9 of the Biggest Box Office Flops of 2026, So Far

### Box Office Disappointments: A Look at the Flops of 2026

Despite a successful year for many films, 2026 has also witnessed its fair share of box office disappointments. While blockbusters like *Project Hail Mary*, *The Odyssey*, and *Spider-Man: Brand New Day* garnered critical acclaim and impressive earnings, several highly anticipated films failed to connect with audiences, leaving studios and investors concerned.

Among the films that struggled this past year, *Supergirl* stands out as one of the most significant letdowns. This Marvel film, featuring Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, debuted to disappointing figures. Released in June, it managed to draw in just $38 million in North America and $62.6 million globally — falling short of the expected $50 to $55 million opening weekend earnings. With a production budget of $170 million and additional marketing costs of $120 million, the financial gap was substantial. By the time it became available on HBO Max that September, its total earnings reached merely $126 million, highlighting the struggle faced by the film.

Another film that failed to resonate with viewers was *The Bride!*, directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. This feminist reimagining of the *Bride of Frankenstein*, featuring veteran actors Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley, debuted to dismal box office performance. In its opening weekend, the film gathered a mere $7.3 million in the US, compared to the studio’s expectations of around $40 million. The film’s $90 million budget, coupled with its $65 million marketing expenditure, made its financial performance particularly disheartening. The timing of its release, coming shortly after Guillermo del Toro’s own Frankenstein adaptation, may have contributed to the overshadowing of Gyllenhaal’s attempt.

*Mother Mary*, directed by David Lowery and starring Anne Hathaway, is another example of a film that did not live up to the hype. Despite being well-received by critics, the film’s box office numbers painted a different picture. In its limited opening release, *Mother Mary* earned a paltry $170,000 across five locations, and had grossed only $2.5 million domestically by the time it hit streaming platforms. With a production cost of $20 million, the film’s weak performance was unexpected, especially considering Hathaway’s reputation and her presence in multiple successful films that year.

Disney’s attempt to resurrect the beloved animated film *Moana* with a live-action version also failed to meet expectations at the box office. Despite initially topping the box office in its opening weekend, the film accumulated just $43 million domestically and $95 million globally, well below its $250 million production budget. Dwayne Johnson, who starred alongside Catherine Laga’aia, acknowledged this gap, though he emphasised the cultural significance of the film over its financial success. Meanwhile, the animated original has continued to thrive, showing just how challenging it can be to replicate success.

*Masters of the Universe*, a reimagining of the iconic franchise, also suffered financially. Despite a star-studded cast including Idris Elba and Nicholas Galitzine, the film brought in only $29.3 million in its opening weekend. With an estimated $340 million needed to break even, its total gross of $113.5 million upon release on streaming platforms indicated a significant shortfall. Nevertheless, it did find a brief moment of success on streaming, topping the charts on Prime Video shortly after its release.

George Orwell’s classic *Animal Farm* suffered a similarly disappointing fate, launching with an impressive voice cast yet failing to attract audiences like its contemporaries. It raked in only $6.5 million against a $35 million budget following its release in May, competing directly with bigger hits released at the same time.

Other notable flops included *Desert Warrior*, which grossed just $596,000 against its hefty $150 million budget, and *28 Years Later: The Bone Temple*, which managed to bring in only $58 million worldwide—only a fraction of what its predecessor had earned. Additionally, Hugh Jackman’s *The Death of Robin Hood* marked another underwhelming performance, pulling just $6 million at the box office compared to its $20 million production costs.

As the industry reflects on these misguided investments and missed opportunities in 2026, filmmakers and studios will undoubtedly assess strategies to better align with audience expectations. With many factors influencing box office performances, including competition and market saturation, it is clear that the film industry remains an unpredictable arena.