Hollywood executives are always looking to start a new franchise. However, their dreams of a money-making series are cut short by box office failures.
Many anticipated movie franchises, with the potential for numerous installments, met an untimely demise when their initial entries failed to resonate with audiences.
Here’s a look at 10 movies that killed off their franchises.
John Carter (2012)
Disney’s ambitious plans for a John Carter franchise, adapting Edgar Rice Burroughs’ novels, came to an abrupt end when the movie incurred a staggering $200 million loss. The film’s lukewarm reception and director Andrew Stanton’s inexperience in handling such projects contributed to the demise.
Voyage Of The Dawn Treader (2010)
The Narnia series, after an initial success, faced dwindling fortunes with Prince Caspian. Voyage of the Dawn Treader attempted to recover, but despite its moderate success, the declining box office numbers led to the cancellation of further adaptations.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
Despite a strong lead in Andrew Garfield, this Spider-Man franchise struggled to find its footing following Sam Raimi’s previous trilogy. The second installment, with its overstuffed narrative, marked the end of Garfield’s run as the iconic superhero.
The Golden Compass (2007)
This adaptation of Philip Pullman’s complex series failed to capture the depth of the source material. Despite hints at sequels in the movie’s cliffhanger ending, poor reception led to the abandonment of any further plans.
City Of Ember (2008)
Adapted from Jeanne DuPrau’s series, City of Ember grossed a mere $17 million against a $55 million budget. Despite initial intentions for a sequel, financial losses forced the abandonment of the franchise.
The Mummy (2017)
Universal’s Dark Universe, focusing on classic monsters, kicked off with The Mummy reboot starring Tom Cruise. However, the film’s underwhelming performance forced the studio to rethink its shared universe plans.
Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters (2013)
The Percy Jackson series faced disappointment with its first installment, and while the sequel attempted to address concerns, Sea of Monsters failed to reignite interest, leading to the franchise’s demise.
Eragon (2006)
Despite a successful book series, Eragon faced criticism for changes to the plot and lackluster production. The movie’s failure and poor reception paved the way for a TV adaptation currently in development.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2010)
M. Night Shyamalan’s adaptation strayed from the beloved Nickelodeon series, facing backlash for casting choices and tonal differences. Netflix’s upcoming live-action adaptation aims to rectify past mistakes.
Fantastic Four (2015)
The MCU’s foray into “Marvel’s First Family” fell short, facing criticism for its narrative choices and character portrayal. The lackluster box office performance signaled the end of this attempt at bringing the Fantastic Four to the big screen.
