10 Horror Movie Flops That NOBODY Saw Coming
These horror movies were expected to make a fortune. So, what went wrong?
Though it's hard to tell what horror movie is going to hit it big, there are certain ones that look like a sure thing. When a slasher, paranormal folk-tale, or found-footage flick gets a heap of pre-emptive buzz, its success seems assured, especially if it's helmed by a respected director and has an Oscar-tier cast.
Even if the film in question isn't up to standard, failure isn't guaranteed if it's a follow-up to a successful franchise. It: Chapter Two and Annabelle weren't great but the brand recognition allowed them to dominate the box office.
However, many frightfests fail to meet expectations and ultimately flop. Now, the simplest reason why even the most hyped horrors bomb is because they weren't very good.
But that's not always the case. Certain spooky tales got rave reviews from critics and audiences but still tanked for one reason or another. Sometimes, the property was let down by poor marketing or because it came out at the wrong time. Other times, the scare-a-thon crashed and burned due to another factor that nobody could've expected.
Whether or not these entries were god-awful or epic, every single one of them tanked big-time.
10. The Wolfman
2025's Wolf Man may have been a disappointment, but nowhere on the same scale as the 2010 version.
Directed by Joe Johnston, this Wolfman reboot boasted an A-list cast, including Hugo Weaving, Emily Blunt, Anthony Hopkins, and Benicio Del Toro as the titular character.
Though horrors are often done on the cheap, this werewolf iteration was a tentpole blockbuster, with a production cost of $150 million. Despite the hefty budget, Universal had faith in The Wolfman, marketing it like there was no tomorrow. On top of that, the special effects were overseen by Rick Baker, who devised the iconic transformation scene in An American Werewolf in London.
Considering how successful The Mummy and The Mummy Returns were, it seemed possible this reboot could revive the Universal Monster brand.
Despite having all the workings of a showstopper, The Wolfman was shredded for its pacing, tone, uninteresting characters, and overuse of CGI. The studio's president at the time, Ronald Meyer, called The Wolfman "crappy" and "one of the worst movies ever made". Despite opening on Super Bowl weekend with little competition, this dud was among the biggest flops of the year.