10 More Movies That Tried To Exploit Nostalgia And Failed
8. King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword (2017)
The legend of King Arthur is one of the most timeless tales around, and it has been adapted into everything from comic books and television series to movies and video games. The latest attempt at capitalizing on the nostalgia of the Arthurian legend of the once and future king came in 2017 with Guy Ritchie's King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.
The film had the backing of Warner Bros. with Guy Ritchie on as director, and with a budget of $175 million, it looked like a surefire hit. When the dust settled in the theaters, it wasn't from people flocking to see the movie; it was more from people walking out.
The movie was absolutely panned, with some critics actually "warning audiences to stay away." That's an incredibly harsh criticism, but it's not surprising given the 30% rating it currently holds on Rotten Tomatoes.
The movie was far from a success for the studio, nor Ritchie, and after a worldwide gross of $148 million was collected, the losses were immense. All told, with the film's production budget and marketing costs, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword amounted to a loss of $150 million for Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures. As it stands, this movie is a warning to other studios to let King Arthur rest for a few decades.