Multiple Major Film Franchises Collapse After Box Office Flops

Hollywood has witnessed numerous cinematic universes and big-budget films that ultimately failed due to poor execution, marketing, or storylines, halting promising franchises and causing significant financial losses. For instance, the DC Extended Universe, which began with "Man of Steel," effectively ended with "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom," as new studio leadership shifted the direction away from continuing that saga. Similarly, major box office flops like Disney's "John Carter" and Universal's 2019 musical adaptation demonstrate that high budgets and star power don't guarantee success, with losses reaching hundreds of millions and causing damage to studios and careers. Some films, such as "Catwoman" and "The Adventures of Pluto Nash," not only failed commercially but also became infamous for their critical reception and are often cited as examples of what not to do in filmmaking. Meanwhile, the global box office landscape is evolving, with non-American films like China’s "The Mermaid" and the "Detective Chinatown" series achieving monumental success, highlighting a shift in international cinema's influence. These examples illustrate the precarious balance between ambition and execution in movie-making, where even well-funded projects can flop, while international markets rise in prominence.