10 Major Blockbusters You Knew Were Doomed Before Release

3. Battlefield Earth (2000)

Prominent Scientologist John Travolta making a movie based on the novel from Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, plowing millions of dollars of his own money into the project after years of failing to secure funding from major Hollywood studios, that was finally set up at Franchise Pictures, which was a company founded by a Lebanese dry-cleaning mogul turned nightclub owner with a track record of making awful movies. What could possibly go wrong? As passion projects go, Travolta wanting to play an 8ft tall Rastafarian alien in a dystopian sci-fi is up there with the strangest. Even stranger is that the actor initially approached none other than Quentin Tarantino to direct (did he honestly think that would happen?) and that he described the project as 'like Star Wars, but better'. Battlefield Earth was always destined to fail; the media were constantly scrutinising the possible Scientology influence, while a leaked copy of the script that was circulated under a false name was given dismal reviews. The $73m vanity project opened to vitriolic reviews that labeled it as one of the worst movies ever made, and it tanked at the box office with a total worldwide gross of just $29.7m. However, Battlefield Earth did score success at the Razzies where it scooped seven awards including Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Actor and Worst Screenplay. If there was ever a movie that was destined to fail, it was Battlefield Earth.