There were many highly anticipated movies in 2024.
Sequels to beloved franchises, adaptations of acclaimed works, and original projects from esteemed filmmakers generated significant buzz.
However, not all these releases met the lofty expectations set by their marketing campaigns and fan enthusiasm.
Image via Lionsgate
Indeed,the year delivered more than its fair share of disappointments.
With this in mind, this list looks atthe most underwhelming movies of the year.
While they might not necessarily have been bad, they certainly didn’t rise to the hype.
Image via Sony
Audiences had high hopes, but the following films let them down.
“Ghostbusters: Afterlifewas a big hit, so hopes were high forFrozen Empire.
While the effects are impressive, the movie as a whole relies more on gimmicks than solid storytelling.
When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second ice age.
DirectorMatthew Vaughnhad proved himself with the fantasticKingsmanmovies, butArgyllefalls far short of their easy charm.
It’s a decent movie, butit struggles to strike the right tone or harmonize the spy-world/real-world interplay effectively.
The plot is too messy and the 139-minute runtime is overlong.
The humor is also a little too meta and ironic for a lot of viewers.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether or not this is meant to be self-parody.
All told, given just how great theKingsmanmovies were,Argyllecame as a major letdown.
Still, perhaps it’s more enjoyable if one watches it on its own terms.
Indeed, despite underperforming at the box office, it seems to haveregained some popularity through streaming.
An introverted spy novelist is drawn into the activities of a sinister underground syndicate.
Image via Universal Pictures
Along the way, they inadvertently become entangled in a dangerous criminal scheme.
The pacing is uneven, andthe humor doesn’t consistently land.
Jamie regrets her breakup with her girlfriend, while Marian needs to relax.
An introverted spy novelist is drawn into the activities of a sinister underground syndicate.
Unfortunately,it lacks the gonzo humor of the games, and many of the characters are woefully miscast.
Even Roth’s direction is tepid here, fight scenes excluded.
Consequently, gamers will be annoyed, and general audiences will be confused.
What a waste of potential.
6’Madame Web' (2024)
Directed by S.J.
Clarkson
“The web of fate is tangled and deadly.”
Madame Webb tries to build on theSpider-Manuniverse but is tangled up in its own tedium.
Many of the performances are halfhearted, and the product placement is grating.
All told,Gladiator IIfails to carve out its own identity.
Image via Focus Features
Lucius Verus, the son of Maximus’s beloved Lucilla, returns to Rome after years in the wilderness.
Captured by Roman forces led by General Marcus Acacius, he is thrust into the gladiatorial arena.
“MaXXXinepicks up whereXleft off, continuing the story of Maxine Minx (Mia Goth).
Jamie regrets her breakup with her girlfriend, while Marian needs to relax. In search of a fresh start, they embark on an unexpected road trip to Tallahassee, but things quickly go awry when they cross paths with a group of inept criminals.
The reveal of one of the central mysteries is also a little lackluster.
In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally secures her big break.
Worse still are all the unnecessary revisions, all of which chip away at the film’s internal logic.
Indeed, a better title would have beenThe Turkey.
It’s 138 minutes of grandeur and philosophizing, but lacking a real point.
Consequently, few movies have such a yawning gulf between the hype and the quality of the finished product.
An architect wants to rebuild New York City as a utopia following a devastating disaster.
This approachmight have pleasedQuentin Tarantino, but pretty much everyone else was left scratching their heads.
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Image by Nimesh Perera
A feature film based on the popular video game set on the abandoned fictional planet of Pandora where people search for a mysterious relic.
Image via Sony Pictures Releasing
Custom Image by Zanda Rice
Lucius Verus, the son of Maximus’s beloved Lucilla, returns to Rome after years in the wilderness. Captured by Roman forces led by General Marcus Acacius, he is thrust into the gladiatorial arena. As he battles for survival, he encounters Macrinus, a former slave-turned-merchant, and faces the corrupt twin emperors Caracalla and Geta.
Custom Image by Jefferson Chacon
In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally secures her big break. As she navigates her path to stardom, a mysterious killer begins targeting Hollywood starlets, leaving a trail of blood that threatens to expose her sinister past.
Image by Zanda Rice
A modern re-imagining of the beloved character, The Crow, based on the original graphic novel by James O’Barr.
Image via Lionsgate
An architect wants to rebuild New York City as a utopia following a devastating disaster.
Image Via Warner Bros.
Joker: Folie à Deux explores Arthur Fleck’s ongoing struggle with his dual identity as he unexpectedly discovers love and unleashes his hidden musical talent. Set against a backdrop of societal unrest, Arthur’s journey intertwines personal transformation with chaotic encounters, leading to profound shifts in his life and the world around him.
