Incredible Disappointments
Some of these titles are still enjoyable, some of them are terrible, but they’re all some of most wasted potential in the history of entertainment.
Eligible rating: 2-7 stars
Eligible rating: 2-7 stars
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65 titles
- DirectorMichael BayStarsBen AffleckKate BeckinsaleJosh HartnettA tale of war and romance mixed in with history. The story follows two lifelong friends and a beautiful nurse who are caught up in the horror of an infamous Sunday morning in 1941.Even with Michael Bay’s explosive tropes, there was still so much potential lost to the crappy romance and tedious dialogue.
- DirectorKenny OrtegaStarsBette MidlerSarah Jessica ParkerKathy NajimyA teenage boy named Max and his little sister move to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches that were executed in the 17th century.Oh how much fun this cult classic could’ve been had it been more than just three witches running around in the 90s.
- DirectorPhil NibbelinkSimon WellsDick ZondagStarsJohn GoodmanCharles FleischerBlaze BerdahlA time traveling scientist goes back to prehistoric times and feeds dinosaurs a magic cereal that increases their intelligence - next they land in modern New York City for a series of comic adventures.There could’ve been better ways for Steven Spielberg to adapt this beloved children’s classic into an animated feature.
- DirectorFrederik Du ChauStarsJessalyn GilsigCary ElwesAndrea CorrAn adventurous girl, a young blind hermit, and a goofy two-headed dragon race to find the lost sword Excalibur to save King Arthur and Camelot from disaster.If Warner Bros. wasn’t so focused on copying Disney, this could’ve been a longtime classic.
- DirectorRon HowardStarsJim CarreyTaylor MomsenKelleyOn the outskirts of Whoville lives a green, revenge-seeking Grinch who plans to ruin Christmas for all of the citizens of the town.Ron Howard and Jim Carrey had all that was needed to make a decent cinematic adaptation of this Dr. Seuss’ classic, and yet they used only 50% of that potential.
- DirectorRoger ChristianStarsJohn TravoltaForest WhitakerBarry PepperIt's the year 3000 A.D., and the Earth is lost to the alien race of Psychlos. Humanity is enslaved by these gold-thirsty tyrants, who are unaware that their 'man-animals' are about to ignite the rebellion of a lifetime.You know this one’s terrible when the lost potential in the premise is the least of it’s problems.
- DirectorBritt AllcroftStarsAlec BaldwinCody McMainsRussell MeansThomas the Tank Engine searches for gold dust that will allow his magical friend Mr. Conductor to return home, while also helping a girl restore her grandfather's enchanted locomotive.Even a children’s movie like this could’ve given Thomas the cinematic introduction he really deserved, and even the final product could’ve made more sense.
- DirectorJoe JohnstonStarsSam NeillWilliam H. MacyTéa LeoniA decidedly odd couple with ulterior motives convince Dr. Grant to go to Isla Sorna for a holiday, but their unexpected landing startles the island's new inhabitants.More was there to be explored after The Lost World, and yet they decided to just run around in a cloudy jungle for one and a half hours instead.
- DirectorGary ChapmanStarsEwan McGregorRicky GervaisTim CurryAt the height of World War II, a tiny wood pigeon enlists in the elite Royal Homing Pigeon Service to serve Britain, as the fearsome General Von Talon (Tim Curry) and his deadly squadron of falcons patrol the English Channel. Is he a war-hero in the making?An animated film about animals that served in the Second World War? What could possibly go wrong? … Unfortunately, pretty much everything.
- DirectorWolfgang PetersenStarsRichard DreyfussKurt RussellEmmy RossumOn New Year's Eve, the luxury ocean liner Poseidon capsizes after being swamped by a rogue wave. The survivors are left to fight for their lives as they attempt to escape the sinking ship.This remake had all the visuals and sets to build a spectacular feature and yet it became as big of a disaster as the one depicted.
- DirectorJoseph VilsmaierStarsKai WiesingerValerie NiehausHeiner LauterbachGerman film loosely based on the sinking, by a Soviet submarine, of a Nazi troop-transport ship in the Baltic Sea on January 30th 1945.An obscure WW2 maritime disaster with so much potential turned into a cheesy romantic war drama.
- DirectorDave FiloniStarsMatt LanterNika FuttermanTom KaneAs the Clone Wars sweep the galaxy, Anakin Skywalker and his new Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, embark on a mission to rescue the kidnapped son of Jabba the Hutt. The renegade Count Dooku, however, is determined to ensure that they fail.This cinematic mess would’ve worked better as a four-part series premiere on television.
- StarsPeter WardMichael CarrollCraig ChesnerThis documentary series explores the causes behind six major extinction events in Earth's history. It also speculates on the next such event.So much mass extinctions to be explored, and yet so little excitement in the final result.
- DirectorMichael BayStarsShia LaBeoufMegan FoxJosh DuhamelSam Witwicky leaves the Autobots behind for a normal life. But when his mind is filled with cryptic symbols, the Decepticons target him and he is dragged back into the Transformers' war.Even without Michael Bay, this trashy sequel disregarded most of the components that gave strength to it’s predecessor.
- DirectorGreg TiernanJeff BaileyStarsMichael AngelisMichael BrandonDavid BedellaThomas finds an old engine and tries to restore him without The Fat Controller finding out.Thomas’ first CGI-animated adventure proves that it’s not just Hiro that needs some maintenance.
- DirectorEric BrevigStarsDan AykroydJustin TimberlakeAnna FarisA documentary filmmaker travels to Jellystone Park to shoot a project and soon crosses paths with Yogi Bear, his sidekick Boo-Boo and Ranger Smith.A faithful live-action take on a Hanna-Barbera classic and yet it still isn’t able to get it right.
- DirectorSimon WellsStarsSeth GreenJoan CusackDan FoglerA young boy named Milo gains a deeper appreciation for his mom after Martians come to Earth to take her away.All potential excitement in a sci-fi idea like this is lost to a messy script and dumb characterisation.
- DirectorRob MarshallStarsJohnny DeppPenélope CruzIan McShaneJack Sparrow and Barbossa embark on a quest to find the elusive fountain of youth, only to discover that Blackbeard and his daughter are after it too.What was promised at the end of At World’s End to be another epic adventure is just not there.
- StarsRick RoblesThomas HoltzScott HartmanA documentary series following various prehistoric creatures, depicting their way of lives as well as their lust for survival.What do yo get when you combine a silent dinosaur cartoon series with a scientific documentary? A deluded and uncanny mess that only appeals to children.
- DirectorChris RenaudKyle BaldaStarsZac EfronTaylor SwiftDanny DeVitoA 12-year-old boy searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.The producer of Horton Hears’s a Who! had all the animation and materials to make lightning strike twice, yet it’s just another kids-oriented environmental plea.
- DirectorGreg TiernanStarsMichael AngelisMichael BrandonDavid BedellaJoin Thomas in an all-new movie with new fire fighting engine friends, Flynn and Belle, as they save Sodor Steamworks from the Diesels.This Thomas special has an important message about unity, but you’ll have to brave tedious tropes and dumbed-down characters to get there.
- DirectorCal BrunkerStarsBrendan FraserSarah Jessica ParkerJessica AlbaAstronaut Scorch Supernova finds himself caught in a trap when he responds to an SOS from a notoriously dangerous alien planet, Earth.An escape from Planet Earth could’ve been more exciting than the results this turned out.
- DirectorKlay HallStarsCarlos AlazraquiDane CookStacy KeachA cropdusting plane with a fear of heights lives his dream of competing in a famous around-the-world aerial race.What little this Cars spin-off had did not take to the skies like it could’ve.
- CreatorJames DirschbergerJay HowellAndreas TrolfStarsMaulik PancholyChris HardwickGrey GriffinThe always odd and often gross-out adventures of a young boy named Sanjay Patel and his talking pet snake Craig.Good ideas and plenty of potential are thrown out the window in favour of disgusting jokes and irritating episodes.
- DirectorBarry CookNeil NightingaleStarsCharlie RoweKarl UrbanAngourie RiceSee and feel what it was like when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, in a story where an underdog dino triumphs to become a hero for the ages.The spectacle this could’ve been was all taken away from us in favour of jokes and dialogue that would only appeal to young audiences.