It’s May 2, 2025, at 9:44 AM IST, and as I sip my morning coffee, I can’t help but reflect on the wild rollercoaster that was 2024 in cinema. While we had massive hits like Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine lighting up the box office, there were some major disappointments that left studios reeling—and me scratching my head. As a lifelong movie buff who grew up sneaking into theaters with my brother to catch the latest releases, I’m diving into the top 5 biggest box office flops of 2024, based on reported financial losses. These films didn’t just miss the mark financially; they sparked conversations that I’m still mulling over. Let’s break down what happened, why, and what these flops mean to me.
1. Joker: Folie à Deux – A $144.25 Million Loss That Broke My Heart
I had sky-high hopes for Joker: Folie à Deux. The first Joker (2019) was a gritty masterpiece that I watched three times in theaters, floored by Joaquin Phoenix’s raw performance. So when the sequel, released on October 4, 2024, promised to pair Phoenix with Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, I was ready for magic. Instead, it became the year’s biggest flop, losing a staggering $144.25 million. With a budget around $200 million, it only grossed $206.4 million worldwide—far below the $450 million needed to break even.
What went wrong? The decision to turn it into a musical didn’t sit well with fans like me who loved the first film’s dark, grounded tone. I remember sitting in the theater, expecting chaos, but instead got jarring song-and-dance numbers that felt out of place. Critics agreed, calling it a “disaster,” with many audience members walking out mid-screening. The high budget, inflated by musical production costs, didn’t help either. As someone who connected deeply with Arthur Fleck’s loneliness in the first film—I’ve had my own struggles with feeling like an outsider—this felt like a betrayal of what made the original special. I’m still hoping Phoenix gets another shot at the character, but this flop might have killed any chance of that.
2. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga – $119.6 Million Down the Drain
Next up is Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, a prequel to 2015’s Fury Road that I was beyond excited for. I watched Fury Road with my college roommates, and we were blown away by its non-stop action. But Furiosa, released on May 24, 2024, lost $119.6 million, grossing just $450 million against a budget that, with marketing, likely neared $570 million. Anya Taylor-Joy’s take on a younger Furiosa was solid, and the visuals were stunning, but it didn’t capture the same lightning in a bottle.
The Memorial Day weekend opening was the worst since 1995, pulling in only $32 million domestically—a 59% drop in its second week, the worst in the franchise’s history. I think the lack of Charlize Theron, who owned the role in Fury Road, hurt it, and Anya, while talented (I loved her in The Queen’s Gambit), isn’t yet a box office draw like bigger stars. Plus, the film hit streaming just six weeks later, which probably kept families like mine at home—why spend $50 at the theater when you can rent it for $30? I enjoyed Furiosa when I finally watched it, but it felt like an unnecessary chapter, and I’m left wondering if George Miller should’ve left the Mad Max legacy alone.
3. Borderlands – An $80 Million Misstep That Felt So Wrong
Borderlands, released on August 9, 2024, was a film I wanted to love. As a gamer who spent countless hours playing the Borderlands video game series with my friends, I was hyped for this sci-fi action comedy starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black (who’s also in A Minecraft Movie, more on that later). But it tanked hard, losing $80 million after grossing just $33 million against a $110 million budget. Lionsgate pulled it from theaters after less than a month, sending it to streaming where it continued to struggle.
The reviews were brutal—critics called it a mess, and fans like me felt it didn’t capture the game’s chaotic charm. The casting felt off (Kevin Hart as a tough guy?), and the script ignored the source material’s quirky humor, which is what made the game special. I remember playing Borderlands 2 and laughing at the absurd dialogue, but the movie felt like a generic action flick with a Borderlands skin slapped on. It’s a stark reminder that video game adaptations need to honor their roots—something A Minecraft Movie got right with its viral “Steve’s Lava Chicken” song. I’m still bummed about Borderlands, but it’s made me appreciate when adaptations nail the landing even more.
4. Megalopolis – Francis Ford Coppola’s $75.5 Million Gamble
Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, released on September 27, 2024, is a flop that hits differently. Coppola, a legend behind The Godfather, self-funded this sci-fi epic to the tune of $120 million, only to see it lose $75.5 million after grossing a mere $44.5 million. The story of a visionary architect (Adam Driver) trying to rebuild a futuristic city sounded ambitious, but the execution was a mess. I watched it with my dad, a huge Coppola fan, and we both left confused—the plot was convoluted, and the pacing felt rushed despite its 138-minute runtime.
Critics called it “overly ambitious” and “lacking substance,” and audiences didn’t show up, likely put off by the mixed reviews and lack of buzz. I admire Coppola for taking a swing at 85 years old, especially with his own money, but I can’t help but wonder if this was a passion project better left on the shelf. It’s a flop that makes me think about the risks of chasing a dream—something I’ve wrestled with in my own career choices. Maybe Megalopolis will find a cult following years from now, but for 2024, it was a financial disaster.
5. Kraven the Hunter – $71 Million Lost in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe
Rounding out the list is Kraven the Hunter, released on December 13, 2024, which lost $71 million, grossing $89 million against a $160 million budget. Another entry in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU), this Aaron Taylor-Johnson-led action flick about the iconic Spider-Man villain failed to draw crowds. I was cautiously optimistic after seeing Taylor-Johnson in Bullet Train—he’s got the chops—but Kraven felt like a tired retread of SSU’s earlier flops like Madame Web (which also bombed in 2024, losing around $50 million).
Sony’s SSU has been a rollercoaster. Venom was a hit, but Morbius and Madame Web flopped hard, and Kraven followed suit. The lack of Spider-Man in these films is a glaring issue—Kraven’s whole arc in the comics revolves around hunting Spidey, so without him, the story felt hollow. I watched it with my brother, and we both agreed it lacked the stakes to keep us invested. Plus, the December release pitted it against heavy hitters like Moana 2 and Mufasa: The Lion King, which dominated the holiday season. Sony might need to rethink this universe—I’d rather see Kraven face off against Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in the MCU instead.
Why These Flops Matter to Me
These flops aren’t just numbers—they’re stories of ambition, risk, and sometimes hubris. As someone who’s always loved movies for their ability to transport me (I still tear up thinking about Inside Out’s emotional depth), seeing these films fail stings. But they also spark questions. Why are studios pouring so much money into projects that don’t resonate? Joker 2 and Kraven show that audiences crave authenticity over forced franchise expansion. Furiosa and Borderlands highlight the dangers of banking on nostalgia without capturing what made the originals special. And Megalopolis reminds me that even legends can miss the mark when chasing a vision that doesn’t connect.
Looking at 2025, with hits like A Minecraft Movie (and its record-breaking “Steve’s Lava Chicken” song) already making waves, I’m hopeful studios will learn from 2024’s mistakes. I’ll be watching Wednesday Season 2 and Countdown later this year, hoping they avoid the pitfalls of these flops. What do you think—did any of these films deserve better, or were they doomed from the start? Let’s talk about it!
