Major Blockbusters That Are Surprisingly Boring

Big budgets, massive marketing campaigns, and star-studded casts often signal an exciting cinematic experience. We line up for these blockbuster movies expecting to be thrilled, moved, or at the very least, entertained. However, sometimes these highly anticipated films fail to deliver on their promise. Instead of an edge-of-your-seat adventure, audiences are left checking their watches, wondering where all the money went.

This list looks at fifteen major blockbusters that, despite their commercial success and grand scale, left many viewers feeling bored. From slow-moving plots to uninspired action sequences, these films prove that a huge budget doesn’t always guarantee an engaging movie. They are a reminder that special effects and big names can’t save a film from a dull story.

The Irishman (2019)

Martin Scorsese’s gangster epic, featuring a legendary cast including Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, was highly anticipated. While praised by many critics, general audiences found its three-and-a-half-hour runtime to be a significant hurdle. The de-aging technology used on the actors was also a point of contention, with some finding it distracting and unnatural.

The film’s deliberate pacing and lack of traditional action sequences left many viewers feeling that the story dragged. While the performances were strong, the movie’s slow, contemplative nature didn’t align with the more dynamic crime films many expected from Scorsese. The result was a film that, while technically accomplished, felt more like a chore to watch for some.

Eternals (2021)

As part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Eternals had a built-in audience and high expectations. Directed by an Oscar-winner and featuring a diverse ensemble cast, it promised a unique and epic superhero story. The film introduced a new team of immortal beings tasked with protecting humanity from monstrous creatures.

However, the movie was criticized for its slow pace and convoluted plot. With a large cast of new characters to introduce, the story often felt bogged down in exposition, leaving little room for exciting action. Many viewers found the film to be surprisingly devoid of the fun and energy that typically defines Marvel movies.

Avatar (2009)

James Cameron’s epic was a landmark cinematic event that became the highest-grossing film of all time. Its groundbreaking visual effects and immersive 3D technology created a world that audiences had never seen before. The spectacle of Pandora was a massive draw for moviegoers.

Despite its visual splendor, the film drew criticism for having a derivative and predictable story. Many pointed out similarities to films like Dances With Wolves, feeling that the stunning visuals were in service of a simple and unoriginal plot. For some, once the initial visual shock wore off, the story itself was not compelling enough to hold their interest.

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

James Cameron’s long-awaited sequel to the highest-grossing film of all time was a visual spectacle. The underwater scenes, brought to life with groundbreaking technology, were undeniably stunning. The film transported audiences back to the beautiful world of Pandora with breathtaking detail.

Despite its visual achievements, many found the story to be thin and overly long. The plot was seen by some as a rehash of the first film, with a simple narrative stretched out over three hours. While the visuals were impressive, they couldn’t completely make up for a story that felt familiar and emotionally distant.

Jupiter Ascending (2015)

From the creators of The Matrix, Jupiter Ascending was a wildly ambitious science fiction epic. The film boasted a unique and imaginative world, filled with intricate costume and set designs. It had all the makings of a sprawling space opera.

Unfortunately, the film’s complex world-building and convoluted plot left many viewers confused and disengaged. The story of a house cleaner who discovers she is galactic royalty was bogged down by excessive exposition and a romance that lacked chemistry. The result was a visually stunning film that was ultimately a narrative mess.

Quantum of Solace (2008)

Following the massive success of Casino Royale, expectations were high for Daniel Craig’s second outing as James Bond. The film promised to continue the gritty and realistic tone established by its predecessor. It picked up right where the last film left off, with Bond seeking revenge.

However, the movie was criticized for its frantic editing and shaky-cam action sequences, which made the fights difficult to follow. The plot, involving a convoluted scheme about water rights, was also seen as underwhelming and confusing. It lacked the emotional depth and clear narrative of Casino Royale, leaving many Bond fans disappointed.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Returning to Middle-earth was an exciting prospect for fans of The Lord of the Rings. Peter Jackson’s decision to adapt the relatively short children’s book into a new trilogy, however, raised some concerns. The first installment introduced audiences to a young Bilbo Baggins.

The film was criticized for its slow pacing and for stretching a simple story too thin. The inclusion of material from other Tolkien works felt like padding to many viewers. While the visual effects were impressive, the movie lacked the sense of urgency and compelling narrative of the original trilogy.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

The first Transformers film was a box office smash, delivering on its promise of giant robot action. The sequel aimed to be bigger and louder, with more robots and more explosions. It brought back the human characters to once again team up with the Autobots.

The movie was widely panned for its incoherent plot, juvenile humor, and non-stop, chaotic action. The robot fights, while numerous, were often confusing and hard to follow. The story was a convoluted mess that did little to engage the audience, making the two-and-a-half-hour runtime feel like an eternity.

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Based on the phenomenally popular novel, The Da Vinci Code was a highly anticipated thriller. With a star-studded cast led by Tom Hanks and directed by Ron Howard, it was expected to be a smart and exciting mystery. The story follows a symbologist as he unravels a conspiracy hidden within famous works of art.

Despite the intriguing premise, the film was criticized for being a dull and talky affair. The adaptation relied heavily on long scenes of exposition, where characters explained the complex historical and religious puzzles. This resulted in a movie that felt more like a lecture than a thrilling adventure.

Gravity (2013)

Gravity was praised for its stunning visuals and groundbreaking special effects that created a realistic depiction of being in space. The film, starring Sandra Bullock, was a tense survival story that put the audience right alongside the astronaut. It won seven Oscars.

Despite the technical achievements, some viewers found the plot to be very thin. Once the initial spectacle wore off, the story of an astronaut trying to get back to Earth became repetitive for some. The movie’s focus on visuals over a complex narrative left certain audience members feeling that there wasn’t enough substance to hold their interest.

Jurassic World (2015)

The revival of the Jurassic Park franchise was a massive box office success, tapping into nostalgia for the original film. It introduced a new, fully functioning dinosaur theme park, which inevitably descends into chaos. The movie brought the thrill of dinosaurs to a new generation.

While commercially successful, the film was criticized for its one-dimensional characters and a story that felt like a retread of the original. The plot was predictable, and the sense of wonder and terror from the first movie was replaced by by-the-numbers action sequences. It was a blockbuster that, for many, lacked the heart and creativity of its predecessor.

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

The first Wonder Woman was a critical and commercial success, celebrated for its hopeful tone and thrilling action. The sequel brought back Gal Gadot as the Amazonian princess for a new adventure set in the 1980s. Expectations were high for a return to form.

However, the sequel was a letdown for many. The plot, involving a magical wishing stone, was seen as convoluted and silly. The film’s nearly two-and-a-half-hour runtime was filled with slow-moving subplots and a lack of compelling action, leading to a surprisingly boring experience for many fans of the first film.

Morbius (2022)

Part of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, Morbius brought the living vampire to the big screen for the first time. Starring Jared Leto, the film told the story of a brilliant doctor who, in an attempt to cure his rare blood disease, turns himself into a pseudo-vampire. The premise had potential for a dark and intriguing superhero horror film.

The movie was widely criticized for its lifeless story and uninspired execution. The plot was predictable, and the action sequences were often obscured by messy visual effects. Despite its blockbuster aspirations, the film failed to generate any real excitement or suspense, resulting in a dull and forgettable entry in the superhero genre.

Spectre (2015)

As the follow-up to the critically and commercially adored Skyfall, this James Bond adventure had enormous expectations. It brought back the classic criminal organization SPECTRE and a famous villain, Ernst Stavro Blofeld. The film had a massive budget and a top-tier cast.

However, the movie was seen as a significant step down from its predecessor. Critics and audiences found the plot to be convoluted, bloated, and surprisingly dull for a Bond film. A major point of criticism was the attempt to retroactively connect all of Daniel Craig’s previous films, a twist that many found forced and illogical.

Tenet (2020)

Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending spy film was positioned as a major cinematic event. It promised a high-concept, action-packed experience featuring a complex plot involving time inversion. The film was praised for its originality and ambitious practical effects.

While technically impressive, many viewers found the film to be confusing and emotionally cold. The complicated plot was often hard to follow, and poor sound mixing made crucial dialogue difficult to understand. This combination left audiences feeling detached from the characters and the story, resulting in a viewing experience that was more intellectually frustrating than entertaining.

What are some big-budget movies that you found to be a total snooze-fest?