The 15 Most Expensive Movie Flops That Actually Broke Studios, Ranked by Loss

Some movies aim for the stars but crash hard, leaving studios in financial ruin. These films, packed with big budgets and high hopes, often become cautionary tales in the unpredictable world of filmmaking.

From ambitious sci-fi epics to ill-fated adventures, the following list ranks the 15 most expensive movie flops that didn’t just fail—they broke the studios behind them. Each one’s a reminder that even the biggest names and grandest visions can’t guarantee success.

15. ‘The Adventures of Pluto Nash’ (2002)

This sci-fi comedy starring Eddie Murphy was a lunar disaster. With a $100 million budget, it earned a measly $7 million at the box office, sinking Warner Bros. into a $145 million loss. The story of a nightclub owner on the moon in 2087 lacked laughs and audience appeal, despite a star-studded cast. Production delays and a two-year shelf life before release didn’t help its case.

Critics called it flat and unfunny, and moviegoers agreed, staying away in droves. The film’s failure marked a low point in Murphy’s career, and Warner Bros. took a hard financial hit, struggling to recover from the costly misstep.

14. ‘Green Lantern’ (2011)

Ryan Reynolds as DC’s Hal Jordan was meant to launch a superhero franchise, but ‘Green Lantern’ fizzled out. The $200 million budget ballooned with marketing, yet it grossed only $219 million, leaving Warner Bros. with a $75 million to $100 million loss. Poor reviews, a weak script, and lackluster CGI turned fans off.

The studio’s hopes for a cinematic universe crumbled, and Reynolds himself later poked fun at the flop. Warner Bros. scaled back DC projects for years, wary of another costly gamble.

13. ‘Titan A.E.’ (2000)

This animated sci-fi adventure aimed to rival Disney but ended Fox Animation Studios. With a $75 million budget, it grossed just $36 million, resulting in a $100 million loss. Featuring voices like Matt Damon and Drew Barrymore, ‘Titan A.E.’ followed a young hero saving humanity, but its story didn’t connect with audiences.

Reviews were lukewarm, and competition from Disney’s ‘Treasure Planet’ hurt. Fox Animation shut down just 10 days after release, marking a swift and brutal end to the studio’s dreams.

12. ‘Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas’ (2003)

DreamWorks bet big on this animated tale of the sailor Sinbad, voiced by Brad Pitt. The $60 million budget, plus marketing, led to a $125 million loss when it earned only $26 million. The film’s CGI was impressive for its time, but it clashed with ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and strayed too far from its Arab roots.

Critics panned the story, and audiences ignored it. DreamWorks nearly went bankrupt, forcing a major rethink of its animation strategy to avoid further disasters.

11. ‘Mars Needs Moms’ (2011)

Disney’s motion-capture animated film about a boy saving his mom from Martians was a bizarre misfire. Costing $150 million, it grossed a dismal $39 million, leading to a $140 million loss. The creepy animation and odd premise turned viewers away, despite a cast including Seth Green.

The flop ended Disney’s motion-capture experiments and shut down ImageMovers, the production company behind it. Disney took years to recover from the financial sting.

10. ‘Turning Red’ (2022)

Pixar’s coming-of-age story about a girl turning into a red panda had heart but no box-office luck. With a $175 million budget, it lost $140 million due to a limited theatrical run during COVID-19. The film’s streaming release on Disney+ drew viewers, but theaters stayed empty.

Critics praised its charm, but the pandemic’s impact on cinemas was too much. Disney’s heavy streaming push at the time cost them dearly in traditional revenue.

9. ‘Jungle Cruise’ (2021)

This Dwayne Johnson-led adventure, inspired by a Disney ride, sank under its $200 million budget. It grossed $220 million but lost $140 million due to high marketing costs and a hybrid streaming release during COVID. The film aimed for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ magic but fell flat.

Mixed reviews and theater closures didn’t help. Disney’s gamble on star power and theme-park branding failed to keep the studio’s finances afloat.

8. ‘Mulan’ (2020)

Disney’s live-action remake of the 1998 classic aimed for epic glory but stumbled. The $200 million budget led to a $147 million loss, with only $70 million in global earnings. COVID-19 forced a hybrid release, and cultural criticism from non-Western audiences hurt its appeal.

Despite high production values, the film lacked the original’s charm. Disney’s push for streaming revenue couldn’t offset the theatrical flop, leaving a big dent in their budget.

7. ‘47 Ronin’ (2013)

This samurai fantasy starring Keanu Reeves was a bold but doomed Universal project. The $175 million budget, plus marketing, led to a $150 million loss after earning just $150 million worldwide. A muddled story and controversial casting choices alienated audiences.

Critics slammed its lack of focus, and director Carl Rinsch was sidelined post-release. Universal’s financial wounds lingered, marking this as one of their biggest miscalculations.

6. ‘King Arthur: Legend of the Sword’ (2017)

Guy Ritchie’s gritty take on the Arthurian legend aimed to start a franchise but flopped hard. With a $175 million budget, it grossed $148 million, losing Warner Bros. $150 million. Charlie Hunnam’s lead role and David Beckham’s cameo couldn’t save it from poor reviews and a weak $15 million opening.

Studio interference and a muddled script doomed the film. Warner Bros. scrapped plans for sequels, nursing a costly lesson in overambition.

5. ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ (2023)

Harrison Ford’s final outing as Indy was a nostalgic gamble that didn’t pay off. The $300 million budget led to a $143 million loss, with $174 million in global earnings. Mixed reviews and competition from older Indy films kept audiences away.

Disney’s hopes for a blockbuster send-off fizzled. The studio’s massive investment in the franchise’s legacy became a financial burden instead of a triumph.

4. ‘The Flash’ (2023)

This DC superhero film, starring Ezra Miller, was meant to reset the DC Universe but crashed instead. With a $200-$220 million budget, it grossed $350 million but lost $200 million due to marketing costs. Poor reviews and controversy around Miller didn’t help.

Warner Bros. Discovery faced a major setback, with the film’s failure halting plans for a broader cinematic reboot. The studio’s dreams of a comeback took a hit.

3. ‘The Lone Ranger’ (2013)

Johnny Depp and Gore Verbinski reunited for this Western, banking on ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ magic. The $215 million budget, plus marketing, led to a $240 million loss when it earned just $260 million. A dark tone and controversial casting sparked backlash.

Critics called it messy, and audiences stayed away. Disney’s massive loss forced a rethink of their blockbuster strategy, leaving a scar on their balance sheet.

2. ‘Cutthroat Island’ (1995)

This pirate adventure starring Geena Davis was a catastrophic flop that sank Carolco Pictures. The $98 million budget, ballooning from $65 million, led to a $202 million loss with just $10 million in earnings. A chaotic production, with rewrites and crew issues, doomed it.

Critics panned the cliched script and weak acting. Carolco’s bankruptcy after this disaster kept pirate films out of Hollywood until ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ revived the genre.

1. ‘John Carter’ (2012)

Disney’s sci-fi epic, based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ novels, tops the list as the biggest flop. With a $350 million budget, it grossed $284 million, losing $255 million. Poor marketing and a confusing story left audiences cold, despite Taylor Kitsch’s lead role.

The flop led to the resignation of Walt Disney Studios head Rich Ross. Disney’s dreams of a new franchise died, marking this as Hollywood’s costliest cautionary tale.

Which movie flop surprised you the most, or is there another studio-busting disaster I missed? Share your thoughts in the comments!