10 More Movies That Tried To Exploit Nostalgia And Failed
3. Dark Phoenix (2019)
It could be said that all of the films released in the "First Class" X-Men series were attempts at nostalgia where fans of Marvel Comics are concerned. The first three movies tapped into some of the characters' most influential stories, and the final one, Dark Phoenix, is probably the most important of them all.
In terms of the comics, "The Dark Phoenix Saga" was a huge event for Marvel Comics. The story was written by Chris Claremont with illustrations by John Byrne, and it ran through most of 1980. It tore apart the X-Men and had a lasting impact on Jean Grey and the team as a whole.
Attempting to capitalize on that story was certainly a product of nostalgia, but given how much the fans love the story, any adaptation was bound to be heavily scrutinized. When it finally made it to film, the number of changes and tweaks done to Claremont's story made Dark Phoenix almost unrecognizable when compared to the books.
The movie was a considerable failure, and while it could be said that the critics weren't kind, the fans were far beyond disappointed. The movie lost millions, and it concluded the franchise in an underwhelming manner. That being said, the cast was praised for the performances they gave, and the score was well received, but overall, it was a major let-down.