16 Movies with Brilliant Ideas That Went Horribly Wrong

1. Cats 2019，IMDB Rating: 2.8, IMDB Votes: 56330, ID: 5697572
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Cats (2019) has all the ingredients for a great film: a beloved musical, a star-studded cast and visionary direction. It tells the story of a group of cats who compete for the chance to be voted ‘King of the Cats’ at the annual Jellicle Ball. However, the final product leaves the audience with a bizarre, disturbing and confusing visual experience; the CGI effects are jarring and the plot is fragmented, making it difficult to empathise with the characters.
2. Movie 43 2013，IMDB Rating: 4.4, IMDB Votes: 113249, ID: 1333125
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Movie 43 (2013) is a film consisting of a series of crude and offensive sketches starring several notable actors. The film attempts to build a comedic effect by stringing together several seemingly separate humorous stories. However, despite the star-studded cast, the film is executed extremely poorly. This is a prime example of how a promising concept can go terribly wrong.
3. Gulliver’s Travels 2010，IMDB Rating: 4.9, IMDB Votes: 74133, ID: 1320261
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Gulliver’s Travels (2010) had the potential to be a delightful adaptation of Jonathan Swift’s classic tale, but it ended up being a juvenile and forgettable comedy. It is about a modern man, Lemon Gulliver (Jack Black), who accidentally drifts into a bizarre mini-world, the Kingdom of Lilliput. Here he becomes a giant and is drawn into the kingdom’s battles and political intrigues.
4. Showgirls 1995，IMDB Rating: 5.1, IMDB Votes: 75560, ID: 0114436
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Showgirls (1995) is notorious for its exaggerated depiction of the Las Vegas showgirl scene. It tells the story of a young woman, Gina Ryan, who gradually rises through the ranks from bottom-feeder dancer to dancing star in an upscale Las Vegas nightclub. The film is marred by gratuitous nudity and a lack of a coherent storyline. However, its bold style has been a hit with some film fans.
5. Battlefield Earth 2000，IMDB Rating: 2.5, IMDB Votes: 83562, ID: 0185183
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Battlefield Earth is a sci-fi disaster film about the conquest of Earth by an alien race, the Syratons (Psychlos). The film is set on a futuristic Earth, where the Ceratons have ruled the planet for millennia and the people of Earth are used as slaves. With a logically confusing plot and performances that are more wooden than the sets, this film is a masterclass in what doesn’t work as a film. The film’s novel premise of an alien race conquering Earth is poorly executed.
6. Glen or Glenda 1953，IMDB Rating: 4.2, IMDB Votes: 9255, ID: 0045826
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Glen or Glenda is a fascinatingly weird film that explores the topic of gender identity in a way that is both earnest and incompetent. The main thread of the film revolves around the protagonist, Glen, who is confused and ashamed as he confronts his preference for women’s clothing. The film’s narrative structure is extremely loose, with a jumpy and incoherent plot, but its message is surprisingly progressive for the time.
7. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 2016，IMDB Rating: 6.5, IMDB Votes: 756548, ID: 2975590
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Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a film about a conflict between two iconic superheroes – Batman and Superman. The premise of two iconic superheroes clashing is intriguing, but the film struggles with a confusing plot and uneven pacing. It’s a classic case of style over substance.
8. Plan 9 from Outer Space 1957，IMDB Rating: 3.9, IMDB Votes: 40743, ID: 0052077
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Ed Wood’s ‘Plan 9 from Outer Space’ is a legendary example of a great premise gone horribly wrong. The idea of aliens resurrecting the dead to prevent humanity from creating a doomsday weapon is intriguing, but the execution is laughably bad. From the wobbly sets to the wooden acting. Yet, it’s this very ineptitude that makes it a cult classic, beloved for its unintentional hilarity and earnest ambition.
9. Birdemic: Shock and Terror 2010，IMDB Rating: 1.7, IMDB Votes: 25643, ID: 1316037
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James Nguyen’s ‘Birdemic: Shock and Terror’ had the potential to be a thrilling eco-horror film, but it ended up being a masterclass in how not to make a movie. The premise of birds attacking humans due to environmental destruction is timely and relevant, but the film’s amateurish special effects, stilted dialogue, and wooden performances turn it into an unintentional comedy.
10. The Happening 2008，IMDB Rating: 5.0, IMDB Votes: 217833, ID: 0949731
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M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘The Happening’ is about a mysterious force that triggers mass suicides. The beginning of the film shows people suddenly losing the will to live, self-harming or committing suicide without warning, leading to panic and chaos. Despite the seriousness of the film’s subject matter, it is executed so poorly that it becomes unintentionally comical. This is a prime example of how a great idea can be ruined by poor execution.
11. Howard the Duck 1986，IMDB Rating: 4.7, IMDB Votes: 51240, ID: 0091225
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‘Howard the Duck’ is about Howard, a duck from an alien planet who accidentally crosses over to Earth. A quirky blend of comedy, sci-fi and adventure, it had the potential to be a unique and entertaining film. Unfortunately, its uneven tone, mediocre performances and clunky special effects make it a notorious failure.
12. The Last Airbender 2010，IMDB Rating: 4.0, IMDB Votes: 175802, ID: 0938283
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The Last Airbender is a story of war and peace between the manipulators of the four elements – water, earth, fire and air – in a magical fantasy world. Despite its promising premise, the film is plagued by poor acting, a lacklustre script and controversial casting.
13. Fifty Shades of Grey 2015，IMDB Rating: 4.2, IMDB Votes: 338663, ID: 2322441
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Fifty Shades of Grey had the potential to be a provocative exploration of power dynamics and romance, but it fell flat. The film’s plot was thin, and the chemistry between the leads was lacking. While the cinematography and score were commendable, they couldn’t compensate for the film’s overall lack of depth and substance. It’s a missed opportunity to bring a complex story to life.
14. Jack and Jill 2011，IMDB Rating: 3.3, IMDB Votes: 91065, ID: 0810913
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Jack and Jill is a comedy film starring Adam Sandler as Jack and Jill, twin siblings with very different personalities. The story revolves around Jack, who is forced to host his visiting sister Jill during Thanksgiving. The idea of playing the two main characters could have been a comedy goldmine, but the film’s humour is childish and the plot nonsensical.
15. After Earth 2013，IMDB Rating: 4.8, IMDB Votes: 209969, ID: 1815862
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After Earth had the potential to be a thrilling sci-fi adventure, but ended up being a dull and uninspired film. It’s a sci-fi adventure film that takes place when Earth is devastated and humanity is forced to relocate to a new planet, Nova.
16. The Love Guru 2008，IMDB Rating: 3.8, IMDB Votes: 55238, ID: 0811138
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The Love Guru is about a self-proclaimed ‘love guru’ named Pitka who tries to find his way to fame in the United States. The film’s humour repeatedly touches on vulgar and offensive topics, and the characters are thinly drawn and stereotypical. Despite the film’s unique setting, the plot is weak and lacks substantial laughs.