Sure, emojis are part of daily life, so much so that Hollywood actually thought, “why not make a movie about it? Let’s use ALL the CGI! Let’s make a blockbuster!” Unfortunately, it was a flop. Despite calling on the star power and credentials of James Corden, Patrick Stewart, Anna Faris, Maya Rudolph, and the fabulous Christina Aguilera, it was a case of Sisyphus eternally pushing a boulder uphill, but always falling short.
Yes, the bouncing yellow animated emojis got kids to drag their unwilling parents along, making $217.8 million at the box office, but we’ve got a feeling the next time someone suggests a film about emojis, it’s going straight into the trash. Helen O’Hara from Empire gave a review which is cutting, but most probably deserved – “it’s tempting to sum up in thumbs down emoji.”
2019: Cats
A complete flop, which is disappointing considering fans of the 1981 original waited impatiently for the film's release. The 2019 film featured a star-studded ensemble cast, including James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, and Taylor Swift, to name a few. So what went terribly wrong? Everything!
Following its release, the film received negative reviews from both critics and fans. Everything about the film was wrong, from the CGI effects to the plot, "Cats" was a box-office bomb that grossed a mere $75 million, losing Universal Pictures as much as $114 million. When you have such a Tony award-winning play, why try turning it into a film? Let it be!
2018: Holmes & Watson
As soon as you see Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are doing another film together, you know that it’s gonna be so bad it’s good! Then again, Step Brothers were on another level of comedic genius. Not to mention Talladega Nights. Not that we’re trying to relive the glory days, but it seems Holmes & Watson just didn’t quite hit the funny bone as hard as their previous cinematic endeavors.
A parody of Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective duo, Holmes and Watson, unfortunately, was awarded the Golden Raspberry of 2018. We feel it’s best summed up in this review on Rotten Tomatoes: “It’s lazy, it’s unfunny and it’s a good thing critics didn’t get to review Holmes & Watson before the end of the year: Worst Movie of 2018? Elementary, my dear Watson.” Ouch!
2016: Batman vs. Superman: Dawn Of Justice
Not even the glorious Gal Gadot playing the role of Wonder Woman could save this film from disaster. In the DC Universe, Wonder Woman certainly trumps both the Superman and Batman franchises. When you’re competing with the likes of Marvel Studios, you’d want to put your best foot, or superhero forward. Now, Superman and Batman have both been done before, and we’re sure they’ll be done again, but, really? Batman KILLING Superman?
Fans lined up to see the “Man of Steel” come up against Gotham’s savior, but unfortunately, it was just as underwhelming as the film introducing the world to the new Superman. While hard hitters like Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck took center stage, it was a little too much brawn with not enough brains. The best part of the film? Critics agree it was definitely getting a first glimpse at the new Wonder Woman.
2015: Fantastic Four
With a review from Rolling Stone as searing as “Fantastic Four is a pile of something, too. You fill in the blank,” really, there isn’t much more to say, is there? Some films, no matter how many reboots, just aren’t going to do well. After the initial reboot in 2004, starring the likes of Jessica Alba and Chris Evans, the studio decided that “ah, 10 years have passed, people have forgotten, let’s make another one!”
Anyway, it seems that even Captain America was shaking his head at his role as the “Human Torch” – regardless, if he hadn’t signed on to the film, perhaps he wouldn’t now have the title of owning “America’s Ass. ”