Audiences love going to the theater and watching a loud, exciting action movie on the big screen, but not all action movies that come with great reviews perform well. Because of how enjoyable it is to see this kind of film in theaters, action movies tend to be big hits at the box office. However, a film being packed with action does not by any means guarantee that it will be a financial success. Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, even great action films, whether in the ’80s, or gritty action movies from the ’90s, fail to make much money.
Just because a movie fails to make a ton of money, though, does not prove that it’s a bad film by any means. Plenty of well-respected action films have failed to make back the money that was put into making them. Some of these movies have even gone on to win major awards, and receive consistent praise from critics. When looking for an action movie franchise to watch, it is important to look past the box office numbers, and remember that even the ones which bombed can still be excellent films.
10 Miller’s Crossing (1990)
The Coen Brothers’ Third Film Was Not a Hit
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Miller’s Crossing R
Miller’s Crossing is a crime drama directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. The film follows Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne), an advisor to a Prohibition-era crime boss, as he navigates a volatile dispute between two rival gangs. Set against a backdrop of betrayal and shifting loyalties, the story delves into the complexities of Reagan’s moral and ethical choices. Albert Finney and John Turturro also star in this intricate narrative of power and deception.
Director Joel Coen , Ethan Coen Release Date September 21, 1990 Cast Gabriel Byrne , Albert Finney , John Turturro , Marcia Gay Harden , Jon Polito , Steve Buscemi Runtime 115 Minutes
Though far from your typical action movie, Miller’s Crossing frequently dishes out thrilling action scenes over the course of this creative spin on the gangster film genre. Set in the 1920s, the film highlights the violent rivalry between two organized crime syndicates, and the man caught between them. The film received overwhelming praise from critics, earning consistently positive reviews for its overall style, as well as for the dialogue and performances.
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Miller’s Crossing Key Facts |
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Box Office |
$5 million |
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score |
93% |
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Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
90% |
Unlike many of the Coen Brothers’ later films, Miller’s Crossing was not a commercial success by any means. The film only earned around five million dollars at the box office, despite being made on a budget of more than double that amount. This is largely the result of the film only being given a limited release. Although it failed to make much money for the popular filmmaking duo, it still remains a valuable part of the Coen Brothers’ filmography because of its unique twist on the idea of the gangster film.
9 True Romance (1993)
Tarantino’s Name Wasn’t Big Enough for Audiences Yet
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8/10 True Romance R
True Romance is a romantic crime drama by Tony Scott and Quentin Tarantino that follows two lovers, a kindly nerdy man and a prostitute, who decide to elope after a series of events. When a murder and an accidental theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars of cocaine from a mafia occur leading up to their engagement, the couple goes on the run, realizing no amount of talking will fix their mistake.
Director Tony Scott Release Date September 10, 1993 Cast Christopher Walken , Dennis Hopper , Brad Pitt , Christian Slater , Gary Oldman , Val Kilmer , Samuel L. Jackson , Patricia Arquette Runtime 119 minutes
In 1993, the writing of Quentin Tarantino and the direction of Tony Scott were brought together to form True Romance, an action-heavy crime drama about a newlywed couple on the run. The film was loved by critics, earning an impressive 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The performances of the ensemble cast (including Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Christopher Walken, and many more) and Tarantino’s pre-Reservoir Dogs writing received additional acclaim.
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True Romance Key Facts |
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Box Office |
$12 million |
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score |
93% |
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Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
93% |
Unfortunately for the up-and-coming Tarantino, True Romance ended up flopping at the box office. The film barely managed to break even on its budget of just over twelve million dollars, only earning a mere four million during its opening weekend. Regardless, True Romance soon found itself developing a strong, dedicated fanbase, keeping the love of the film alive for years to come.
8 Serenity (2005)
This Firefly Follow-Up Hardly Broke Even
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Serenity (2005) PG-13
Directed by Joss Whedon, Serenity is a science fiction film that follows the renegade crew of the spaceship Serenity. Starring Nathan Fillion as Captain Malcolm Reynolds, the crew must protect a telepathic girl with powerful secrets from a totalitarian regime while navigating through space against hostile forces. The film blends action and adventure, expanding on the universe established in the television series Firefly.
Director Joss Whedon Release Date September 30, 2005 Cast Nathan Fillion , Gina Torres , Chiwetel Ejiofor , Alan Tudyk , Morena Baccarin , Adam Baldwin , Jewel Staite , Sean Maher Runtime 119 Minutes
Much to the dismay of its viewers, Joss Whedon’s science-fiction series, Firefly, was canceled before its story could be completed. Because of this, it came as a relief to many when Whedon released the feature-length film, Serenity, as a follow-up to the show in 2005. The film provided fans of the series with the satisfying, action-packed conclusion they desired.
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Unfortunately, while the fanbase of Firefly was dedicated, it proved to not be quite as big as Whedon expected. Serenity barely managed to turn a slim profit on its 39-million-dollar budget. However, those who saw the film did seem to enjoy it, as it proved to be very well-received by critics.
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Serenity Key Facts |
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Box Office |
$40 million |
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score |
82% |
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Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
91% |
Serenity even went on to win a slew of coveted awards from various science-fiction organizations. Proving that it doesn’t matter how much money the film made, Serenity offered Firefly fans a satisfying conclusion, as well as an exciting action/science-fiction experience for all audiences.
7 Children of Men (2006)
Three Oscar Nominations, Zero Profits
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Children of Men R
Directed by Alfonso Cuaron, Children of Men is a dystopian drama set in the year 2027, where infertility has left humanity facing the possibility of extinction. Clive Owen stars as former activist Theo Faron, with Julianne Moore, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Caine, Charlie Hunnam, and Pam Ferris in supporting roles.
Director Alfonso Cuarón Release Date January 5, 2007 Cast Julianne Moore , Clare-Hope Ashitey , Clive Owen , Chiwetel Ejiofor , Michael Caine Runtime 109 minutes
Children of Men shocked audiences around the globe, proving that you don’t need futuristic weapons or gadgets to tell a thrilling, action-packed science-fiction story. The 2006 film from director Alfonso Cuarón explores a chaotic near-future version of Earth in which all humans have become infertile, creating a world in which no children have been born for eighteen years.
Children of Men
shocked audiences around the globe, proving that you don’t need futuristic weapons or gadgets to tell a thrilling, action-packed science-fiction story.
Sadly, thanks to a series of poor marketing decisions by Universal Pictures, the film did not accumulate nearly as much money as one would have expected. Even with its A-list cast (Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, and more), Children of Men only managed to get back 70.5 million dollars of its 76-million-dollar budget.
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Children of Men Key Facts |
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Box Office |
$70 million |
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score |
92% |
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Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
85% |
Despite this, the film was a massive critical success, receiving overwhelming positive reviews, and earning a spot on numerous lists of the year’s best films. Children of Men also received nominations for three different Academy Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing. Needless to say, the box office numbers do not provide an accurate representation of the film’s quality.
6 The Nice Guys (2016)
Barely a Profit for the Crowe/Gosling Team
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7/10 9/10 The Nice Guys R
Directed by Shane Black and starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, The Nice Guys tells the story of a private investigator and a hired enforcer who team up to investigate the disappearance of a young woman. Set in 1970s Los Angeles, the 2016 comedy thriller puts a modern spin on the noir genre.
Director Shane Black Release Date May 20, 2016 Cast Ryan Gosling , Ty Simpkins , Rachele Brooke Smith , Russell Crowe , Yaya DaCosta , Margaret Qualley , Kim Basinger , Keith David , Matt Bomer , Yvonne Zima Runtime 116minutes
Lethal Weapon writer Shane Black moved to the director’s chair for The Nice Guys, a 2016 action comedy starring Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. Set in the 1970s, the film follows the oddball duo as they attempt to solve a mysterious case in Los Angeles. The film was a critical success, garnering a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes and receiving consistent praise, especially for the comedic partnership of Gosling and Crowe.
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The Nice Guys Key Facts |
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Box Office |
$71 million |
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score |
91% |
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Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
79% |
Their natural chemistry was not enough to bring audiences to the theaters, though, as The Nice Guys only managed to turn a slim profit on its 50-million-dollar budget. The underwhelming performance has been attributed to heavy competition, with other major comedy films releasing at the same exact time. Fortunately, the underappreciated action/comedy combo found a new home on Netflix for a while, where many more people were able to give it a well-deserved watch.
5 Mulan (2020)
The Action-Packed Disney Remake Fell Victim to the Pandemic
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9/10 3/10 Mulan PG-13
The 2020 release of Mulan is a live-action adaptation of the 1998 animated film that focuses more on the original Chinese tale, Ballad of Mulan. In the film, war comes to china from Mongol armies, with the Emperor of China requiring each family must send one man to join the army. To protect her father from returning to the war, she dons his armor and masquerades as a man to fight for her country and bring honor to her family.
Director Niki Caro Release Date September 4, 2020 Cast Yoson An , Doua Moua , Jet Li , Liu Yifei , Jason Scott Lee , Jimmy Wong , Tzi Ma , Gong Li , Donnie Yen , Chen Tang Runtime 1h 55m
Disney is certainly not known for action films, but the studio elected to venture into new territory with its 2020 remake of Mulan. Abandoning the musical elements and cartoonish characters featured in the original film, Mulan (2020) proved to be an impressively dramatic, action-rich film. While its differences from the original version did receive some negative comments, critics who managed to view Mulan (2020) as its own movie were consistently impressed.
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The film even received multiple Oscar nominations, and massive praise for its visual effects and production design. Mulan (2020) was very unlucky, though, with its initial premiere being scheduled for March 9, 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic forced Disney to adapt its plan, as theaters across the country were being shut down.
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Mulan Key Facts |
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Box Office |
$69 million |
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score |
72% |
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Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
46% |
The studio ultimately decided to release the film directly to Disney+, a decision that would massively detract from its potential revenue. Mulan (2020) only earned back a mere 69.9 million of its 200-million-dollar budget. One can only wonder how well the film would have done in a different year.
4 The Suicide Squad (2021)
Not Even Superheroes Could Save This One
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8/10 22 8.5/10 The Suicide Squad R
James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad acts as a soft reboot for David Ayer’s 2016 Suicide Squad. Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) is again recruiting a group of superheroes for a dangerous mission, this time pairing Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) with Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena), Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior), Savant (Michael Rooker), King Shark (Sylvester Stallone), Blackguard (Pete Davidson), and Javelin (Flula Borg).
Director James Gunn Release Date August 5, 2021 Cast Margot Robbie , Viola Davis , Idris Elba , John Cena , Joel Kinnaman , Michael Rooker Runtime 132 minutes
In 2021, DC Films released The Suicide Squad, James Gunn’s attempt to revitalize the franchise after its widely-disliked predecessor from 2016. Similar to the first film, The Suicide Squad follows a ragtag team of little-known villains from DC Comics who are forced by the U.S. government to work together in order to stop a greater threat to the world.
The most prominent explanation of this failure is the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to the film being released directly onto Max the same day it hit theaters.
The R-rated action flick received reviews far more positive than the original Suicide Squad, even managing to earn an admirable score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite its praise, The Suicide Squad came over fifteen million dollars short of making back its 185-million-dollar budget. The most prominent explanation of this failure is the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to the film being released directly onto Max the same day it hit theaters.
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The Suicide Squad Key Facts |
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Box Office |
$168 million |
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score |
90% |
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Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
82% |
There was also the issue of audiences being unsure what exactly the film was; the advertising made it unclear whether the film was a sequel, a do-over of the previous Suicide Squad, or something in between. Along with other reasons, these factors piled up and led The Suicide Squad to an underwhelming box office run.
3 The Northman (2022)
The Epic Story Wasn’t Enough to Get People to Theaters
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6/10 7.5/10 The Northman R
Robert Eggers’ The Northman adapts the ancient legend of Amleth, the basis for Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. When a young Viking prince (Alexander Skarsgård) witnesses his uncle (Claes Bang) murdering his father (Ethan Hawke), he flees and swears revenge. Returning after years of honing his skills as a warrior, Amleth hunts his uncle in a bloody and brutal tale of revenge and retribution, hoping to rescue his mother (Nicole Kidman).
Director Robert Eggers Release Date April 22, 2022 Cast Claes Bang , Ian Gerard Whyte , Nicole Kidman , Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson , Kate Dickie , Olwen Fouéré , Katie Pattinson , Ethan Hawke , Gustav Lindh , Willem Dafoe , Doa Barney , Ralph Ineson , Ian Whyte , Bjork , Alexander Skarsgard , Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson , Anya Taylor-Joy , Murray McArthur Runtime 136 minutes Expand
Robert Eggers co-wrote and directed the 2022 film, The Northman, a bloody revenge film inspired by Viking history and Norse mythology. The film has a star-studded cast, including Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe, and Anya Taylor-Joy. Unfortunately for Eggers, not even these big names were enough to get the film to turn a profit.
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The film earned less than 70 million dollars, just under its estimated budget of approximately 70-90 million. Putting aside the underwhelming box office numbers, The Northman was at least a success with critics. The film achieved a score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, and was nominated for various awards for numerous aspects of its production.
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The Northman Key Facts |
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Box Office |
$69 million |
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score |
90% |
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Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
64% |
A prominent reason for The Northman‘s lack of financial success is simply that the film (being an R-rated, dramatic, artistic piece) is not the type of action movie bound to attract a large audience. This, combined with the film’s high budget, made it altogether unlikely that The Northman would profit, regardless of the positive reviews.
2 Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant (2023)
This War Drama Lost the Battle to Make a Profit
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Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant R
Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant is an action-packed war drama film that follows two men caught in the middle of Afghanistan trying to extract themselves from the conflict safely. After Sergeant John Kinley and his interpreter Ahmed are ambushed, Ahmed saves John’s life. However, upon learning that Ahmed and his family will be left behind despite promises from the United States to bring them back, John returns to the battlefield and save his family before the pursuing Taliban catch them.
Director Guy Ritchie Release Date April 21, 2023 Cast Jake Gyllenhaal , Dar Salim , Antony Starr , Alexander Ludwig , Sean Sagar , Bobby Schofield , Emily Beecham , Jonny Lee Miller Runtime 123 Minutes
Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant took on a much different tone than the director’s previous films, abandoning Ritchie’s trademark style of blending comedy and crime, and instead presenting a much more dramatic action piece. Though it was a sharp departure from his typical style, critics were quite impressed with the film.
In particular, Jake Gyllenhaal’s leading performance as a U.S. Sergeant serving in Afghanistan received much acclaim. The intense film was far from a commercial success though, not even making half of its 55-million-dollar budget back at the box office. This is primarily the result of the way the film was released.
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The Covenant Key Facts |
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Box Office |
$21 million |
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score |
83% |
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Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
98% |
Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant was only shown in theaters in the United States. For the rest of the world, the film was immediately able to stream on Amazon Prime Video. With an underwhelming marketing campaign and a minimized source of international revenue, it was really no surprise that the film was a bomb, regardless of the reviews.
1 The Creator (2023)
Another Oscar-Nominated Flop
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7/10 9/10 The Creator PG-13
The Creator is a sci-fi action film from Rogue One director Gareth Edwards. Edwards wrote and directed the movie, which centers on the human race’s war against AI. In the post-apocalyptic world, Joshua (John David Washington) is tasked with finding and killing the architect of the dangerous AI and the mysterious weapon they are developing.
Director Gareth Edwards Release Date September 29, 2023 Cast John David Washington , Gemma Chan , Ken Watanabe , Sturgill Simpson , Allison Janney , Madeleine Yuna Voyles Runtime 123 minutes
Coming during an era in which the movie industry is dominated by sequels and remakes, one may have expected a film like The Creator to be a refreshing change of pace for modern audiences. The fully original film follows a U.S. Army sergeant on his quest to restore order to a world that has been transformed by A.I.
The Creator
was released in the midst of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, during which A.I. was an incredibly sensitive topic.
The Creator received many honors, including two Academy Award nominations (for Best Sound and Best Visual Effects), and various other awards for its visuals. At the box office, The Creator earned 104 million dollars. This is fairly impressive for a film based on an original concept, but, unfortunately, it cost over 80 million dollars to make.
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The Creator Key Facts |
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Box Office |
$104 million |
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Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score |
67% |
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Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
76% |
While it is admirable that the filmmakers were willing to approach a topic as relevant as A.I., the timing may not have been ideal. The Creator was released in the midst of the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, during which A.I. was an incredibly sensitive topic. The idea of A.I. being a central element of the film was enough to turn away many potential audience members.