Over the years, countless sci-fi movies have shown great promise, only to end up leaving audiences underwhelmed and disappointed. This is especially true for major franchises, where fans continually hope for a return to former glory, just to be let down time and again. The same goes for standalone sci-fi films where, due to an intriguing premise or the talents of their writer, director, or cast, expectations often run high, resulting in a film that fails to deliver on its potential.

While viewers may have been holding out on the hope that these could rank among the best sci-fi movies ever, they instead ended up as some of the most disappointing box office bombs, franchise killers, or unnecessary sequels. Although there was a moment in time when these films felt destined for greatness, when it came time to check them out in the theater, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes in disappointment.

10

Men in Black: International (2019)

A lackluster standalone sequel

It’s hard not to be frustrated by the Men in Black franchise, as its astounding first movie and compelling world feel like a H๏τbed of unfulfilled potential. Based on the Men in Black comic book series, the rich mythology and conspiracy theory origins of this series meant it could have carried plenty of subsequent stories away from the main series starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. However, this franchise was left idle for too long, and it was disappointing that when it finally did return, the results were so poor.

Men in Black: International was the most forgettable movie in the series and, despite some good chemistry between Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth, failed to justify its existence as its predictable and boring plot played out. What could have been an exciting rebirth for the series instead felt like the final nail in its coffin as the franchise had lain dormant ever since. While the project is no longer in development, the planned Men in Black crossover with 21 Jump Street could have been a far more compelling direction for this series to go in.

9

The Predator (2018)

Just another in a long list of disappointing Predator movies

While the original Predator was an undisputed classic of action and sci-fi, this franchise consistently failed to recapture the magic of that first film. Predator 2 had its moments, but it paled in comparison to the original, and the 2010 sequel Predators was a total mess, although fans still held out hope that this series would find a way to return to its former glory. These hopes were heightened when Shane Black was announced as director of The Predator, and viewers hoped he imbued it with the same appeal as his Lethal Weapon screenplay or cult favorites like The Nice Guys.

However, The Predator was just yet another hollow action movie that over-promised and under-delivered. While there was plenty of gore on display, the plot was an incoherent mess, and its attempt to blend comedy and action just didn’t work out as planned. Thankfully, the Predator franchise at last got an installment that lived up to the hype when the prequel Prey was released in 2022, and director Dan Trachtenberg showcased there was still some life in the franchise after all.

8

Pacific Rim Uprising (2018)

An uninspired sequel that did not understand what made the original great

The original Pacific Rim was a labor of love that showcased a real understanding and appreciation for the kaiju genre of Japanese giant monster movies. With director Guillermo del Toro at the helm and featuring astounding special effects, Pacific Rim surprised audiences with its fantastical imagery, unique sense of style, and clear artistic integrity. In essence, everything that was great about Pacific Rim was missing from the sequel, Pacific Rim Uprising.

With Del Toro no longer directing, Pacific Rim Uprising traded its intense kaiju fight sequences for generic blockbuster action. Through an overload of CGI and dumbed-down action, this disappointing sequel felt like it had more in common with a substance Michael Bay Transformers movie than the kaiju origins it was supposed to be paying homage to. Pacific Rim Uprising could have been something special, but instead, the results were a disappointing sensory overload that viewers forgot about the second the credits started to roll.

7

Alien: Covenant (2017)

A disappointment for Prometheus and Alien enthusiasts alike

The news that Ridley Scott was returning to the Alien franchise for Prometheus was truly one of the best developments a sci-fi fan could imagine, although by the time he was making the follow-up, Alien: Covenant, viewers were far more apprehensive. Rather than return to the claustrophobic style that made Alien such an all-time classic, Prometheus delved into the mythology of the Xenomorph with an origin story that was almost spiritual in nature. This meant we didn’t know what to expect from Alien: Covenant or how Scott would blend Prometheus’s philosophical ideas with Alien’s horror.

The results were, sadly, a film that failed to fully appease either camp of fans, as its confused direction meant it had somewhat of an idenтιтy problem. While there was a lot to love about Alien: Covenant, Michael Fᴀssbender’s characterization of David meant there wasn’t much time left to explore the intricacies of the Xenomorph origins or the Engineers. While this all could have been addressed in the final installment of Scott’s planned prequel trilogy, this has yet to come to fruition, leaving viewers rolling their eyes in disappointment and unfulfilled promises.

6

Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)

Squandered the reunion of Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger

While James Cameron proved it was possible to make a great Terminator sequel with Terminator 2: Judgement Day, every movie since then has been trying and failing to repeat that astounding success. While films like Terminator Salvation and Terminator Genisys had glaring issues, sci-fi fans’ hopes for the franchise were reunited with the announcement of Terminator: Dark Fate. As a direct sequel to Terminator 2 that reunited Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger, there was real hope that this movie could finally redeem the series after so many lackluster releases.

Unfortunately, Terminator: Dark Fate not only received mixed reviews but was such a financial failure that it actually ranks among the biggest box office bombs of all time. While there were plenty of intriguing ideas at the center of its premise, Terminator: Dark Fate’s decision to kill John Connor in the movie’s opening felt like it undermined all that came before it.

5

The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

A self-aware sequel that knows it can’t live up to the original

To hear that Lana Wachowski was returning to The Matrix franchise with a legacy sequel nearly two decades after The Matrix Revolutions was an exciting prospect. With Keanu Reeves on board to reprise his role as Neo, there was already a feeling before the movie was released that it would undercut the impact of the previous movies. As Neo died in the third movie when he sacrificed himself to destroy Agent Smith and restore peace between humans and machines, this legacy sequel had the potential to undermine the entire trilogy.

The results were mixed as The Matrix Resurrections found a unique way to revive Neo while poking fun at the entire concept of studios pushing for IPs to be continually brought back and revived. There was a self-aware charm to this strange sequel, although weak action sequences, a forgettable villain, and questionable logic meant it was impossible not to roll your eyes in disappointment. With a new Matrix movie now in the works with Drew Goddard (via Hollywood Reporter), it remains to be seen if another follow-up can redeem this underwhelming release.

4

Jurᴀssic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)]

The dumbest Jurᴀssic Park movie yet

While it was exciting to revisit the world of Jurᴀssic Park for Colin Trevorrow’s spin-off sequel Jurᴀssic World, by the time the second movie in this rebooted trilogy was released, it had already worn out its welcome. While Jurᴀssic Park: Fallen Kingdom boasted some impressive visuals, it’s truly a testament to the magic of Steven Spielberg that it paled in comparison to the wonder of witnessing the dinosaurs on screen for the first time.

While hopes were high that Jurᴀssic World: Fallen Kingdom could do something new with the franchise, it was just yet another reminder that it’s time to let the series go extinct. Although there was plenty of big-budget set piece action, characters like Chris Pratt’s Owen Grady lacked the enduring appeal of Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum, whose cameo as Dr. Ian Malcolm only served to remind audiences that the glory days were over. Jurᴀssic World: Dominion attempted to right this wrong by reuniting the original trio, but it just felt like nostalgia baiting.

3

Chappie (2015)

A great premise that was executed poorly

Expectations have always remained high when it comes to director Neill Blomkamp, whose extraordinary debut, District 9, blended sci-fi concepts with a deeper message inspired by the apartheid era in his own South Africa. There was a hope that his dystopian action movie Chappie would also powerfully address these same topics, although the results were far from spectacular. Instead, this story about an AI law enforcement robot captured and taught by gangsters never quite managed to figure out if it wanted to be a deep philosophical exploration of serious issues or a goofy action movie.

Chappie had some intriguing concepts at the center of its premise, although its robot protagonist was not very compelling, and the over-inclusion of the rap group Die Antwoord meant the film was underwhelming. While there were emotional moments underpinning this disappointing story, Chappie never quite managed to reach its potential and stood as a major step down from the power and depth of District 9.

2

Alien Vs. Predator (2004)

A watered-down crossover that failed both franchises

As two of the biggest sci-fi franchises of all time, the Alien and Predator crossover movie had the potential to be a cinematic event the likes of which the world had never before seen. With its origins in the Aliens vs. Predator comic book series first published by Dark Horse in 1989, there was a lot of content to draw from, and this could have been an intriguing exploration of the rich lore and mythology of both series. However, Alien vs. Predator was instead a disappointing showdown and a low point in both franchises.

Alien vs. Predator’s biggest mistake came with its PG-13 rating, a decision that forced it to be disappointingly mild as the kills were toned down and there was a noticeable absence of blood. For this crossover series to reach its potential, it needs to be allowed an R rating and embrace the horror origins of both series. While the sequel, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, was even worse, it did not dash the hopes of countless sci-fi fans in the way this one did.

1

Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets (2017)

A bland graphic novel adaptation that failed to reach its potential

With the French sci-fi comic series Valérian and Laureline as its source material and Luc Besson at the helm, many carried high expectations for Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. Fans eagerly anticipated Besson’s return to the kind of vast, richly imagined sci-fi worlds that made The Fifth Element a classic. However, the film ultimately fell short, dragged down by a weak cast, disappointing storytelling, and squandered potential.

There were some impressive visuals and imaginative world-building in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, although it struggled to bring everything together into a cohesive whole. Dane DeHaan’s Valerian felt miscast, and his chemistry with Cara Delevingne’s Laureline was non-existent. While this was a story full of potential, rather than deliver the character-driven adventure that viewers craved, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets was a style-over-substance spectacle that could never quite reach its ambitious potential.

Source: Hollywood Reporter