The 2020s have been a challenging decade for the film industry, despite some blockbuster successes like Barbie and Oppenheimer. With a heavy focus on established franchises, it’s become increasingly difficult for original stories to gain attention. The uneven performance of recent Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films suggests these challenges will likely continue.
As a film fan, it’s been a bit of a rough ride lately. While there have been some amazing successes, the 2020s have definitely seen more than a few big movies flop. And it’s not just bad films failing – even projects with huge potential, like established franchises or attempts to revive old genres, have really struggled. It’s been disappointing for us movie lovers and a real shock for the studios involved, and it’s all happened in just the last six years.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Deserved Better
Guy Ritchie’s 2024 film, Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, tells the real-life story of a top-secret British commando unit from World War II. This team, which partially inspired the character of James Bond, was led by Gus March-Phillips and focused on disrupting Nazi activities, including attacks on enemy submarines.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare delivers a fast-paced, thrilling war movie focused on pure entertainment, rather than awards recognition. The film feels like a spiritual successor to Inglourious Basterds, offering the kind of classic war story that audiences haven’t seen much lately. It also features Henry Cavill, a popular actor who continues to be underserved by the roles he’s given in Hollywood.
Horizon: An American Saga Questions the Future of Westerns
Following his five seasons as John Dutton on Yellowstone, Kevin Costner is now aiming to bring classic Westerns back to the big screen with his film, Horizon: An American Saga. Years in the making, the movie explores the story of America’s westward expansion, showing events from multiple viewpoints. The first installment focuses on pioneers journeying west, a man safeguarding a woman from outlaws, and the experiences of Native Americans, offering a strong start to the saga.
Despite being a hugely ambitious Western, similar in scope to Dances With Wolves, the film’s failure reinforced the idea that Westerns are no longer popular with audiences. While some modern Westerns have done well, people generally aren’t interested in traditional tales of cowboys and shootouts. It was particularly disappointing because Kevin Costner invested a lot of effort into getting the movie made and its failure put his creative vision at risk.
The Northman Should Have Brought Back R-Rated Fantasy
Robert Eggers’ film, The Northman, is a dark and action-packed Viking saga centered on Prince Amleth. After his uncle murders his father, Amleth joins a group of Norse warriors and dedicates himself to seeking revenge. He finally gets his chance to confront his uncle, but finds himself torn between his desire for vengeance, a budding romance, and surprising truths about his family.
Robert Eggers’ film The Northman delivered one of the most compelling fantasy revenge stories Hollywood had seen in years, and many hoped it would kickstart a resurgence of that genre. However, despite Eggers’ reputation for creating incredibly detailed and realistic worlds, audiences didn’t embrace his ambitious Viking saga.
The Creator Could Have Ushered in a New Wave of Science Fiction
In The Creator, advanced AI has evolved to become self-aware and is fighting for its rights. While accepted in Asia, these machines are targeted by Western military forces led by the Americans. The story follows Joshua Taylor, a former spy who once worked undercover within the AI ranks searching for the AI’s creator, Nirmata. After a personal tragedy – the loss of his wife – he’s drawn into a new mission where he unexpectedly finds himself protecting a unique child who possesses full independent thought.
The Creator arrived at just the right time, reflecting our growing concerns about artificial intelligence. It felt reminiscent of classics like Terminator, but offered a fresh and original take on the genre. More than just a sci-fi action movie, it also explored important social issues and philosophical questions, all while keeping you on the edge of your seat as a thrilling spy story. While it gave John David Washington a better film experience than Tenet, it unfortunately didn’t get the attention it deserved, partly because it was released around the time of the Hollywood strikes.
Fantastic Four Signals an Uphill Battle For Retro Superhero Films
Just when viewers began to feel the Marvel Cinematic Universe was losing momentum, Marvel announced “Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Unlike any previous film, this story unfolds on an alternate Earth – a world with a retro-futuristic style, safeguarded by Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm. When they discover the planet-devouring Galactus is heading towards Earth, they embark on a mission to protect the world from its greatest danger.
From the beginning, fans had concerns about the new Fantastic Four movie, but not because they thought it would be poorly made. The previous Fantastic Four film from 2015 was a box office disappointment, and another failure could ruin the franchise’s chances for future success. Even though it earned $522 million, which is a decent amount, it was seen as a letdown and reinforced doubts about the Fantastic Four‘s potential, despite the likely success of the Avengers films.
One Battle After Another is a Thriller Perfect for the 2020s
Paul Thomas Anderson returned to form in 2025 with his film One Battle After Another. The movie is a sharp and funny look at today’s political climate, centering on Bob, an older activist, and his struggle to raise his teenage daughter after her mother leaves. Trouble begins when Lockjaw, a harsh government agent who believes the daughter is his own, starts searching for her, which quickly worsens the country’s already strained atmosphere.
Despite receiving widespread critical and audience acclaim, the movie One Battle After Another performed poorly at the box office, which was a significant letdown. While studios were encouraged to invest in original concepts, the film’s failure dampened that enthusiasm. Instead of launching a trend of fresh, relevant thrillers, it seems likely to strengthen the belief that Hollywood is safest sticking with politically charged narratives.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is as Ambitious as Action Gets
Tom Cruise’s 2023 film, Dead Reckoning: Part One, may have signaled trouble for the Mission: Impossible franchise. While packed with the series’ signature incredible stunts and following Ethan Hunt’s team as they try to stop a powerful artificial intelligence, the movie—the most expensive in the series to date—didn’t perform well financially, and its sequel has confirmed a decline in audience interest.
Despite being well-made films with impressive stunts from Tom Cruise, nods to the original movie, and a story that felt current, Dead Reckoning Part One and Dead Reckoning Part Two didn’t perform as well as expected. This wasn’t due to the films’ quality, but rather the risk of spending too much money on action movies. They had the potential to be a massive hit, like Avengers: Endgame, but poor marketing and a flawed release plan held them back.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Put Adventure on Ice
Harrison Ford reprised his iconic role as Indiana Jones for a fifth and final time in 2023. The film, set in the 1960s, features an older Jones reluctantly embarking on a new adventure: finding the legendary Antikythera Device, an artifact rumored to control time. Pursued by the FBI, he joins forces with his goddaughter to prevent a former Nazi from obtaining the relic and altering history.
Following the poor performance of Jungle Cruise, the disappointing box office results of the fifth Indiana Jones film highlighted a broader trend: classic adventure movies are struggling to attract audiences. The film also became the focus of unnecessary and unfair online debates, and its failure led studios to prioritize other genres over action adventures. Despite being an enjoyable and ambitious final installment, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny ultimately contributed to a decline in the importance of action films for major studios.
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2026-03-13 22:09