We’ve all been there: excitedly waiting for a movie’s release, surrounded by all the hype and buzz, only to walk out of the cinema with disappointment in our hearts. Here, we’ve got 18 movies that made us wait with bated breath, only to leave us wondering, “What on Earth happened?” No, it’s not just you; we also thought they’d be better!
Jurassic World: Dominion
The “Jurassic World: Dominion” marketing promised a thrilling ending for the beloved franchise, full of exciting dino-on-dino action and breathtaking special effects. But when it hit theaters, many found the plotline too formulaic. Fans complained that the dinosaurs played second-fiddle to some of the more boring plotlines.
Morbius
Trailers for “Morbius” promised a dark, edgy Marvel antihero film with a gritty theme. Many fans were excited to see a departure from the typical superhero fare. Unfortunately, the film failed to deliver on this promise. The plot was muddled, the characters one-dimensional, and the overall tone inconsistent.
Fantastic Beasts Trilogy
The “Fantastic Beasts Trilogy” had massive shoes to fill as a prequel to the Harry Potter series. Teasers promised an enchanting look at the magical world’s history, with a fresh cast of characters and exciting new creatures. However, the plot swiftly changed into a Dumbledore prequel series, and the sense of magic that defined the Harry Potter films was missing.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
With a dedicated fan base and an epic saga spanning decades, “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” had much to live up to. The trailers promised an exciting conclusion to the long-running series, complete with epic space battles and emotional moments. Sadly, when the film came out, many fans were disappointed by plot holes, unsatisfying character arcs, and a rushed ending.
The Golden Compass
Based on a beloved novel, “The Golden Compass” had the potential to be a cinematic classic. The trailer teased a grand adventure full of mythical creatures and epic battles. Unfortunately, the result was a movie that felt rushed and shallow. Thankfully, HBO made a far better adaptation for TV.
Pacific Rim Uprising
The original “Pacific Rim” was a surprise hit with its unique take on the giant-robot genre. When the “Pacific Rim Uprising” sequel was announced, fans were excited for another dose of thrilling robot-on-monster action. But when the movie came out, audiences found instead of a worthy successor to the original, they were left with a film that felt like a cheap cash-in.
Downsizing
The trailer for “Downsizing” promised a unique and intriguing take on the sci-fi genre, as it followed characters who chose to shrink themselves to live in a smaller world with a fascinating premise and an impressive cast. However, it felt disjointed and underdeveloped, with weak characters and a lack of focus. The promise of an engaging sci-fi exploration was wasted, leaving audiences disappointed.
The Black Dahlia
With a strong cast and a riveting real-life story, “The Black Dahlia” had all the ingredients for a classic noir film. Unfortunately, the movie was overly complex, making it hard for audiences to follow the plot. Fans of classic noir films were left feeling underwhelmed and frustrated by such a missed opportunity.
Eragon
The “Eragon” book series has a dedicated fan base that was excited to see the story brought to life on the big screen. However, the film instead featured poor casting choices, weak special effects, and a rushed plot that didn’t do justice to the beloved book series. Instead of the next great fantasy epic, audiences got a film that felt like a letdown.
Thor: Love and Thunder
With a beloved character and a history of successful films, “Thor 4” had a lot to live up to. Trailers promised more of the witty banter and high-flying action that fans had come to love. However, it had an inconsistent tone that failed to be humorous. If that wasn’t bad enough, the visual effects were also pretty lacking.
Mulan (2020)
The animated classic “Mulan” is beloved by many, and when the live-action adaptation was announced, fans were excited to see a modern take on the story. But with the removal of Li Chang, accusations of racism, and historical inaccuracies, audiences were left feeling like the movie was a pale imitation of the beloved classic.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
The “Percy Jackson” series has a dedicated fan base that was excited to see the story brought to life on the big screen. Sadly, it wasn’t the exciting adventure full of Greek mythology and epic battles that it was meant to be. Instead, it felt like a watered-down version of the source material, with poor character development and a rushed plot.
The Lion King (2019)
The animated “The Lion King” is a beloved classic, and when the live-action adaptation was announced, fans were excited to see a new take on the story. However, the film felt like a shot-for-shot remake, with none of the emotional depth that made the original so special. And then there were the terrible visual effects!
Jupiter Rising
With an impressive cast and an intriguing premise, “Jupiter Rising” had the potential to be a sci-fi epic. Ultimately, the film felt convoluted and underdeveloped, lacking focus and poor character development. Instead of being a great sci-fi epic, audiences were left with a film that felt like a missed opportunity.
Death Note (2017)
The “Death Note” anime series has a dedicated fan base that was excited to see the story brought to life in a live-action adaptation. But instead of a thrilling adaptation full of suspense and intrigue, we got a film with no suspense and poor character development. The original series’s fans were left disappointed and let down by the adaptation.
The Dark Tower
The “Dark Tower” series by Stephen King is an epic adventure full of thrilling battles and intriguing characters. So, it was quite difficult for the filmmakers to create a rushed adaptation that didn’t do justice to the source material; but they did it! The film left fans and audiences feeling disappointed and let down.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
“Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within” should have been a thrilling adventure. It should have had stunning visuals and tense battles. However, the film ended up being nothing of the story. Instead, it felt like a generic sci-fi film that didn’t capture the magic of the video game series. It was a poor adaptation of great source material.
The Suicide Squad (2016)
With its distinctive concept and a star-studded cast, “The Suicide Squad” (2016) had all the makings of a groundbreaking superhero film. But when the movie finally hit theaters, it felt more like a messy mishmash than the edgy adventure we were promised. Weak character arcs and a chaotic plot made this film a failure.
