The Five Biggest Box Office Bombs of 2023 Have Been Revealed, and It’s Not Looking Good for Disney

We’re deep into 2024 territory as of the time of writing, but our good friends and Deadline have decided to go back to last year and reveal the biggest box office bombs of 2023. It was a short trip down memory lane, but it was done properly because all the numbers were finally in, and there was enough time to objectively interpret the facts and numbers before us. This is why we decided to report on this list.

The list contains five titles and we are going to reveal them to you, as well as all the relevant numbers. Long story short, out of the five titles on this list, four belong to Disney/MCU and one to Warner, so it seems that Disney is undoubtedly the biggest loser of 2023, especially since some of the titles in question are major ones. Now, let us start!

5. Haunted Mansion: -$117M

Synopsis: In this frighteningly fun adventure inspired by the classic theme parks attraction, a doctor and her nine-year-old son, looking to start a new life, move into a strangely affordable mansion in New Orleans, only to discover that the place is much more than they bargained for. Desperate for help, they enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters, including a priest, a widowed scientist-turned failed-paranormal expert, a French Quarter psychic, and a crotchety professor.

In all honesty, it doesn’t surprise us that Haunted Mansion landed on this list. The movie was mediocre at best, and it seemed unnecessary, especially for a cinematic release. We don’t know what numbers it brought in on Disney+, but the cinematic result was expected.

4. Wish: -$131M

Synopsis: Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Wish” is an animated musical-comedy welcoming audiences to the magical kingdom of Rosas, where Asha, a sharp-witted idealist, makes a wish so powerful that it is answered by a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, Asha and Star confront a most formidable foe—the ruler of Rosas, King Magnifico—to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.

Wish was somewhat of a surprising failure for Disney, especially since it was done relying more on traditional animation and it showed us the essence of Disney’s movies. But, the fans did not believe it and it was obvious that the movie wouldn’t become a hit, but it might have had more success on streaming.

3. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: -$143M

Synopsis: Harrison Ford returns to the role of the legendary hero archaeologist for this highly anticipated final installment of the iconic franchise – a big, globe-trotting, rip-roaring cinematic adventure. Thrust again into a challenge that tests his strength, as well as his patience, Indiana Jones (Ford) risks everything to keep an ancient dial that could change the course of history from those who want the device for their own personal gain. With a stellar cast that includes Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Toby Jones, and Mads Mikkelsen, Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny is a nonstop thrill ride! This exciting finale is directed by James Mangold and written by Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth and David Koepp and James Mangold, based on characters created by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman.

The latest Indiana Jones installment was also more or less destined to fail, as the movie seemed redundant and out of place. The original movies were popular, but the current audiences are simply different, and it looked like Disney wanted to capitalize on the nostalgia craze but failed to do so.

2. The Flash: -$155M

Synopsis: Barry Allen must coax a very different Batman out of retirement after his attempt to change the past brings back the evil General Zod.

The only non-Disney entry on this list, The Flash was also a movie that was doomed to fail. The troubles in the DCEU, Ezra Miller’s problematic personal life and legal issues, the delays… all these were certain signs that the movie was not going to deliver and, as expected, it did not. Plus, it really was a mess in every way imaginable.

1. The Marvels: -$237M

Synopsis: Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol’s estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau. Together, this unlikely trio must team up and learn to work in concert to save the universe as “The Marvels.”

The Marvels are by far the biggest box office failure of 2023, and there is a significant difference between this movie and the four others. It was an ambitious female-led project, but it simply failed due to numerous reasons, none of which had to do with the lead cast members and their performances. The MCU is not in a good place at the moment, and the failure of The Marvels speaks about that.

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