16 Films That Fell Flat: Exploring Cinema’s Missteps

1. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace 1987，IMDB Rating: 3.7, IMDB Votes: 53250, ID: 0094074
Photo by kairos2.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Superman IV: The Quest for Peace is about Superman’s decision to disarm the global threat of nuclear weapons and his confrontation with the villainous Nuclear Man. However, the film’s plot is fragmented and lacks depth, the special effects are crude, and the performances struggle to continue the charm of the series’ predecessor.
2. Howard the Duck 1986，IMDB Rating: 4.7, IMDB Votes: 51277, ID: 0091225
Photo by wordpress.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Howard the Duck is about an alien duck named Howard who, after accidentally arriving on Earth, befriends a young woman and works together to fight the evil forces that threaten the planet. The film attempts to blend elements of sci-fi, comedy and action, but was widely controversial for its bizarre setting and disjointed narrative.
3. Showgirls 1995，IMDB Rating: 5.1, IMDB Votes: 75614, ID: 0114436
Photo by companyfolders.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

The story of a young woman, Noemi, who travels to Las Vegas to pursue her dream of becoming a top dancer, she experiences betrayal, rivalry and intrigue along the way, ultimately exposing the dark side of the entertainment industry. The film is known for its extreme portrayal of dance and the life of luxury, but has been criticised for its poor narrative and performances.
4. Catwoman 2004，IMDB Rating: 3.4, IMDB Votes: 126648, ID: 0327554
Photo by sfmlab.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Catwoman is about a woman named Pershings Phillips, who is killed after discovering the dark secrets of a cosmetics company, only to be resurrected with superpowers through the power of a mysterious cat. She then takes on the guise of Catwoman and fights villains in her quest for justice while exploring the powers and limitations of her new identity.
5. The Darkest Hour 2011，IMDB Rating: 4.9, IMDB Votes: 64202, ID: 1093357
Photo by wordpress.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

The Darkest Hour is about a group of tourists who are suddenly invaded by aliens in Moscow. Feeding on energy and barely visible, these alien creatures quickly destroy the city’s infrastructure and human resistance. The survivors must rely on creativity and courage to find a way to defeat their enemies while trying to survive and find a way to escape.
6. The 5th Wave 2016，IMDB Rating: 5.2, IMDB Votes: 118328, ID: 2304933
Photo by redazionecultura.it, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

The 5th Wave is about a multi-stage invasion initiated by aliens. The aliens destroy Earth’s civilisation through power cuts, natural disasters, viruses and camouflage. The story focuses on a teenage girl, Casey, who loses her family in the chaos and embarks on a perilous journey to survive in order to save her abducted brother, while unravelling the aliens’ larger conspiracy with her companions.
7. Battle: Los Angeles 2011，IMDB Rating: 5.7, IMDB Votes: 185830, ID: 1217613
Photo by wordpress.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Battle: Los Angeles is about an alien invasion of Earth, where an alien fleet descends on major cities around the globe and launches a devastating attack on the human race. It is a confusing and noisy sci-fi action film that lacks depth and originality. The film’s plot is riddled with war movie clichés and the special effects are a letdown.
8. The Spirit 2008，IMDB Rating: 4.7, IMDB Votes: 63041, ID: 0831887
Photo by wikimedia.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

The Spirit is a visually stunning film, but ultimately falls flat due to a lack of substance and emotion. It tells the story of Danny Colt, a cop who comes back from the dead to take on the role of the mysterious hero, The Ghost, and fight the forces of crime in the shadowy Central City.
9. The Wicker Man 2006，IMDB Rating: 3.8, IMDB Votes: 71933, ID: 0450345
Photo by hcommons.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

The Wicker Man is about an LAPD officer who travels to a remote island to investigate the case of a missing girl. On the island, he discovers an ancient, superstitious religious community whose inhabitants insist on performing mysterious religious rituals. As the plot progresses, he gradually realises that he has become part of the cult’s rituals. The film’s attempts at horror fall flat. This remake of the film is a disappointment.
10. The Mummy 2017，IMDB Rating: 5.4, IMDB Votes: 208308, ID: 2345759
Photo by filmwonk.net, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

The Mummy is about the intrepid adventurer Nick Morton who discovers and awakens an ancient female mummy who is buried in an abandoned ancient Egyptian catacomb. The film attempts to blend elements of action, horror and comedy, but ultimately falls flat and fails to deliver the intended thrills and entertainment.
11. The Snowman 2017，IMDB Rating: 5.2, IMDB Votes: 72772, ID: 1758810
Photo by coyotepr.uk, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

The Snowman concerns Norwegian detective Harry Hole as he pursues a series of cases of missing women that appear to be linked to a mysterious snowman killer. The disjointed narrative and poor characterisation make for a very frustrating watch and makes you wonder how such a promising production could have gone so wrong.
12. The Dark Tower 2017，IMDB Rating: 5.6, IMDB Votes: 146899, ID: 1648190
Photo by blogspot.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

The Dark Tower is about a teenage boy, Jack, who teams up with a mysterious gunslinger, Roland, to fight the evil man in black, Walter. The film attempts to condense multiple books into one film, resulting in a disjointed and unsatisfying experience.
13. Son of the Mask 2005，IMDB Rating: 2.3, IMDB Votes: 59733, ID: 0362165
Photo by comptoir-hardware.com, is licensed under CC BY ND 4.0

Son of the Mask is about Tim Avery who becomes the new owner of a mask and accidentally grants his son magical powers. Lacking the charm and wit of the original, the film is a mess of bad CGI and exaggerated performances.
14. The Fog 2005，IMDB Rating: 3.7, IMDB Votes: 39506, ID: 0432291
Photo by blogspot.com, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

The Fog is a disappointing remake of John Carpenter’s 1980 classic, lacking the scares, suspense, and originality of the original. The story of a town haunted by vengeful spirits is poorly executed, with weak performances and a script that fails to build any real tension.
15. The Human Centipede III (Final Sequence) 2015，IMDB Rating: 2.7, IMDB Votes: 20116, ID: 1883367
Photo by julians-blog.net, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

The Human Centipede III (Final Sequence) is about a prison warden named Bill Boss who runs a notorious maximum security prison. The plot is absurd, the acting exaggerated, and the shocks overwhelming.
16. The Roommate 2011，IMDB Rating: 4.8, IMDB Votes: 41606, ID: 1265990
Photo by blog.hu, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

The Roommate is a lacklustre thriller that fails to deliver on its promise of suspense and excitement. The plot revolves around a college freshman who develops a dangerous obsession with her roommate, and the plot is predictable and uninspired.