Hollywood’s Biggest Tax Write-Offs Of 2011

Wookie Johnson — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:02:54 +0000

2011 was a tough year for films at the box office. There were a good share of high profile bombs which means tax day is going to be a busy one in Hollywood. Amongst the write-offs are remakes and action epics, none of which were able to spark the interest of moviegoers. And so, as the accounting books are closed on 2011, we celebrate the top movies nobody bothered to see.

Mars Needs Moms

The honor of bombiest bomb to ever have bombed in 2011 goes to Mars Needs Moms. Produced for $150 million, it has thus far grossed $39 million worldwide. Normally, animated family films like this clean up at the box office, but the creepy dead-eyed mutant aliens of Mars failed to entice youngsters.

Sucker Punch

In the past, girls + underwear + slow motion have always added up to a hit. That’s why Warner Bros must be confused as they close the books on Zack Snyder‘s Sucker Punch. The dreamlike action film earned $89.8 million on a budget of $82 million. So, yes it did turn a profit but hardly. If only Vanessa Hudgens hadn’t gone and given it away for free on the Internet.

Arthur

Warner Bros also felt the sting of a bomb with the remake of Arthur. Russell Brand stars as the filthy rich party boy who considers giving it all up for true love. The film barely eked out a profit $5.7 million. The lesson here is that Fitz & The Tantrums can’t hold a candle to the widespread appeal of Christopher Cross.

The 12 Biggest Flops Of The Past 12 Years

Wookie Johnson — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:28:31 +0000

While it’s too early in 2012 to tell what movie is going to suck the hardest (although Big Miracle is certainly on it’s way), we can turn to the past and evaluate the missteps of Hollywood from yesteryear. Compiled below are a list of the biggest flops, one per year, spanning from 2000 to 2011. The classification was applied after careful calculations that factored in total box office gross, number of screens, per screen average and other math stuff that you’re just going to have trust. Whatever. Do you really want to be the guy defending The Adventures of Pluto Nash?

Mars Needs Moms (2011)

With a budget of $150 million, 2011′s biggest flop earned $39 million worldwide. Mars Needs Moms tells the story of a boy who takes his mother for granted but then goes to great lengths to save her when she’s abducted by an alien race. Without any real star power attached, the motion-captured feature took a big risk putting all of its fate into a technology that has had a shaky history with moviegoers. As if losing $111 million weren’t bad enough, it must be terrible to admit having any participation in making this film.

Jonah Hex (2010)

Though $10.9 million on a $40 million production budget doesn’t seem like the hugest of losses, a lot was put behind publicity for this comic book adaptation. Planned to be a summer tentpole, the movie crashed in burned in America causing the studio to scrap a large rollout overseas. Word is that the studio lost as much as they typically earn from a Harry Potter film on Hex. But, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. I find the film delightful and hilarious. Just not for the reasons filmmakers would have liked me to.

Land of the Lost (2009)

It’s sad to see this one on the list. Budgeted at $100 million, the adaptation of the classic show earned only $35 million at the box office. The reason that it’s a shame for Land of the Lost to wind up on a flop list is because it really was an entertaining movie. Marketed COMPLETELY wrong as a goofy romp for kids that parents would enjoy too, it’s actually anything but that. In fact, it brought back the snarky vibe of an 80′s comedy that has been so missed in film. Give this one a shot. Unless you’re the type to have Will Ferrell fatigue. Then there’s no talking any reason into you.

Screen Junkies » flops