The biggest box office bombs of 2022: Deadline’s most valuable box office tournament

Deadline’s Most Valuable Blockbuster tournament took a break during the pandemic, when theaters were closed for most of 2020-2021 and theatrical titles became more common on both the big screen and studios’ respective streaming platforms. Returning from that side, studios have largely returned to their theatrical release models and the downstream monetization they can bring. Not to mention their strength in launching IPs around the world with huge global marketing campaigns. When it comes to evaluating the financial performance of top films, it’s not about how much a film costs at the box office. The true story is told as production budgets, P&A, talent royalties and other costs collide with box office and ancillary revenue from VOD to DVD and TV. To get closer to that mysterious end of the equation, Deadline is recapping our Most Valuable Blockbuster tournament for 2022, using data from experienced and trusted sources.

While everyone waits with bated breath for the final two top-grossing films in Deadlines Most Valuable Blockbuster Tournament, let’s reflect on the most notable bombs of 2022. Realizing that ultimately, it’s better to suffer a loss in a down- theater model than with windows crashing premium VOD or streaming – or worse, sending a movie straight to streaming. If you do, it’s best to get your films cheap.

The studios chose the best path for these five films.

THE MOVIE

strange world
Walt Disney Animation
Total damage: -$152.4 million

It’s not enough to say that original animation is a challenge at the box office when it comes down to it strange world‘s failure. The film focused on a family of explorers, the Clades, who attempt to traverse an unknown, treacherous land, along with a motley crew that includes a mischievous slob, a three-legged dog and a host of predators. Some might say that Disney’s embrace of a gay character in the film turned off red-state audiences, while critics found the fantasy imagery clumsy and incomprehensible and the animation retro and dated. Nevertheless, Disney backed the film with a full theatrical run, dating it to its traditional five-day Thanksgiving launch platform, which saw it take a record $18.8 million for a Disney animated title. Disney knew the merchandise had gone sour and did strange world on Disney+ a month later, until December 23. Disney did better in its early rounds with original IP Destroy it Ralph And Zootopia. One thing is clear, though: Post-pandemic, Illumination will be beaten at the box office Minions: Rise of Gru And The movie Super Mario Bros.

THE BOX SCORE

THE MOVIE

Amsterdam
New Regency/Disney
Total damage: -$108.4 million

This New Regency-funded film had to move its planned production from Boston to Los Angeles due to Covid. Despite receiving $2.5 million in California tax credits and the film’s historical nature, the budget soared from $50 million to $80 million. The picture also included a massive all-star cast including Margot Robbie, Christian Bale, John David Washington, Taylor Swift, Chris Rock, Anya-Taylor Joy and Rami Malek to name a few. Bale was paid below his usual $5 million salary, while other stars along with filmmaker David O. Russell stepped up and opted for a lower salary (read: Oscar Winner Malek Receives Six-Figure Payday). However, far too much applies to an absurd early ensemble comedy of the First World War that received zero points. While the intention was to make another one American rush Here, Amsterdam lacked the hipness, camp and gangster haircuts of that 1970s title. New Regency is the big loser financially, with only one distribution deal with Disney. Still, the financier is known for backing the visions of writers, which has a history of churning out blockbusters and accolades, including $533 million gross worldwide The revenant which won three Oscars.

THE BOX SCORE

THE MOVIE

light year
Pixar/Walt Disney
Total damage: – 106 million dollars

Maybe you’re thinking about expanding the toy story A spin-off via Buzz Lightyear, the franchise was supposed to be an absolute hit, but loyal fans weren’t thrilled that Tim Allen didn’t do the voiceover (Chris Evans did), not to mention their problems not with filming. liberties with toy story Canon. The starting value of $50.5 million domestically would not be reached light year to the moon at the summer box office. Also, potential impact on gross profit: former moviegoers are too comfortable watching Pixar movies at home on Disney+ Soul And Blush was sent directly to the service. According to CEO Bob Iger, Disney is returning to the mainstream toy story Franchise with a fifth Quel. With an A-Cinema score, light year had the worst grade for a toy story Movie. Critical reception dropped to 74% from the typical 90%+ on Rotten Tomatoes light year

THE BOX SCORE

THE MOVIE

Mission
Black Label Media/Sony
TTotal loss: -$89.2 million

This Korean fighter pilot’s story about Jesse LeRoy Brown, the first black man to be trained as a pilot by the US Navy and also the first black pilot to see combat, was a passion project for everyone involved, including financier-producer Molly Smith’s Black label media; Top Gun: Maverick actor Glenn Powell, who read Adam Makos’ book when it first came out in 2015 and brought it to Smith; and filmmaker JD Dillard, whose own father was an African-American naval pilot. No expense was spared and it cost $90 million after tax credits to produce in Georgia and Canada. DNEG handled VFX and there was a fleet of vintage aircraft. STX was sold abroad and fetched $40 million here. Sony handled a distribution fee on a Rent-a-System basis, with $40 million P&A backed by Black Label Media. Despite a world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival and rave reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, with a certified freshness rating of 80% and an A-CinemaScore, nobody came to see this film, released around Thanksgiving. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever sniff things out. Although the picture starred Powell after the worldwide hit of $1.49 billion Top Gun: Maverick and majorsCreed III and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, it wasn’t enough to attract the crowds. Domestic streaming and home entertainment didn’t flow through Sony’s rivers, which counted only the US and Canada here; Instead, it was sold to Paramount Home Entertainment and Paramount+.

THE BOX SCORE

THE MOVIE

Babylon
Decisively
Total loss: -$87.4 million

When moviegoers drove to the cinema in the snow this past holiday season, you could see it Avatar: the way of water, not this raunchy 3 hour 9 minute R-rated tale about early Hollywood stars. This historic piece, which cost a whopping $80 million to produce during Covid in Santa Clarita, California (some would still argue too much for a film of this nature), was made by Oscar winners. the country Director Damien Chazelle received the green light from Wyck Godfrey, former president of Paramount and producer of Chazelle’s first man. Despite leaving the studio, the film was championed by the current government, screened a month before opening, and received five Golden Globe nominations (including a win for Justin Hurwitz’s Non-Stop Jazz Score) and three Oscar nominations. How awesome was this movie? Enough to possibly make people go in the first 30 minutes, including a whore urinating on a Fatty Arbuckle guy and an elephant taking 2nd place. Moviegoers gave it a C+ and critics were unimpressed, scoring 56% on Rotten Tomatoes. Armed with the star power of Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie, Paramount thought it was one Once in Hollywood In Babylon, but the latter was far too cumbersome. Not to mention history speaks for itself when it comes to the lack of appeal of Hollywood insider films at the box office: think of the three-time Oscar nominee Chaplin, starring Robert Downey Jr., who grossed just $9.5 million in 1992, and Robert Altman’s two-time Cannes winner The player for $21.7 million in the United States.

THE BOX SCORE