When people think about Disney, they instantly go to the classics: The Lion King, Aladdin, or more modern hits such as Frozen and Moana. There’s no doubt the company has enjoyed lots of success over the years, which has helped the company become the number one in the world of animation. Disney has also branched out into live-action over the years, creating some memorable hits. However, not everything the company does is sprinkled with pixie dust, as Disney has even managed to put together some box office flops.
The Lone Ranger
With the star power of Johnny Depp in the lead role, most people felt that The Lone Ranger was guaranteed to be a hit for Disney. A considerable budget was dedicated to this live-action, but it flopped massively. The film was criticized for its length and historical inaccuracies and has become one many have forgotten about.
John Carter
Photo Credit: Walt Disney.
Disney attempted to start a fresh franchise based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ novels with John Carter, but it didn’t work out. Even though there was fantastic source material to use, the movie struggled to make a mark. An overcomplicated plot made it more confusing than anything else, leading John Carter to underperform massively.
Mars Needs Moms
Alien movies often do well, particularly for a family audience, because they have a fun concept. That should’ve led to Mars Needs Moms being a big hit, but instead, it flopped. The concept saw a young boy trying to save his mom from Martians, but it lacked the heart and engaging characters that Disney is typically known for, which is why people often don’t link this movie to being made by Disney in the first place.
Treasure Planet
Treasure Planet was Disney’s take on the classic Treasure Island tale, which has been adapted countless times over the years. This version blends space with the swashbuckling pirate adventure, and while the movie has many clever moments, it doesn’t connect with audiences enough to produce box-office numbers. Despite the fact Disney took risks and tried to offer something fresh, it ended up backfiring.
The Black Cauldron
Disney took a significant risk regarding The Black Cauldron as it was a much darker and more sinister animated movie than the company was known for. Unfortunately, that gamble didn’t pay off. The darker story didn’t draw audiences in the same way that Disney’s more light-hearted stories tend to do, which is likely the main reason the company didn’t go down this road again.
The Good Dinosaur
The Good Dinosaur was a great movie that featured some of Pixar’s most detailed animation, particularly the rain scenes. Stories about dinosaurs often do well at the box office, especially when geared towards younger audiences. But this was a surprise flop, mainly due to the story itself being rather forgettable and not at the same level as other Pixar classics.
Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland was directed by Brad Bird, who has a successful track record of movies, plus George Clooney in the lead role. It should’ve been a recipe for success for Disney, but this futuristic movie brought in a small audience. A big problem was that the plot was overly complex, making it difficult to understand and connect with.
A Wrinkle in Time
A Wrinkle in Time was a movie that brought high expectations but fell short financially. Despite a star-studded cast and vibrant visuals, the film’s narrative failed to resonate with the masses.
Dumbo
Dumbo is one of Disney’s classic animated movies and a story that’s stood the test of time. However, that didn’t lead to success regarding the live-action remake, even though Tim Burton was in charge of the proceedings. There were high expectations for this due to the story and the characters involved, but it proved that not every movie translates into the live-action genre.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
National Treasure is one of Disney’s strongest live-action movies, producing a beloved performance from Nicolas Cage. But The Sorcerer’s Apprentice failed to capitalize on that, as this one was too basic in terms of plot. It was underwhelming to watch and lacked the same level of creativity that National Treasure provided.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
As one of Disney’s most mature animated films, Atlantis: The Lost Empire would always be risky. But it didn’t end up being one that was worth taking, as the film struggled to attract its targeted audience. Although it’s beautifully animated and features a range of excellent characters, it didn’t perform well.
Brother Bear
Brother Bear might have had a heartfelt story and a Phil Collins-created soundtrack, but it didn’t succeed at the box office. This was a disappointing result for Disney, but it was a reminder that not all of their films will be hits.
The Emperor’s New Groove
This is one of Disney’s funniest movies, with The Emperor’s New Groove packed with great quotes. With a talented cast, Disney certainly put a lot of effort into making this a hit, but it fell short of the mark.
Meet the Robinsons
Meet the Robinsons was an intriguing premise but didn’t quite hit the mark. Its underperformance was attributed to a lack of emotional connection and a somewhat chaotic storyline, but it was entertaining due to each character’s wild personality.
Oliver & Company
Many movies have adapted the classic Oliver Twist story, and Disney’s version was Oliver & Company. Even though people knew the story and its characters, this version didn’t perform well at the box office. It features many catchy songs and some great animation, but people have overlooked it.
The Rescuers Down Under
Sequels can be tricky to get right as people always hope to see things similar to what came before them. That’s likely one of the reasons why The Rescuers Down Under didn’t perform well, as it could not live up to The Rescuers. Considering that the original isn’t one of Disney’s biggest hits either, it was always going to be a risk to take this movie on, and it’s one that didn’t necessarily work.
Home on the Range
Home on the Range is often seen as one of Disney’s weakest animated movies, even though it was one of the last the company did in the traditional sense before switching to CGI. The story was too basic for most people to enjoy this one, with Home on the Range failing to appeal to adults and children alike, as most Disney movies tend to do.
Return to Oz
The Wizard of Oz is an all-time classic and one of the greatest movies ever made. But Disney’s decision to follow that up with Return to Oz didn’t lead to the same levels of success. A big reason for that is that the film’s tone is entirely different, with this one being eerie to the point where it can be scary for many people.
Planes: Fire & Rescue 
Photo Credit: Walt Disney Studios.The Cars franchise was a massive hit for Pixar, and while the movies vary in quality, they’ve always performed well at the box office. That’s why it’s no surprise that Disney attempted a spin-off focusing on planes. But this movie was far from the same level of quality, proving that it’s important to still put the same effort in and not just rely upon similarities.
Strange Magic
Many people aren’t aware of Strange Magic, a Disney movie created by LucasFilm. This musical lacked imagination and featured a storyline that was easy to forget.
The Wild
The Wild has often been compared to Madagascar due to its similarities, which hurt Disney’s movie because Madagascar is superior. The Wild couldn’t hold up, leading to it flopping at the box office.
