Best Superhero Movies That Flopped, Ranked

Summary

• Typically, blockbuster superhero films need to earn at least 2.5 times their budget to turn a profit.
• Many great superhero movies struggled financially, failing to recoup substantial investments — including Watchmen, Black Adam, and The Suicide Squad.
• The COVID-19 pandemic also disrupted the industry, leading to lower returns for superhero films like Black Widow and Eternals.

Since Iron Man debuted in 2008, the superhero genre has largely dominated the international box office, with relatively few missteps or outright flops. However, financial underperformance has always been a possibility, especially in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered the landscape, forcing studios to experiment with streaming releases—often with mixed results. Additionally, growing superhero fatigue has become a major talking point, influencing how modern audiences perceive and engage with these films.

To assess what qualifies as a box office flop, we’ll rely on standard industry metrics. For a big-budget blockbuster to be considered profitable, its total box office earnings typically need to be at least 2.5 times its production budget. This accounts for additional marketing expenses (which can sometimes rival the production budget itself) and the revenue share taken by theater chains.

With that in mind, we’ll be ranking the best superhero movies that flopped or significantly underperformed at the box office, meaning their total earnings were no more than twice their estimated budget. Whether from DC, Marvel, or beyond, these films prove that financial struggles don’t always reflect a movie’s quality.

Honorable mentions:

• Captain America: Brave New World – Estimated budget: $180 million, gross so far: $300+ million (still screening)
• Blue Beetle – Estimated budget: $110 million, gross: $131 million
• The Marvels – Estimated budget: $240 million, gross: $206 million
• Wonder Woman 1984 – Estimated budget: $200 million, gross: $170 million
• Hellboy (2019) – Estimated budget: $50 million, gross: $54 million
• The New Mutants – Estimated budget: $75 million, gross: $48 million

8

X-Men: Dark Phoenix

Not The X-Men Grand Finale Fans Wanted

• Estimated budget: $200 million
• Total gross: $246 million

Calling X-Men: Dark Phoenix one of the “best” superhero box office flops might be a stretch—especially considering it’s widely regarded as one of the weakest X-Men films (which is surprising given that X-Men: The Last Stand exists). However, when compared to other superhero movies that bombed, Dark Phoenix isn’t entirely without merit. Yes, the plot is a mess, and the film’s overreliance on CGI can be exhausting, but there are a few redeeming qualities that make it an occasionally enjoyable watch.

Hans Zimmer’s score is a standout, elevating key moments with his signature grandiosity. Additionally, as expected from the X-Men franchise, the stellar cast delivers solid performances despite the film’s shortcomings—James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, and Nicholas Hoult all bring their A-game to the material they’re given. Unfortunately, as the final installment in Fox’s X-Men saga, Dark Phoenix was a disappointment both critically and financially and failed to recoup its bloated $200 million production budget at the global box office. It served as an underwhelming send-off for a franchise that once set the standard for superhero storytelling.

7

Eternals

A Bold Dive Into Ancient Superhero Mythology

• Estimated budget: $220 million
• Total gross: $402 million

One of the most ambiguous MCU movies in recent years, Eternals attempted to add a mythological depth to the superhero genre while injecting some much-needed fresh blood into Marvel. The results, however, were mixed. The film received some of the lowest critic and audience scores in MCU history, and its worldwide box office gross was among its weakest.

Still, there’s some beauty and enjoyment to be found in Eternals. The film boasts breathtaking natural shooting locations, impressive costume and makeup design, intriguing story beats, and a grand narrative—though one that, so far, has led nowhere. The cast is another highlight, introducing Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Salma Hayek, and Kit Harington to the superhero genre for the first time. While Eternals may not have lived up to expectations, it remains a visually striking and ambitious chapter in the MCU.

6

Black Adam

Even The Rock Couldn’t Change the Hierarchy of the Superhero Box Office

• Estimated budget: $200 million
• Total gross: $393 million

Dwayne Johnson’s long-awaited DC debut, Black Adam, didn’t quite live up to the hype. While the film offers some entertainment with its brutal action (even allowing the titular anti-hero to hurt or kill without hesitation) it ultimately feels like a generic superhero flick, complete with a predictable story, shallow themes, and an overuse of CGI demons.

On the bright side, the soundtrack is solid, the action rarely slows down, and some new DC characters, particularly Pierce Brosnan’s Dr. Fate, bring much-needed charisma. Johnson himself delivers a committed performance and is clearly passionate about the role. Unfortunately, Black Adam arrived too late to make a real impact on the already crumbling DCEU, and even Henry Cavill’s Superman post-credits tease, seemingly hinting at an exciting future, ended up leading nowhere. Quite fitting for DC, all things considered.

5

Black Widow

A Prequel For An Already Dead MCU Hero Feels Odd

• Estimated budget: $220 million
• Total gross: $380 million

Black Widow was one of Marvel’s first major post-pandemic releases, making its financial success tricky to measure using traditional box office metrics. However, the fact that it earned less than Eternals on a comparable budget doesn’t exactly scream victory for Marvel.

Part of the issue likely stems from the film’s timing—arriving after Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff had already met her fate in Avengers: Endgame. As a prequel with minimal impact on the broader MCU narrative, Black Widow felt like a belated sendoff rather than a must-see chapter. While it did introduce key characters and helped set up the upcoming Thunderbolts, the approach left many longtime fans wanting more from Natasha’s long-overdue solo outing.

4

The Flash

Maybe The Flash Just Wasn’t Popular Enough?

• Estimated budget: $210 million
• Total gross: $271 million

Despite Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav hyping The Flash as “the best superhero movie” he had ever seen, the final product fell quite short of that lofty claim. With ongoing controversies surrounding Ezra Miller, poor-to-horrible CGI, and less Batfleck than fans had hoped for, The Flash was already facing an uphill battle, and its box office numbers made it clear that WB’s expectations were way off.

As a superhero romp, The Flash is actually enjoyable enough and definitely has its moments. The character dynamics were engaging, Michael Keaton’s triumphant return as the oldest Batman was a major highlight, and the film leaned into nostalgia with plenty of surprising cameos. It even had some solid emotional beats, too. Still, after a string of DC misfires, The Flash felt like yet another sign that after Zack Snyder stepped away, the DCEU as we knew it was living through its final days.

3

Hellboy 2: The Golden Army

They Don’t Make Superhero Movies Like This Anymore

• Estimated budget: $85 million
• Total gross: $164 million

Now, there are some good superhero films that flopped, and some really great ones. Hellboy 2: The Golden Army is certainly among the latter. They just don’t make movies like this anymore. Deeply layered and enjoyable, visually rich, endlessly humane and relatable, The Golden Army is not just the best Hellboy movie to date, but one of the finest in its genre. Guillermo del Toro crafted a mesmerizing world, blending mythology, action, and dark fantasy in a way that feels both grand and deeply personal.

Thanks to its relatively modest budget, The Golden Army isn’t considered a devastating flop. Nevertheless, its performance wasn’t enough to warrant a conclusion to Guillermo del Toro’s story and ambitious vision. Since then, Hellboy has been rebooted multiple times, with steadily underwhelming results, none of which have managed to recapture the same magic.

2

The Suicide Squad

Better Than Its Predecessor, Just Not At The Box Office

• Estimated budget: $185 million
• Total gross: $169 million

One of the greatest DCEU movies to date, The Suicide Squad was more than just a course correction after the terrible first installment (though that one was much more profitable) but was unlucky enough to be released in the post-pandemic era when massive blockbuster grosses simply weren’t possible. Like with Black Widow and Eternals, it’s hard to judge The Suicide Squad‘s performance without knowing WB’s expectations, but in terms of raw numbers, it wasn’t too great.

On the bright side, WB surely wouldn’t have hired James Gunn to oversee the reinvention of the entire DC movie division if it wasn’t satisfied with his work on The Suicide Squad—and rightfully so. Great casting and refined characters, a layered narrative with genuinely fun jokes and exciting action, spectacular visuals, and an emotional touch—everything is in place. While the upcoming Superman is yet to prove whether it was the right call, Gunn’s superhero legacy with Guardians of the Galaxy and this film is already secured as one of the most impressive any director can achieve.

1

Watchmen

An Underrated Masterpiece Ahead Of Its Time

• Estimated budget: $130 million
• Total gross: $187 million

Slightly mirroring Gunn’s current situation, Watchmen was Zack Snyder’s first DC superhero movie, which arguably paved his way to becoming the DCEU’s mastermind and visionary director for years. Adapting one of the most celebrated graphic novels is no easy task, yet Snyder pulled it off extraordinarily with Watchmen.

With traditionally perfect casting, jaw-dropping visuals that faithfully translate the original’s frames to the big screen, well-executed slow-mo action, complex themes, and a great musical selection, Watchmen almost feels like it was simply ahead of its time when comic book movies weren’t as mainstream yet. The worldwide gross wasn’t as impressive as the movie itself, but at least fans got a timeless classic that has since become iconic, cementing its place as a must-watch superhero film, even for viewers who aren’t typically into the genre.