10 Failed 1990s Action Movies That Should Have Been Hits

The 1990s saw many action movies come and go, some of which were better than others. Big stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis dominated cinemas and had projects approved just for name recognition. HoweverJust because one high-octane film does well doesn't guarantee another will do well. with the public. Many films are released with high hopes and prolific marketing, but the result is not exactly what the studios hope.

Many different metrics are used to measure the success of a film. If the budget is high, box office revenue needs to cover it and even exceed it to not be considered a failure. The caliber of the actors involved also has an influence. A lesser-known ensemble won't have as many expectations as a cast tried and tested in previous blockbusters. Explosive action films are also typically projected to earn more than less popular genres. However, some action films that ideally should be hits are not like thatand these higher expectations make it even more disappointing.

10

Fallen (1998)

Directed by Gregory Hoblit

With a top-notch cast that included Donald Sutherland, John Goodman and star Denzel Washington, Fallen had all the right ingredients. He was riding the wave of action-packed crime thrillers, which were doing exceptionally well at the box office when they were released. Films like The Silence of the Lambs and Se7en proved that a dark and gritty plot with a good twist could translate into financial success and awards glory. With a lot at stake in this project, it seemed destined for success.

But despite the star-studded cast and tried-and-true premise, Fallen failed to deliver at the box office. According to Mojo Box Officeit only grossed around $25 million worldwide and received a lot of criticism for being too derivative of other similar films at the time. It proved that too much of a good thing could definitely become stale with audiences. Washington wasn't too negatively impacted in the long run, as a year later, he starred The Bone Collector, which raised more than US$151 million worldwide (via Mojo Box Office).

9

The Meteor Man (1993)

Directed by Robert Townsend

Prolific comedian of the 90s Robert Townsend wrote, directed and starred in 1993 The Meteor Man, an attempt at a superhero movie. Given Townsend's success and respect in the industry, it would be logical for Hollywood to support a new idea, but unfortunately, the concept was not what the public wanted. With a string of negative reviews, disappointing jokes and a dash of self-indulgence, The Meteor Man it failed to reach the heights it was intended to achieve.

With an estimated budget of US$20 million, The Meteor Man grossed just US$8 million worldwide (via The Numbers) and holds a low score of 27% in Rotten tomatoes. It's rare to see a superhero movie perform so poorly these days, but There was a time before the MCU and DCEU that was fertile ground for projects like this. Disjointed and not self-aware enough, it missed the mark on both comedy and action.

8

Hudson Falcao (1991)

Directed by Michael Lehmann

After the enormous success of Die HardBruce Willis should have been an instant draw. He co-wrote Hudson Falcaoa heist that focused on stealing some Da Vinci paintings for a major crime lord. Willis used his tough-guy charm well, and there were films with much less substance and weaker plots. However, this still hasn't helped Hudson Falcao take off at the box office.

The critical response, reflected in the film's 31% Rotten tomatoes score, could have been the biggest impediment to Hudson Falcaois success. Many saw this as a vanity project and thought that Willis didn't bring enough depth to the character or the story. Despite having Willis, Andie MacDowell, and Richard E. Grant take center stage, the 1991 film grossed $17 million against its $65 budget (via Mojo Box Office). This didn't stop Willis from taking on more roles in action films, but this one marked a downturn in the actor's filmography.

7

Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992)

Directed by John Carpenter

Part thriller, part comedy with a dose of quirky action, Memoirs of an invisible man was a vehicle for Chevy Chase to regain his leading man persona. Co-starring Daryl Hannah, this confusing film didn't find its footing, which was felt in its audience reception. Loosely based on the novel by HF Saint, the film is down 28% Rotten tomatoes score. The end result ended up costing money, which was disappointing given its high $40 million budget (via The Numbers).

Having recovered just US$14 million worldwide, Memoirs of an invisible man it was a genuine failure. Despite a focus on innovative visual effects and a hefty marketing budget, the film failed to appeal to viewers. Those involved didn't seem to suffer, with many of the stars having long careers in Hollywood. Still, the legacy of this disappointing action film lives on.

6

The Phantom (1996)

Directed bySimon Wincer

Based on one of the first comic book heroes Much was invested in the 1996 production The Phantom. Tim Burton had success with his Batman films, and Lois and Clark was a TV hit, so the superhero genre seemed to have been reborn. Taking on a lesser-known protagonist was a gamble and, unfortunately, it didn't pay off. The cartoonish plot was made worse by the stereotypical antagonists and lack of charm.

According to the Chicago TribuneZane had undergone a grueling fitness regime and no doubt saw this project as his turn to become a star. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. With a whopping $45 million budget, it grossed just $5 million in its opening weekend and just $17 million in total (via The Numbers). Interestingly, despite this box office bomb, Zane said ComicBook.com that he would like to return to the character in a sequel.

5

Judge Dredd (1995)

Directed by Danny Cannon

Sylvester Stallone remains an action star to this day, but not all of his films have had the same success. Judge Dreddan exaggerated dystopian based on a comic book hero, it certainly wasn't among Stallone's best films. The sensible main character has the mission of being the “police, jury and executioner.“Unfortunately, this premise didn't strike a chord with viewers. Neither completely comical nor cleverly satirical enough, Judge Dredd toes the line between being self-aware and completely self-indulgent.

Despite having a budget of US$90 million, the film's revenue in the US fell short of US$34 million (via Mojo Box Office). Even the film's worldwide gross ($113 million) barely offset its budget. The story isn't over for the character, as he has returned to the screen many times since. The film is now a cult classic, and fans like the “so bad, it's good“I feel that way. Stallone's film run in the 1990s was prolific, and this blip didn't affect him much – but for a while, Judge Dredd it had been some kind of joke.

4

(1993)

Directed by Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton

Before the success of 2024 Super Mario Bros. Movie, there was a cult classic 90s version of the video game franchise. Nintendo's game had already been a huge success, so it seemed natural to try and bring it to a different audience. Taking the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles approach, the all-live-action cast includes Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo as the titular plumbers. Facing King Koopa (Dennis Hopper), the two traverse New York City with a mix of comedy and action.

The film gained a lot of traction over the years due to its focus on nostalgia and appreciating the lighter things in life, but at the time of its release it failed to break even. With just $20 million raised against its $48 million budget (via Mojo Box Office), the film was not a success. Even though it suggested potential sequels and franchises, they never happened. Fortunately, neither the game nor the actors were greatly affected, with the Super Mario franchise growing to become the largest gaming property in the world.

3

Killer Throat Island (1995)

Directed by Renny Harlin

It has to be said: Throat Islandthe concept was ahead of its time. The film came out much earlier Pirates of the Caribbean but it did not have any semblance of the same success. A swashbuckling action adventure set in the honorable code of pirates, the studios had high hopes of Throat Island. Davis was one of Hollywood's biggest stars, but even her star power and a $98 million budget couldn't help this film avoid the plank. It ended up earning just US$10 million worldwide (via Mojo Box Office).

In a landscape of burly GI Joe types, it might have been a gamble to have a female-led action film, and it's possible that this contributed to Throat Islandpoor performance. Geena Davis is still a respected actress who chooses her roles carefully, but the film's failure was disappointing with her at the helm. For all intents and purposes, this film should have drawn more crowds with its exciting premise and star, but it fell short of what it could have been.

2

True Romance (1993)

Directed by Tony Scott

The combination of 90s stars Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette certainly should have been enough to set the box office on firebut that didn't happen with True Romance. While this film's legacy is undeniable, it did not do well upon its initial release. Written by Quentin Tarantino, it had a unique way of telling stories that would become a trademark of his films. The film was quirky and fun, but it just didn't attract the same audience as Tarantino's other works.

The unlikely love story just made back its $12.5 million budgetgrossing $12.6 million worldwide (via The Numbers). This despite starring some of Hollywood's most exciting actors. It's hard to imagine that a film with Brad Pitt, Gary Oldman and Samuel L. Jackson in the cast wouldn't be a bigger hit. However, this shows that the 1990s was an unpredictable decade for cinema.

1

Last Action Hero (1993)

Directed by John McTiernan

Arnold Schwarzenegger's level of fame in the 1990s was unparalleled, so seeing a failure like Ultimate Action Hero it was a big surprise. The concept of the film was actually quite clever, perhaps too clever. When a young boy (Brad Renfro) seemingly enters the world of his favorite action movie, he must team up with the film's star to get out of this high-octane world. With so many meta references to action movie tropes, the film mixes humor with lots of explosions and exciting car chases.

It was clear that the budget for this film was high, $85 million to be exact, so accumulating just $50 million worldwide was disheartening, to say the least (via Mojo Box Office). Arnie had already made a successful foray into the action comedy genre, with Kindergarten police officerand, on paper, this film should have even surpassed that. That wasn't what happened, but it served as inspiration for some more successes. action movies to come.

Source: Box Office Mojo, The Numbers, Rotten Tomatoes, Chicago Tribune, ComicBook.com