Superhero movies have dominated the box office in recent years, but not every film in the genre has been a commercial success. In this list, we rank the biggest superhero movie box office bombs, considering their budget and gross earnings.
These films faced financial disappointment despite featuring notable talent and popular comic book characters.
Steel (1997) —
Shaq’s Failed Superhero Venture: Starring Shaquille O’Neal, Steel grossed a mere $1.7 million against a $16 million budget. The film struggled due to weak performances and lackluster visual effects, ultimately failing to captivate audiences.
Punisher: War Zone (2008) —
Underrated but Underperformed: Despite its gritty and faithful portrayal of the Punisher, this film earned only $10.1 million against a $35 million budget. It received praise for Ray Stevenson’s performance as the Punisher and Dominic West’s portrayal of Jigsaw but failed to attract a wide audience.
Supergirl (1984) —
The Decline of the Superman Franchise: With a budget of $35 million, Supergirl earned only $14.3 million at the box office. The film suffered from poor reviews and an overlong runtime, indicating a decline in audience interest after the success of the initial Superman films.
The New Mutants (2020) —
A Lackluster Finale: This film, serving as Fox’s farewell to the X-Men franchise, earned $49.2 million against a budget of $67-80 million. While it did better than Dark Phoenix, The New Mutants failed to leave a lasting impression and struggled to justify its existence.
Elektra (2005) —
Jennifer Garner’s Missed Opportunity: Despite Jennifer Garner’s performance as Elektra, this film only grossed $57 million against a $43-65 million budget. While Garner’s portrayal has gained recognition over time, the film fell short commercially.
Catwoman (2004) —
A Misguided Creation: Catwoman, with its questionable decisions and lackluster storytelling, made $82.1 million against a $100 million budget. The film deviated from the established Selina Kyle character and failed to resonate with audiences.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) —
Disappointing Sequel Reception: Despite the initial success of the first Shazam! film, its sequel, Shazam! Fury of the Gods underperformed. With a budget of $110-125 million, the film only earned $133.8 million. Negative reviews and a lack of audience interest contributed to its box-office disappointment.
While superhero movies have generally been successful, some films failed to meet expectations at the box office. Steel, Punisher: War Zone, Supergirl, The New Mutants, Elektra, Catwoman, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods faced financial struggles despite featuring recognizable characters and talent. These examples serve as reminders that even within the superhero genre, success is not guaranteed, and factors such as marketing, critical reception, and audience interest play crucial roles in determining a film’s box office fate.