, I'll burn down this village.
16:57I'll go with you.
16:58Seeing how Avatar, The Last Airbender, was pretty much perfect to begin with, M. Night Shyamalan had no reason to make a live-action Cliff Notes film adaptation.
17:08Given how phenomenal the animated series remains, though, shouldn't some of that greatness have worked its way into The Last Airbender?
17:15Nope.
17:15Instead, Shyamalan messed with core elements, while stripping the story of any humor, heart, or magic, and said,
17:22Isn't my version so much better, you guys?
17:25Fans around the world responded with a resounding no, bringing this new Avatar cycle to an end before it even started.
17:32I don't think that's a good idea.
17:34We started a rebellion.
17:37Try to talk him out of it.
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17:541. Universal's Dark Universe
17:57You have been selected as the vessel for the ultimate evil.
18:02Plans for an entire slate of interconnected monster films, including Bride of Frankenstein and The Invisible Man,
18:09with the first to be released, The Mummy were announced as an attempt for Universal to get into the cinematic universe trend.
18:16On paper, it made sense with their monster movies of the 1930s to the 50s serving as the original cinematic universe.
18:23The official Dark Universe Twitter account even posted a heavily photoshopped picture with the announced leads of the films.
18:30Upon release, The Mummy contained a number of easter eggs and teases for future films and had Russell Crowe as a Nick Fury-esque Mr. Hyde.
18:39After the film's disastrous opening, any future projects were delayed and then outright cancelled, killing the cinematic universe before it ever lived.
18:47Somewhere in there, fighting to get out, is a good man.
18:53You don't know that.
18:54Which, never to be filmed franchise, do you think was the biggest mistake?
18:59Let us know in the comments below.
19:00This is all my fault.
19:02That, we can agree on.
19:04Did you enjoy this video?
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19:08And be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
19:17We'll see you next time.
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