11 anticipated movies that were a massive disappointment

There’s nothing worse than being let down by a movie you were excited for.

I’ve been there before, and it hurts, especially when you attend the midnight premiere. It happened far too often in college, with me even falling asleep a couple of times.

It’s a trend that has continued into the modern era of movies. That’s just the nature of the business: an exciting trailer builds anticipation only to let everyone down.

So, with that in mind, as we approach the summer movie season, let’s remember some of the most anticipated movies of all time that ended in massive disappointment.

The Dark Tower

It was only a matter of time before the Stephen King series would be adapted, but maybe a movie wasn’t the right idea.

Despite the impressive casting of Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, 2017’s The Dark Tower movie adaptation was a major box office flop.

There was so much source material to draw from, and yet the film is only a brisk 95 minutes long. It was dead on arrival.

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

The Fifth Element is a sci-fi action classic that’s a fan favorite even after all these years. So, to see the buzz around Luc Besson’s 2017 space epic, hopes were high that it would be a spiritual successor to his previous film.

Instead, Valerian lacks the magic and charm that make Fifth Element so beloved. It’s the very definition of all style and no substance.

Eragon

Following the success of The Lord of the Rings, there was a race to adapt the next big fantasy epic.

In 2006, 20th Century Fox would enter the fray with Eragon, based on the novel of the same name. Eragon wasn’t anywhere near as big as The Lord of the Rings, but there was still a devoted fan base who was hoping for a worthy adaptation, especially since Harry Potter proved young adult movies could work.

Eragon lacked any magic or charm, however, and was a complete dud.

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The Hobbit

Instead of looking for the next Lord of the Rings, what if you just adapted the novel that came before it?

That’s what happened with the release of An Unexpected Journey, the first of three (!!) films based on one book. Sadly, the source material was stretched razor-thin, and the films lacked the magic of the original trilogy. I saw the movie opening weekend, and aside from the sequence with Bilbo and Gollum, I can’t remember a thing.

Ender’s Game

The Ender’s Game novel is a science fiction classic with fans desperately waiting for a worthy big-screen adaptation. The 2013 film is not it.

Despite some legitimately impressive performances, the movie itself is simply lackluster and underwhelming. Its biggest issue is the fact that I’m not sure how you can realistically do the novel justice in just one film.

Independence Day: Resurgence

Look, I’m not saying that Independence Day is a cinematic classic, but hey, it’s a fun movie that has only aged well over time.

I should have known that the sequel was going to be a bad film when Will Smith wasn’t coming back, but hey, I’m an optimistic guy. I was hoping for the best when I saw it opening night. Instead, it just tries to replay the hits despite the absence of its charismatic lead.

Suicide Squad

I, like many, was won over by Suicide Squad‘s trailer and its clever use of Bohemian Rhapsody. I was excited to see what would happen.

On the plus side, Margot Robbie’s performance as Harley Quinn is incredible. That’s where all the praise ends, though. This movie is a disaster. Thankfully, we’ll have the James Gunn reboot.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

A Wolverine spin-off movie? That has Deadpool in it? Sign us up.

Wait, you’re going to make Deadpool not talk? And a script that dumbs everything down to somehow result in a boring and generic action movie? What a waste of talent.

Thor: Love and Thunder

Off the momentum of Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Endgame, Love and Thunder should have been the next big Marvel hit.

Natalie Portman was back, Christian Bale was playing Gorr the God Butcher, and Taika Waititi’s stock was sky high.

Sadly, Love and Thunder was brought down by a little too much humor and improv, as well as weak special effects. It was also one of several poor showings for Marvel after Endgame.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Yeah, I don’t know what they were thinking with this one.

The fact that it was aliens at the end is one of several absurd things about this movie. Honestly, both Indiana Jones sequels have come nowhere close to matching the originals.

Joker: Folie à Deux

Following the breakout success of Joker, Todd Phillips and company aimed higher with the sequel, bringing in Lady Gaga to play Harley Quinn and making the movie a musical.

However, despite the hype and strong performances from the main cast, Joker: Folie à Deux proved that lightning doesn’t always strike twice.