Just because a movie makes a lot of money doesn’t mean that people actually liked it. In fact, we’re living in a time when movies can make hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars despite seemingly everybody hating them. Of last year’s big blockbusters, which ones let you down the most?
We’re using the same criteria here as in our recent Favorite Blockbuster Movie of 2017 poll. Any film that made more than $100 million at the domestic box office qualifies. Once again, you can only choose one title.
According to critics, either ‘Justice League’ or ‘Transformers: The Last Knight’ should probably top this list. However, the detractors speaking out against ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ have been so vocal that I wouldn’t be surprised if that one sneaks ahead, even while it currently leads the Favorite Blockbuster poll at the same time.
Loading ...I saw very few of these movies, and I avoided watching the ones reported to be the worst. Of those I’ve seen, I suppose ‘Kong: Skull Island’ was pretty dumb, but I still found it somewhat enjoyable. I had very low expectations for ‘Cars 3’ when I watched it with my boys, but actually thought it was the best of that franchise (which may not be saying much).
I’ll tell you that pretty much nothing will ever convince me to watch ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ or the umpteenth ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie.
Bolo
Of the 6 movies I saw on that list, all of them met or surpassed my expectations. So I guess I have very realistic expectations.
NJScorpio
I’ve seen pretty much everything on this list except Justice League, so that may impact my opinion.
Most everything met my expectations, so it is hard to be disappointed. ‘Transformers’ was a Transformers movie, ‘Kingsman’ was as fun as the last, I was a little underwhelmed with Guardians 2, but loved Thor 3, so I’ll grade the MCU on a whole.
‘Get Out’ was better than the hype prepared me for, and I found ‘Pirates’ the most enjoyable since the first (I hated Will and what’s her face).
Graded purely on the height of my expectations, and the depth of my disappointment, I’d have to go with ‘Kong: Skull Island’. I didn’t expect it to be my favorite movie of the year, but I did blind buy it, and I don’t expect to watch it again.
Nagara
Justice league was just a mess of a movie. Even with the lowest of expectations, I still was disappointed.
If it was a complete Joss Whedon movie it could have worked. If it was a complete Zack Schneider movie it could have worked.
Shannon Nutt
Guardians of the Galaxy 2 for me. I didn’t hate it, but thought it was a big step down from the original.
Chris B
I was a bit let down by TLJ but it was still a fun time watching it in the theater. GOTG didn’t really live up to the first one but it was entertaining enough. I guess I just temper my expectations nowadays when going to see movies and don’t expect them to be life-changing religious events anymore. Honestly, I’m just happy to have a night out since my work and home life leave little time for it at the moment.
Chaz Dumbaugh
Justice League was the biggest disappointment for me, being an actual big fan of Man of Steel and Batman vs. Superman (the Directors Cut) I was hoping for more of that, Wonder Woman was excellent and I wanted that in the Justice League movie, but it feels like that last Fantastic 4 remake, hodge podged together with very different tones that didnt work well together, the humor in parts felt organic and the added stuff that felt reshot and of Whedon doing was really off and out of place. CGI Superman lip I cant NOT notice and it messes up almost every scene he’s in because they focus up close on his face while he’s talking, its horrible and laughable and with the tech we have today they couldnt make it more natural looking? Why does removing his mustache almost make his whole mouth look like lip syncing from a bad video game?
Everything else hit my expectations really, Kong was a monster movie and pretty damn fun, wasnt amazing by any stretch but I had a good time with it, Thor was awesome, Transformers was just more Transformers and I’m fine with those as well, all of those movies gave me what I expected from them, Justice League was “Leagues” below the rest because of everything I mentioned
Csm101
Considering the favorable reviews, amounts of money it made, and almost everyone I know really liked it, my biggest disappointment was Guardians of the Galaxy vol 2. Even at home I have trouble getting through it.
Deaditelord
I’m not going to rehash my comments from Monday, but It wins my vote for most disappointing movie of 2017… if only because I decided to wait until Justice League shows up on streaming to watch it.
Barsoom Bob
This is a little off topic, I know Bladerunner 2049 is not on this list because it didn’t make domestic enough money and it was mildly disappointing but I liked it a lot and intended to buy the Blu 3D. You have that listed in next weeks releases but I see no
offering from Amazon for the 3D release. It is available from Amazon U.K. as a region B. This frickin’ policy from the USA studios is so stupid. My question, is this actually the situation, no American 3D release ?
Josh, while researching my options, I ran across a German offering of a post 3D converted version of Lynch’s Dune. Do you have any info on this, is it watchable or a complete rip off ?
Csm101
Best Buy has a listing for a 3d Blade Runner 2049, which I preordered like three weeks ago for an in- store pickup. So I’m thinking yes there is an American 3d release for it.
Josh Zyber
AuthorThere is an American 3D release for Blade Runner 2049. I don’t know what’s going on with Amazon, but here are a couple other retailer listings:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/blade-runner-2049-3d-blu-ray-blu-ray-blu-ray-3d-2017/6169803.p?skuId=6169803
https://www.dvdempire.com/1948139/blade-runner-2049-blu-ray-3d-blu-ray-dvd-digital-copy-blu-ray.html
The Dune 3D conversion is a joke. It’s no better than turning on real-time 3D conversion in a TV. Don’t waste money on it.
Judas Cradle
Do NOT buy German back alley 3D films. They are fakes. (3D likely achieved on a cheap PC)
Barsoom Bob
Thanks to all, message received !
Movie Watcher
Get Out was the most overrated, predictable pile of crap. And before you get on your high horse about the racial stuff in it, how could it be groundbreaking with his pal the TSA agent, a blatant stereotypical black guy. I’m sure I’m missing the point or some excuse like that, but what a disappointment IMHO.
Nagara
I def agree with get out being the most overrated movie of the year. After watching it I thought it was average at best. Nothing groundbreaking our outstanding about it.
Timcharger
The touted villain, a CG character, had no backstory. There was no character motivation revealed by the plot. Who cares why he wanted to conquer the earth/galaxy? What was his name, oh yeah it was something like: Snokenwolf, was it?
The iconic main character beloved by generations, came back into the franchise, but was missing either his upper lip or his soul. Which is worse? Having to CG out a mustache? Or having the script omit his character traits?
When Justice League brought in the “big gun,” the iconic character returned. His love for the “big gun” really brought his character back to life. When Last Jedi brought in the “bug guns,” (Spoiler…) Han’s death or Leia’s peril, Luke kept milking and fishing.
One had lowered expectations. One had high expectations due to critics’ ravings.
The one with milking and fishing was the most disappointing.
NJScorpio
> The touted villain, a CG character, had no backstory. There was no character motivation revealed by the plot. Who cares why he wanted to conquer the earth/galaxy? What was his name, oh yeah it was something like: Snokenwolf, was it?
It’s scary how many movies this first line could have applied to.
Andy Ditty
Valerian broke my heart.
William Henley
Like many others, I have seen maybe half a dozen of these. I do have a few more sitting on my shelf unopened (Pirates, Cars 3, Dunkirk, Spiderman and Wonder Woman). Out of the movies I HAVE seen (Star Wars, Lego Batman, Justice League, Logan, Beauty and the Beast, Guardians of the Galaxy and Kong), I felt Kong was the weakest, but it was much better than I expected going in. I found it quite enjoyable and ended up buying it. So, in the end, the only fair choice for me on the list was “What’s your problem? I thought they’re all great!” The sad thing about that choice is that there may have been some real duds on the list, I just haven’t seen them (I have no interest whatsoever in Transformers, It, Anabell, Split or Fifty Shades of Anything)
Steven
I thought Despicable Me 3 was the most disappointing. The franchise is fatiguing, and they really phoned this one in.
Julian
Funny thing is, you can’t really phone in an animated movie. You still need thousands of dedicated man hours and rendering powers to deliver one. Blood, sweat and tears. Whereas a live-action actor can indeed sleepwalk through a role.
Ryan
Had to flip a coin between Justice League and Star Wars.
I didn’t like either of them….but based on the director switch, and the lame trailers….I was kind of expecting a let down with Justice League.
Star Wars, though, SOMEHOW had great reviews, and it ended up being awful. So I chose that one in the end
DarthGilman
Where’s The Mummy? Far and away the most disappointing blockbuster for not only audiences but the movie studio. Universal planned out this HUGE multi-picture “Dark Universe Cinematic Universe” complete with casting of A-list actors and the very first movie completely kills it.
Trond Michelsen
The Mummy didn’t make enough money to be considered a blockbuster. Also, this is the second (or was it the third?) movie to fail to start the Dark Universe franchise.
DarthGilman
Worldwide it made more than several on this list. Also, while Universal may have hinted at restarting their monster movie franchises (Werewolf, Dracula Untold) they never officially made a statement about a “Cinematic Universe” complete with logo at the start the movie and many press events (publicity photos) with A-List stars signed and release schedules mapped out. If DC’s Cinematic Universe is in disarray, Universal’s completely disintegrated after just one movie.
Pedram
While The Last Jedi was definitely not the worst movie on this list, I had the highest hopes for it, which is why it was the most disappointing.
Josh Zyber
AuthorI called it. The Last Jedi simultaneously leads all voting in the polls for both Favorite Blockbuster of 2017 and Most Disappointing Blockbuster of 2017.
Timcharger
This point isn’t as meaningful as you think it is.
“Disappointing” has a function dependent on expectations. “Favorite” doesn’t.
Favorite blockbuster vs Worst blockbuster
or
Disappointing blockbuster vs Pleasantly Surprised blockbuster
…and no way would the Last Jedi lead the polls for both Most Disappointing and Surprising Favorite.
Terry Mitchell
The Last Jedi was the biggest disappointment of the century so far. Huge letdown that tarnishes the legacy of the Skywalker name and the Star Wars brand in general.
While Justice League had its flaws, it was hugely entertaining, more so for me than GOTG2 and Thor Ragnarok.
The most pleasant surprise was War for the Planet of the Apes. That was the best of the Apes Trilogy, by far.