Currently, the release duration of movies in cinemas is quite unpredictable, similar to the lawlessness in the old Wild West. Some films have a brief cinema stay, others last for months, while some are available for only a few days before they become purchasable or rentable, or accessible for free streaming on your home TV. This inconsistency is primarily due to the strategic maneuvers of film distributors and cinemas, who aim to maximize profits from each film in the shortest timeframe possible.
Typically, most films required around a month and a half (the usual 45-day theatrical window) to recoup their production costs and earn additional profits. If this wasn’t achieved, it might lead to the sudden removal of the movie from theaters, which could make one question whether it had ever been shown at all.
The annals of cinema are filled with narratives of grand-scale failures and squandered risks, some of which sank without a trace so swiftly that there was little point in giving them a chance to prove themselves. These were movies that were either critically panned, financially burdensome, or met with such disdain by viewers at their initial release, they were pulled from cinemas within mere days, weeks, or even hours.
Certain productions have gained timeless appeal as cinematic masterpieces, with their temporary theatrical run enhancing their enigma. Others, however, questionably made it to the big screen – or anywhere at all – in the first place. It’s up to you, esteemed reader, to decide this time.
10 Huge Movies That Didn’t Last a Month in Theaters
Heaven’s Gate (1980)
In the realm of cinema, it’s hard not to come across mentions of Michael Cimino’s infamous flop, “Heaven’s Gate,” a proposed epic Western movie set against a Wyoming land dispute in the 1890s. The production process of this film has become a legend, with tales ranging from animal cruelty accusations to stories about Cimino’s demanding directing style casting a shadow over what could have been an outstanding American classic. Cimino’s ambition was grand and costly, leading to expenses four times the initial budget. Poor reviews led to its removal from cinemas after only a week of limited release, followed by a re-edited version six months later, which was met with even more criticism. Critics often point to this debacle as marking the end of director-led film production in America, with studios now taking control. Despite its infamous status as a catastrophe, it has prompted reconsideration by critics over the years, with some even calling it one of the great American films.
The Watcher in the Woods (1980)
In their century of filmmaking, Disney is known for maintaining a family-friendly atmosphere, even in movies geared towards adults. However, they’ve only produced one outright horror movie to date, and the reception of this singular film was apparently so unfavorable that Disney has refrained from attempting it again. Nevertheless, The Watcher in the Woods stands as an intriguing effort within their catalog.
The film, titled The Watcher in the Woods, centers around two sisters who are investigating the disappearance of a girl from the English countryside home they’ve recently moved into. This story is adapted from the novel by Florence Engel Randall and features Bette Davis in a supporting role, marking her later career. The movie was only shown in cinemas for ten days before the studio withdrew it due to a barrage of negative reviews from both critics and audiences. A re-cut and re-release attempt a year later also failed to gain traction.
Revolution (1985)
Titled “Revolution,” this British historical drama, set against the backdrop of the American Revolutionary War (a potential warning sign), nearly pushed actor Al Pacino away from his career. Following its disastrous debut, Pacino went on a four-year acting hiatus before reemerging with the thriller “Sea of Love.” In “Revolution,” Pacino portrays a New York colonial fur trapper who unintentionally gets embroiled in the Revolutionary struggle against the British. The film was universally criticized, with Pauline Kael describing it as “so bad it leaves you in a state of shock.” Its release in New York was postponed, and ultimately, it became a monumental box office flop, recovering only a fraction of its $28 million production budget.
It’s Pat (1994)
In a humorous twist, Julia Sweeney’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ character Pat’s gender remains a mystery throughout the sketches, causing amusement but proving challenging when expanded into a full-length film. Regrettably, this was a lesson learned the hard way for Sweeney and her cast during their attempt to create a movie centered around Pat’s enigmatic identity. The film, titled ‘It’s Pat’, follows Pat’s relationship with Chris, another character of indeterminate gender, and Kyle, who develops an excessive interest in uncovering Pat’s true nature once and for all. Surprisingly, the band Ween is also included in the cast. As far as ‘SNL’ movies go, it was poorly received, had a restricted release in only three cities before its home video debut, and failed to impress audiences as expected.
From Justin to Kelly (2003)
Originally, Kelly Clarkson, the first winner of American Idol, and runner-up Justin Guarini were compelled by contract to star in the rom-com musical From Justin to Kelly. Unfortunately, it’s evident that the movie isn’t good. The plot revolves around a small-town Texas waitress who goes to Ft. Lauderdale for spring break, where she meets a college student and party promoter. However, various friendships and beach town shenanigans constantly interrupt their budding romance. The film also includes musical numbers.
The movie is widely considered one of the worst ever made, and Clarkson later admitted that she pleaded with the studio to let her out of her contract after reading the script. Fortunately, American Idol never attempted anything similar again.
Gigli (2003)
The film titled “Gigli” initially seemed promising, boasting a highly successful director Martin Brest and two extremely popular co-stars whose relationship rumors sparked immense publicity. However, as we now know, the film was disastrous. It didn’t last long in theaters, being withdrawn after merely three weeks, marking one of the largest second-weekend drops in American cinema history. The withdrawal followed intense disagreements between Brest and the studio, leading to re-shoots and edits that Brest disapproved of but was forced to comply with or risk losing the project entirely. To this day, it remains his only unprofitable film, with Brest himself labeling it a “grotesque corpse of a movie.
Delgo (2008)
In the realm of animated space operas, the highly anticipated film Delgo, boasting a renowned cast and accolades from Anima Mundi, Brazilian film festival, seemed destined for success in the entertainment industry. Regrettably, the movie’s subpar quality and minimal advertising led to an underwhelming box office debut, earning the title of the poorest opening for a film screened across more than 2,000 theaters. This record was later broken by another production from the same studio, The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure.
Released in 2008, Delgo tells a story of conflict between two alien species vying for control over their shared planet, while also exploring the romantic entanglements between members of opposing factions. Critics were quick to point out that the film was essentially a hodgepodge of ideas borrowed from more successful movies, and it was ultimately withdrawn from theaters after only a week of screenings.
Jem and the Holograms (2015)
Prior to directing blockbusters like “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Wicked”, John M. Chu took on the challenge of adapting the 1980s TV cartoon “Jem and the Holograms” for the big screen in 2015. Unfortunately, this project didn’t resonate as much with audiences as his subsequent works. Some factors contributing to its lack of success may have been an ill-suited cast, an effort to modernize the heavily ’80s aesthetic, a somewhat dull narrative, or a mix of these elements. Essentially, it was a mid-’80s style musical comedy about a pop star girl group embarking on a robot treasure hunt that didn’t quite capture the zeitgeist of the mid-2010s. Critics often drew parallels to the superior TV cartoon adaptation “Josie and the Pussycats”, and the film was withdrawn from cinemas after barely over two weeks.
A Cure for Wellness (2016)
A slow-moving, gothic horror film based on a century-old German novel about a spa resort, titled A Cure for Wellness, did not exactly live up to expectations at the box office. Directed by Gore Verbinski, who is known for hits like Pirates of the Caribbean and The Ring, the movie failed to draw in audiences as much as 20th Century Fox had hoped. With its impressive directorial pedigree and numerous eerie eel images, the film fell short of filling theater seats. In its first weekend, it did not meet its projected box office earnings and dropped to a mere $1 million in its second week. As a result, the movie was pulled from almost all theaters where it had been widely released.
The Disappointments Room (2016)
Looking back, it’s clear that a film titled “The Disappointments Room” was likely destined for underwhelming performance. Directed by D.J. Caruso and co-written by Wentworth Miller from “Prison Break”, the movie features Kate Beckinsale as an architect who moves with her family into a decaying mansion, which conceals a troubled past including a secret room used to imprison the previous residents’ daughter. The film was completed two years prior to its release – seldom a positive sign – and became entangled in Relativity Media’s schedule reorganization following their bankruptcy filing. Upon its eventual release, its swift decline at the box office led to it being withdrawn from all but 36 theaters, surpassing the previous record for theatrical withdrawal, held by none other than “Gigli”.
The 20 Worst Movies of the Last 20 Years (2005-2024)
20. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009)
Fifteen years following the initial “Street Fighter” movie featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme, there was essentially a re-make. Contrary to its title, it lacked legends and minimal street fighting scenes. Instead, it showcased Chris Klein delivering one of the worst performances ever as Charlie Nash. His portrayal is nothing like the “Street Fighter” character with the same name, as he struts, poses, and growls in front of the camera. It’s truly an intriguing spectacle to watch.
19. The Happytime Murders (2018)
Brian Henson’s adult puppet comedy, “The Happytime Murders,” is filled with crude humor intended for mature audiences, mainly because it seemed amusing to have puppets in an edgy setting full of sexual jokes. The film doesn’t offer much more depth than that. If you ever find yourself in a pub trivia night and the question arises, “In which movie did Melissa McCarthy bite a puppet on the penis?” or “Which movie features Joel McHale gazing at a puppet’s vagina in a parody of the ‘Basic Instinct’ scene?”, the answer would be “The Happytime Murders” for both. Maya Rudolph is the only one who comes off looking good in this production, as she successfully delivers a rice pilaf joke. Rice pilaf! She truly is a hero.
18. The Book of Henry (2017)
In a somewhat surprising turn of events, filmmaker Colin Trevorrow followed up “Jurassic World” with the enigmatic flop, “The Book of Henry.” This movie uniquely blends elements of magical realism and child abuse. It can also be interpreted as a modern-day parable of Christ, where a divine figure sacrifices himself so that his troubled mother can carry out a murder and adopt her stepdaughter who has suffered abuse. Simultaneously, it serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of apathy. Remarkably, it portrays a deceased child prodigy instructing his mother on how to become an expert assassin from beyond the grave, all presented with complete sincerity. (Yes, these events do indeed occur in “The Book of Henry.”)
17. Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
In “Space Jam: A New Legacy”, Warner Bros. portrayed itself as a heartless conglomerate of intellectual properties controlled by an antagonistic algorithm, essentially taking a cinematic dig at itself. The movie, unfortunately, was weak and unamusing, making the original “Space Jam” feel like a masterpiece such as “2001: A Space Odyssey”. LeBron James is not a poor actor – he’s no worse in the lead role than Michael Jordan was in the initial film. However, almost everything else about “A New Legacy” was cringe-worthy from beginning to end. It appears the film fails to grasp the charm of Looney Tunes, especially Bugs Bunny, who is depicted as a grumbling complainer in this movie. My suggestion: Instead, watch some classic “Looney Tunes Cartoons” on Max. A random short will likely provide more laughs than this entire two-hour feature, and the animation quality is superior as well.
16. Basic Instinct 2 (2006)
Sharon Stone’s skill in making mundane dialogues seem sensual is almost uncanny, bordering on extraordinary. However, despite her exceptional abilities, the film “Basic Instinct 2” is a complete flop from start to finish. Stone, in essence, outperforms (or perhaps overperforms) David Morrissey’s character, leaving one with the impression that he is never her equal. The reason for her interest in him remains unclear, unless it’s because she perceives him as an easy target and decides to toy with him for amusement, much like a praying mantis might a weak prey.
In the film, Stone’s character Catherine appears to enjoy playing with her ‘food’, but Morrissey’s psychiatrist is so lacking in substance that there’s little excitement in her tormenting him since there’s no suspense about the outcome. It’s like watching the 1992 Dream Team dominate a group of local recreational players. Catherine is supposed to be addicted to risk, but she takes none when facing this insignificant opponent.
15. Dirty Grandpa (2016)
Like ‘The Happytime Murders’, ‘Dirty Grandpa’ relies on a similar humor concept – when someone who typically evokes purity and decency (puppets, grandfathers) utters crude language, it is supposed to be funny. If hearing Robert De Niro use words like “smegma” amuses you, then you’ll enjoy ‘Dirty Grandpa’. However, if not, you might find it disappointing. At least the title is fitting.
14. Marmaduke (2022)
13. Madame Web (2024)
The film “Madame Web” feels reminiscent of Marvel movies from before the Marvel Studios era, where adaptations of comic book characters seemed somewhat awkward about their superhero roots. This sentiment extends to Dakota Johnson, who portrays the title character, although it’s debatable if she can truly be called a ‘title character,’ given that no one in the movie ever calls her by the name from the title. Instead, she is known as Cassie Webb. With only a fleeting exception, the character never dons a superhero costume throughout the film. In essence, there’s an air of self-consciousness about the entire production (considering the circumstances, it’s not entirely surprising).
On the other hand, watching it alongside Kevin Feige would undoubtedly make for an amusing experience.
12. Meet the Spartans (2008)
One of the most disheartening cinematic developments over the past two decades has been the surge of spoof films, largely driven by the significant financial success of the Scary Movie series. These so-called comedies were often penned or directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, former Scary Movie team members, who seemed to define humor as replicating scenes from well-known movies, primarily 300 in the case of Meet the Spartans, while also incorporating individuals getting struck in the groin.
If these films ever managed to be amusing (and they typically did not), their jokes were almost exclusively tied to late 2000s pop culture, with jabs at tabloid favorites like Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton. Now, these movies look as outdated as an ancient Greek artifact. I cannot stress enough the importance of avoiding Meet the Spartans.
11. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Title aside, one might wonder if this film is an X-Men story, a Wolverine solo adventure, or the origin tale. Why not combine them all? If director Gavin Hood had chosen to focus on a single aspect, there might have been hope for a decent movie. Unfortunately, the project was doomed from conception, as it attempted to weave together multiple X-Men and Wolverine narratives. Lines like “We didn’t sign up for this,” spoken by Hugh Jackman’s Logan, and others such as “You look like a man fixing to do a bad thing,” “We’ve done enough!”, and “Wake me when it’s over” not only move the plot along but also serve as a witty reflection on the film’s shortcomings in X-Men Origins.
10. Daddy Day Camp (2007)
It appears as if none of the key cast members from “Daddy Day Care” were interested in this less-than-desirable sequel. The original actors like Eddie Murphy, Jeff Garlin, Steve Zahn, and Regina King have been replaced by Cuba Gooding Jr., Paul Rae, Josh McLerran, and Tamala Jones. Even the director, Steve Carr, was absent from this production.
Originally, the first movie revolved around Murphy and Garlin learning to manage a day care center. In the sequel, they move on to overseeing a camp, which, given their now refined childcare abilities, should have been a piece of cake. However, being a sequel, things once again take a turn for the worse both in the storyline and the film itself.
9. Elektra (2005)
The years leading up to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s launch were a dismal era for Marvel enthusiasts, as studios grew overly ambitious following the initial successes of the X-Men and Spider-Man franchises. They began producing Marvel adaptations with little regard for the attention to detail or quality that characterized their earlier efforts.
The most notorious example from this period was Elektra, in which Jennifer Garner reprised her role as an assassin from Daredevil. This assassin was so meticulous about her work that she would clean her floorboards obsessively to erase any DNA traces, while at the same time being so careless that she socialized with her curious new neighbors during assignments and failed to realize they were her actual targets.
Elektra’s resurrection in Daredevil gave her the power to foresee the future and manipulate time when necessary, effectively making her an immortal deity. So naturally, she spent her time traveling through time to stab ninjas. I guess if you could do that, you would spend your time doing exactly that, wouldn’t you?
8. Norbit (2007)
Movie-goers often appreciate Eddie Murphy’s ability to portray numerous characters using intricate makeup in a single film, even if the reviews from critics are negative. For example, the 2007 release, “Norbit“, despite receiving unfavorable criticisms, grossed nearly $160 million worldwide against a production budget of only $60 million.
However, this doesn’t make it a good film. In this case, Murphy’s skill in transforming physically (and Rick Baker’s exceptional makeup effects) are used to tell an unpleasant story about a timid man who marries a domineering woman, both roles played by Murphy. His portrayal of the vindictive, violent Rasputia is technically impressive but also a cruel caricature of a shrew, filled with jokes about her weight. To add insult to injury, Murphy also performs Mr. Wong, a harsh Chinese man who runs an orphanage and speaks in a thick stereotypical accent. Overall, the movie is rather disheartening.
7. The Emoji Movie (2017)
There’s potential for an entertaining movie about smartphone culture and emojis, but it would need a sharper, wittier script than what was delivered in the film “The Emoji Movie”. Although it does have a somewhat positive message about accepting diversity, the film is essentially a poorly disguised advertisement, promoting the idea that owning a smartphone will make you popular and more appealing to others. Not exactly appealing.
A movie about smartphones and emojis could be entertaining if written with more satire and bite, but “The Emoji Movie” fell short in this regard. Despite its positive message on embracing differences, the film came off as a blatant advertisement that suggested owning a smartphone would make you cool and desirable to others. Not exactly my cup of tea.
6. Artemis Fowl (2020)
In the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, around 65 years ago (a typo, it should be 2020), Disney postponed all its 2020 blockbuster movies except for “Artemis Fowl”, which they moved directly to streaming on Disney+. Looking back now, this was a warning sign. This film adaptation of the popular young adult book series tries to cram about ten novels’ worth of content into just 90 minutes, resulting in a confusing and almost unbearable viewing experience. If you can follow how Josh Gad’s character transitions from breaking into Artemis Fowl’s house to teaming up with him to stop another character without any dialogue exchanged between them, then you are more intelligent than I. It takes a unique kind of poorly-made streaming movie to make you feel like you’ve been cheated even when you didn’t pay anything extra, but “Artemis Fowl” managed it.
5. Son of the Mask (2005)
As a die-hard fan, I must confess that there’s nothing more disheartening than a Jim Carrey sequel without the man himself. The allure of the original “Mask” lay in Carrey’s transformative performance behind that magical mask, allowing him to express his uninhibited self, coupled with his remarkable gift for impressions and voices. In “Son of the Mask,” Jamie Kennedy’s character rarely dons the mask (it’s his dog who wears it more often than not), and when he does, he’s as rigid as a plank – quite incongruous given that he’s a frustrated cartoonist, mimicking Carrey’s portrayal of The Mask. It almost feels like another actor’s voice was dubbed over to emulate the original character.
The second act takes an unexpected turn when Kennedy’s dog becomes envious of the family’s new baby, leading him to don the mask with the intention of eliminating the infant. Yes, you read that correctly – a jealous-dog plotline! Thankfully, the baby is fine; he was born with powers similar to the mask. I assure you, nothing in your life can prepare you for the horrifying sight of this grotesque CGI baby urinating and vomiting on Jamie Kennedy. This film deserves to be cast off a cliff, just like the mask at the end of “The Mask.
4. Alone in the Dark (2005)
Uwe Boll gained notoriety as a filmmaker during the decade, churning out a series of movies based on video games using a German tax law that ensured financial success. If you picture the characters from Mel Brooks’ “The Producers” as gamers, you’ll get a sense of the situation.
In one of Boll’s numerous 2000s flops, Tara Reid plays a brilliant archaeologist and Christian Slater portrays a detective who investigates supernatural events. However, I can’t disclose much more because the movie is so incoherent that it’s hard to understand, even from the lengthy and convoluted opening title sequence that lasts for 90 seconds. (This introductory text is longer than the average film’s.) Interestingly, “Alone in the Dark,” which was already at the bottom of our list of all video game movies ever made, doesn’t even rank last on this particular list, demonstrating just how perplexing it is.
3. Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023)
This low-budget horror film, inspired by A.A. Milne’s classic book that recently entered the public domain, serves neither as an effective slasher movie nor as a satire of children’s literature. In fact, it strangely functions best as a twisted argument against the idea of the public domain. (If copyright protection prevents trash like this from being produced and exposed to unaware audiences… maybe it’s not so bad?) Put simply, Blood and Honey is an atrocious mess.
2. Dolittle (2020)
You’re familiar with the moment in Tim Burton’s Batman, where a street doctor botches Jack Napier’s chemical-scarred face transformation into the Joker? Dolittle is similar; it’s a chaotic and disjointed movie, as if pieced together from leftovers and revisions of a completely different production. Originally intended to be more serious, it morphed into a cinematic Frankenstein’s monster filled with toilet humor, slapstick jokes, animal conversations, poor CGI, and Robert Downey Jr.’s over-the-top performance that makes Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow seem reserved.
1. Disaster Movie (2008)
The title “Disaster Movie” is misleading. The film that Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer call a disaster is actually a collection of movies such as 10,000 B.C., Hancock, Jumper, Enchanted, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Beowulf, and The Love Guru. In reality, this production barely qualifies as a movie, with only two characters and a weak storyline that is held together by poor celebrity impressions. Characters even have to announce themselves on screen when they appear.
In my opinion, it’s one of the most disappointing movies I’ve ever seen. By the time a man was fighting a poorly made Kung Fu Panda costume, I had moved from anger to genuine sympathy for those who were in the film and for anyone who paid money to watch it.
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2025-07-03 21:28