10 Movies Set To Fail at the Box Office in the Second Half of 2025

2025 promises to be an exceptional year for cinema, with box office hits like “Lilo and Stitch” and “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” shattering records over Memorial Day weekend, and the heartwarming success of “Sinners”. As we anticipate upcoming blockbusters such as “Avatar: Fire and Ash” and “Zootopia 2”, it seems that the movie-going experience is gradually returning to its traditional form.

Even though it’s great to witness a multitude of movies thriving, it’s important to acknowledge that numerous other productions may struggle financially for their studios. For instance, films such as “Snow White” and “Mickey 17”, despite having high budgets and receiving favorable critical reviews, unfortunately, didn’t recoup their costs. As we look forward to an array of promising movies set for release in the second half of the year, it’s crucial to remember that many of them might face disappointing box office performances.

Here are 10 movies set to fail at the box office in the second half of 2025.

10
‘The Roses’

August 29

The movie “The Roses” seems to have quite a few things working in its favor. It boasts a talented ensemble cast and a director with numerous Oscar-nominated films, which suggests it could be both enjoyable and skillfully crafted as a dramedy. However, selling comedies or dramas with a comedic aspect (dramedies) at the box office is quite challenging in today’s market. Unless a big studio is backing the project and aggressively marketing it, I fear that “The Roses” might struggle to turn a profit in theaters, as it appears to be no exception to this trend.

Actors Are Not a Box Office Draw Anymore

Once upon a time, films starring prominent actors such as Arnold Schwarzenegger or Bruce Willis were guaranteed blockbuster hits at the box office. However, with the emergence of streaming platforms and top-tier actors partnering with them, movie stardom has waned considerably. Even movies boasting large ensembles like Asteroid City struggle to attract the required audience for a successful theater release. In modern times, studios must persuade viewers to watch their film rather than relying solely on the star power to pull in viewers. A movie like The Roses, which would have been a success in past decades, now seems almost certain to flop in today’s market.

9
‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’

September 19

2025 seems to be a year where “A Magnificent Voyage” stands out among the top dramas, having been acquired by Sony Pictures for approximately $50 million, as reported by Deadline. This blockbuster was also labeled as one of the most sought-after scripts in the market. Though it’s an exciting prospect for movie enthusiasts, it appears challenging for the production to recoup the $50 million spent by Sony Pictures, considering its likely high budget. With Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell taking the lead roles, the film is expected to gain more attention; however, investing such a large sum in a drama might not yield a significant return on investment.

Sony Pictures Won’t Help Boost the Film

Sony Pictures has been experiencing significant success with their Spider-Man movies and franchise films at the box office, but beyond those, they haven’t made much of an impact. Movies such as “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” “Here,” and “Afraid” didn’t create a stir at the box office. While they had some big successes like “It Ends with Us,” I’m not confident that they will manage “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” in a way that benefits the studio financially.

8
‘One Battle After Another’

September 26

In contemporary cinema, Leonardo DiCaprio stands among the last significant acting figures, and teaming up with Paul Thomas Anderson is a long-held dream for movie enthusiasts. However, despite Anderson’s directorial prowess and DiCaprio’s stardom, I have my doubts about the film’s financial success. The movie, titled “One Battle After Another“, boasts a substantial production budget exceeding $130 million, not including advertising costs. To be considered profitable, it would need to gross nearly $300 million, which I find unlikely for a political-themed, comedic adventure film.

Studios Are Giving Filmmakers Too Much Money

It’s exciting to witness production studios providing filmmakers with substantial funds to develop their own impactful works. However, the enormous sums of money that studios are spending seems utterly irrational, particularly in cases like Marvel where they pour hundreds of millions into projects that don’t require such a massive investment. Movies such as The Creator and Godzilla Minus One demonstrate that it is possible to produce visually appealing and worthwhile films within a mid-to-low budget range. Such financial decisions may not be wise for the future of cinema, potentially leading to the decline of the theatrical experience.

7
‘Hamnet’

November 27

As a follower of Chloé Zhao’s work, I eagerly anticipate her new project, Hamnet. Yet, it’s no secret that films by auteur directors rarely match blockbuster success. Despite Chloé Zhao’s last film, Eternals, being one of the top-grossing movies of 2021 and Paul Mescal’s previous movie, Gladiator II, earning close to half a billion dollars, I find it hard to imagine their past triumphs influencing this low-key drama on Shakespeare. Since the budget for Hamnet is yet undisclosed, I can’t help but be taken aback at the prospect of it making waves at the box office.

Shakespeare Doesn’t Lead to Box Office Success

In simpler terms, films based on Shakespeare’s plays, such as “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” have not resonated with audiences because of their overly poetic and elaborate dialogue. Even modern adaptations struggle to gain popularity in theaters. The 2023 film “Anyone But You” is the most successful Shakespeare adaptation yet, but it’s still quite different from the original play. If “Hamnet” decides to use language similar to Shakespeare, I don’t anticipate a large audience turnout, and even if it doesn’t, I have my doubts about its ability to attract a significant viewership.

6
‘Eddington’

July 18

Ari Aster is well-known in independent cinema, with movies like “Hereditary” and “Midsommar” making a significant impact on popular culture. However, his latest film, “Eddington“, which falls under the comedy genre, much like “Beau is Afraid“, has been met with mixed reactions from both critics and audiences. This divide opinion, along with its release, may have contributed to its lower box office earnings. Given that Aster recently produced “Beau is Afraid“, I’m not confident that the general public will be rushing out to see another comedy film by him. Despite having an impressive cast including Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, and Emma Stone, it seems unlikely that they will flock to another comedy by this director.

The Cannes Buzz Will Likely Hurt the Film’s Box Office Chances

Eddington had its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, garnering varied responses. Known for showcasing international and auteur, art-driven films, the festival’s mixed reviews towards Eddington could indicate a potential challenge ahead. If the film fails to resonate with its intended audience, it may struggle to gain traction among wider audiences as it reaches general release. While ardent fans of director Ari Aster will undoubtedly flock to watch his latest work in cinemas, there’s a possibility that casual moviegoers might choose to avoid the film instead.

5
‘Honey Don’t!’

August 22

In a different phrasing: The upcoming lesbian comedy “Honey Don’t!” is directed by Ethan Coen, who recently produced the movie “Drive-Away Dolls.” Similar to its predecessor, the film boasts an impressive ensemble cast featuring Margaret Qualley, Chris Evans, Aubrey Plaza, and Charlie Day. Just like “Drive-Away Dolls,” this film’s potential box office earnings could be around $10 million worldwide, given that it barely surpassed that amount despite having stars like Matt Damon and Pedro Pascal. Given the comparatively less star-studded cast of “Honey Don’t!”, I wouldn’t be surprised if its earnings fall below those of Coen’s last production.

Comedies Are Not a Big Enough Draw

As a movie enthusiast, I must admit that most pure comedies nowadays seem destined for streaming platforms rather than the big screen. The reason? Many people don’t see comedies as worth the trip to the theater. In today’s world, it’s spectacles or intellectual properties (IP) that are thought to be the only films worthy of a cinema experience, which is why we’re seeing so many superhero and family films dominating the box office. However, with a film like Honey Don’t!, the comedy genre is trying something fresh, but it might not fare well at the box office due to this bias towards spectacle-heavy movies.

4
‘The Smashing Machine’

October 3

Over time, A24 has risen to be one of the most beloved studios in recent years, with critically acclaimed films such as “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Uncut Gems.” This small studio has made significant contributions to independent filmmaking. However, despite their widespread appeal, their movies typically don’t earn massive sums at the box office. Given this trend, I predict that “The Smashing Machine” may find it challenging to generate enough revenue to cover its production costs.

The movie boasts a budget of approximately $40 million, which is quite high for A24 productions. Notably, A24 has only produced two films that garnered global earnings over $100 million. Given this context, I speculate that The Smashing Machine will require similar revenues to qualify as profitable. Despite Dwayne Johnson’s track record of successful films, it seems challenging to me to envision him single-handedly propelling A24 towards one of their highest-grossing productions.

The Release Date Gives the Film a Huge Disadvantage

On October 3rd, The Smashing Machine hits theaters without any major rivals. Although this typically suggests success, I’m uncertain if audiences will flock to watch a biopic featuring Dwayne Johnson during Halloween. A film such as this might have performed better with a Christmas release, given that more people are inclined to watch movies they wouldn’t usually choose at that time. Movies like A Complete Unknown and The Iron Claw thrived due to their holiday season releases, maintaining strong box office numbers throughout the holiday period. I believe that releasing The Smashing Machine in October could make it harder for the film to maintain a reduced drop-off during weekends, which is why I predict the movie won’t achieve the success it aims for.

3
‘Tron: Ares’

October 10

Disney seldom creates original live-action projects nowadays, except for their Marvel and Star Wars productions, or live-action remakes. However, the upcoming film “Tron: Ares” marks a return by Disney to a somewhat original, live-action project. Despite the previous Tron movie’s decent performance at the box office, I find it challenging to envision this film making an impression on cinema-goers.

The movie blends the Tron universe with our world, yet this approach seems to strip away the intricate and colorful world that made the original Tron iconic, leaving me uncertain about the enthusiasm for this project. As for the budget, it’s unclear at the moment, but given its status as a Tron film, I suspect it will have a substantial production cost, and I can hardly imagine the ticket sales covering such an expense.

Jared Leto Is the Film’s Kryptonite

Jared Leto, known for his exceptional acting, won an Oscar for his role in Dallas Buyers Club. However, many on the internet have a negative opinion of him. This makes it surprising that Disney chose him to headline such a major production. Given that the movie probably needs substantial funds to be successful, casting someone as disputed as Jared Leto seems puzzling. Perhaps Evan Peters will attract more viewers, but Jared Leto could only decrease the viewership count.

2
‘Sisu 2’

November 21

The movie titled “Sisu” was a low-cost action production that garnered significant interest from action movie fans. It traveled to numerous international film festivals before its 2023 release date. Despite being made on a $6.5 million budget, it grossed $14 million in theaters, resulting in modest profits. Due to positive critical and audience feedback, a sequel was approved; however, I am skeptical about its success. Earning $14 million doesn’t instill much faith that the sequel will significantly outperform the original. Given that the sequel is likely to have a larger budget than its predecessor, it seems challenging for the film to double its earnings again unless the budget remains close to the initial amount.

November Is a Stacked Month

Wicked: For Good” and “Zootopia 2”. These movies are predicted to earn a billion dollars each, which makes it hard to imagine any other release being successful. However, despite filling an action-packed void in the schedule, “Sisu 2” may struggle due to its lower budget and less prominent debut of the original film, potentially getting overshadowed by the other November releases.

1
‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues’

September 12

The original film “This Is Spinal Tap,” an ’80s cult favorite, seems unlikely to spawn a successful sequel after more than four decades. While legacy sequels have historically been big earners at the box office, the initial release of “Spinal Tap” didn’t fare well, grossing just $4 million globally. The cast reunion might attract some viewers, but it may not be enough to warrant substantial box office receipts.

Rob Reiner Is Past His Prime

In a remarkable streak of filmmaking prowess, Rob Reiner directed an impressive series of films including “Stand By Me”, “The Princess Bride”, “When Harry Met Sally…”, “Misery”, and “A Few Good Men”. However, since then, his subsequent movies such as “LBJ” and “Shock and Awe” have not achieved the same level of success, both financially and critically. This string of failures has led to a decline in audience trust towards Reiner, which may negatively impact future box office returns.

2025-06-03 03:05

10 ‘The Roses’