10 Would-Be Franchises That Failed At The First Hurdle
There's nothing Hollywood loves more than a successful franchise. Each summer we see more and more monolithic spectacles constructed via committee to appeal to the widest possible audience. Studios endeavour to hit the worldwide audiences' sweet spot in the hope that they will birth a new cash cow and get a license to print money. Often, as with this summer's The Lone Ranger, Hollywood turns to sure bet properties that have already won over audiences' hearts. Though early estimates show The Lone Ranger is going to be Disney's biggest flop since John Carter (it opened to only $10 million on Friday, likely to do well below the estimated $60 million opening weekend). Sometimes, as with the upcoming Pacific Rim, a studio takes a gamble and rolls the dice on a new premise; unfortunately, in both cases, they often roll snake eyes. I present to you a list of ten such misfires, movies that tried to leapt the hurdle of audience apathy but face planted instead: 10 would-be franchises that failed.