Summary
SinceIron Mandebuted in 2008, thesuperhero genrehas largely dominated the international box office, with relatively few missteps or outright flops. However, financial underperformance has always been a possibility, especially in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered the landscape, forcing studios to experiment with streaming releases—often with mixed results. Additionally, growing superhero fatigue has become a major talking point, influencing how modern audiences perceive and engage with these films.
To assess what qualifies as a box office flop, we’ll rely on standard industry metrics. For abig-budget blockbuster to be considered profitable, its total box office earnings typically need to beat least 2.5 timesits production budget. This accounts for additional marketing expenses (which can sometimes rival the production budget itself) and the revenue share taken by theater chains.
With that in mind, we’ll be ranking the best superhero movies that flopped or significantly underperformed at the box office, meaning their total earnings wereno more than twicetheir estimated budget. Whether from DC, Marvel, or beyond, these films prove that financial struggles don’t always reflect a movie’s quality.
CallingX-Men: Dark Phoenixone of the “best” superhero box office flops might be a stretch—especially considering it’s widely regarded asone of the weakestX-Menfilms(which is surprising given thatX-Men: The Last Standexists). However, when compared to other superhero movies that bombed,Dark Phoenixisn’t entirely without merit. Yes, the plot is a mess, and the film’s overreliance on CGI can be exhausting, but there are a few redeeming qualities that make it an occasionally enjoyable watch.
Hans Zimmer’s score is a standout, elevating key moments with his signature grandiosity. Additionally, as expected from theX-Menfranchise, the stellar cast delivers solid performances despite the film’s shortcomings—James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, and Nicholas Hoult all bring their A-game to the material they’re given. Unfortunately, as the final installment in Fox’sX-Mensaga,Dark Phoenixwas a disappointment both critically and financially and failed to recoup its bloated $200 million production budget at the global box office. It served as anunderwhelming send-off for a franchisethat once set the standard for superhero storytelling.
One of the most ambiguous MCU movies in recent years,Eternalsattempted to add a mythological depth to the superhero genre while injecting some much-needed fresh blood into Marvel.The results, however, were mixed. The film received some of the lowest critic and audience scores in MCU history, and its worldwide box office gross was among its weakest.
Still, there’s some beauty and enjoyment to be found inEternals. The film boasts breathtaking natural shooting locations, impressive costume and makeup design, intriguing story beats, and a grand narrative—though one that, so far, has led nowhere. The cast is another highlight, introducing Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Salma Hayek, and Kit Harington to the superhero genre for the first time. WhileEternalsmay not have lived up to expectations, it remains a visually striking and ambitious chapter in the MCU.
Dwayne Johnson’s long-awaited DC debut,Black Adam, didn’t quite live up to the hype. While the filmoffers some entertainment with its brutal action(even allowing the titular anti-hero to hurt or kill without hesitation) it ultimately feels like a generic superhero flick, complete with a predictable story, shallow themes, and an overuse of CGI demons.
On the bright side, the soundtrack is solid, the action rarely slows down, and some new DC characters, particularly Pierce Brosnan’s Dr. Fate, bring much-needed charisma. Johnson himself delivers a committed performance and is clearly passionate about the role. Unfortunately,Black Adamarrived too late to make a real impact on the already crumbling DCEU, and even Henry Cavill’s Superman post-credits tease, seemingly hinting at an exciting future, ended up leading nowhere. Quite fitting for DC, all things considered.
Black Widowwas one of Marvel’s first major post-pandemic releases, making its financial success tricky to measure using traditional box office metrics. However, the fact that it earned less thanEternalson a comparable budget doesn’t exactly scream victory for Marvel.
Part of the issue likely stems from the film’s timing—arriving afterScarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff had already met her fateinAvengers: Endgame. As a prequel with minimal impact on the broader MCU narrative,Black Widowfelt like a belated sendoff rather than a must-see chapter. While it did introduce key characters andhelped set up the upcomingThunderbolts, the approach left many longtime fans wanting more from Natasha’s long-overdue solo outing.
Despite Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav hypingThe Flashas “the best superhero movie” he had ever seen, the final productfell quite short of that lofty claim. With ongoing controversies surrounding Ezra Miller, poor-to-horrible CGI, and less Batfleck than fans had hoped for,The Flashwas already facing an uphill battle, and its box office numbers made it clear that WB’s expectations were way off.
As a superhero romp,The Flashis actually enjoyable enough and definitely has its moments. The character dynamics were engaging, Michael Keaton’s triumphant return as the oldest Batman was a major highlight, and the film leaned into nostalgia with plenty of surprising cameos. It even had some solid emotional beats, too. Still, after a string of DC misfires,The Flashfelt like yet another sign that after Zack Snyder stepped away, the DCEU as we knew it was living through its final days.
Now, there are some good superhero films that flopped, and some really great ones.Hellboy 2: The Golden Armyis certainly among the latter. They just don’t make movies like this anymore. Deeply layered and enjoyable, visually rich, endlessly humane and relatable,The Golden Armyis not just the bestHellboymovie to date, but one of the finest in its genre.Guillermo del Toro crafted a mesmerizing world, blending mythology, action, and dark fantasy in a way that feels both grand and deeply personal.
Thanks to its relatively modest budget,The Golden Armyisn’t considered a devastating flop. Nevertheless, its performance wasn’t enough towarrant a conclusion to Guillermo del Toro’s storyand ambitious vision. Since then,Hellboyhas been rebooted multiple times, with steadily underwhelming results, none of which have managed to recapture the same magic.
One of the greatest DCEU movies to date,The Suicide Squadwas more than just a course correction after the terrible first installment (though that one was much more profitable) but was unlucky enough to be released in the post-pandemic era when massive blockbuster grosses simply weren’t possible. Like withBlack WidowandEternals, it’s hard to judgeThe Suicide Squad’s performance without knowing WB’s expectations, but in terms of raw numbers, it wasn’t too great.
On the bright side,WB surely wouldn’t have hired James Gunn to overseethe reinvention of the entire DC movie division if it wasn’t satisfied with his work onThe Suicide Squad—and rightfully so. Great casting and refined characters, a layered narrative with genuinely fun jokes and exciting action, spectacular visuals, and an emotional touch—everything is in place. While theupcomingSupermanis yet to provewhether it was the right call, Gunn’s superhero legacy withGuardians of the Galaxyand this film is already secured as one of the most impressive any director can achieve.
Slightly mirroring Gunn’s current situation,Watchmenwas Zack Snyder’s first DC superhero movie, which arguably paved his way to becoming the DCEU’s mastermind and visionary director for years. Adapting one of the most celebrated graphic novels is no easy task, yet Snyder pulled it off extraordinarily withWatchmen.
With traditionally perfect casting, jaw-dropping visuals that faithfully translate the original’s frames to the big screen, well-executed slow-mo action, complex themes, and a great musical selection,Watchmenalmost feels like it was simply ahead of its timewhen comic book movies weren’t as mainstream yet. The worldwide gross wasn’t as impressive as the movie itself, but at least fans got a timeless classic that has since become iconic, cementing its place as a must-watch superhero film, even for viewers who aren’t typically into the genre.
