The 2010s saw franchises and original movies enjoying mammoth box office loot. Original cerebral sci-fi Inception became a surprise hit at the start of the 2010s, and Avengers: Endgame‘s cultural phenomenon closed out a stellar decade of moviegoing. However, the 2010s were also filled with cinematic misfires that, while failing to make a splash at the box office, offered bold visions, distinctive voices, or deeply unique energy that didn’t fit mainstream molds. But time has a way of rewarding the misunderstood. Several high-profile flops from the decade, like Scott Pilgrim vs The World, Sucker Punch, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E., have already gained devoted cult followings, finding appreciation for their ambition and style well after their initial release.
Here, the list shines a light on the box office flops of the 2010s that are poised to follow in those cult glory footsteps. Some were too risky, too ambitious, or simply too odd to connect with wide audiences, but that same uniqueness gives them lasting power. As streaming platforms and film communities continue to re-explore forgotten gems, audiences are rediscovering these movies that were unfairly overlooked the first time around. From franchise entries to original dramas, these movies will soon find a second life.
10
‘A Most Violent Year’ (2014)
Directed by J.C. Chandor
A Most Violent Year follows Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac), an ambitious, immigrant entrepreneur in the heating oil business, trying to expand his company while keeping his hands clean. Alongside his sharp, no-nonsense wife Anna (Jessica Chastain), Abel tries to maintain his integrity. As competitors and prosecutors push them into a corner, their American dream comes at the cost of morality.
Despite the gangster vibes from the trailers and posters, there are no explosive shootouts or over-the-top moments. It’s more of a slow-burn thriller that focuses on the leading characters. So, it’s understandable that the film did not catch on with general audiences. Director J.C. Chandor, fresh off a streak with Margin Call and All Is Lost, successfully captures the violent and gritty landscape of the 1980s, and both Isaac and Chastain deliver magnetic performances with incredible chemistry. Fans of both actors, character dramas, and film noir will gravitate towards this film, and A Most Violent Year will undoubtedly climb the ranks of the genre’s unsung masterpieces.
9
‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ (2019)
Directed by Tim Miller
Picking up decades after Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Terminator: Dark Fate follows Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes), a young woman targeted by a new, brutal Terminator, the Rev-9 (Gabriel Luna). Dani is protected by a cybernetically enhanced soldier from the future, Grace (Mackenzie Davis). Along the way, they’re joined by a hardened Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and a reformed T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger).
Terminator: Dark Fate was endorsed by James Cameron and was a step up from the confusing Terminator: Genisys, making it arguably the best film in the franchise since T2. However, franchise fatigue and muddled mythology made audiences stay away. The film sees the return of Sarah Connor, played gloriously once again by Linda Hamilton, and gives the character a satisfying arc. Directed by Tim Miller (Deadpool), the film has relentless, breathtaking action sequences and engaging characters. Over time, fans may recognize its attempt to course-correct the franchise and its clever subversions of old tropes. As the franchise is being put on hold, hopefully, this film gets more appreciation.
8
‘Upside Down’ (2012)
Directed by Juan Diego Solanas
Not a Stranger Things spin-off, Upside Down is set in a universe where two twin planets orbit each other, each with individual gravity. The one above, called Up Top, is for the wealthy and powerful, while the other, called Down Below, is for the poor and oppressed. The film follows Adam (Jim Sturgess), a resident of Down Below, who falls in love with Eden (Kirsten Dunst) from Up Top. Despite their differences, both try to overcome the outdated class systems and be together.
Despite its unique concept and arresting visuals, Upside Down failed to catch on with mainstream audiences, likely due to its small release at the time. Critics were mixed, but it’s exactly the kind of ambitious film that will generate devoted cult followings. Its stunning visual effects and surreal production design make it a standout in this current landscape. While its central plot is about romance, the film also dares to merge fantasy with social allegory, making this film a bold, sci-fi version of classic romance tropes. Though the execution isn’t always smooth, the film’s commitment to its bizarre, poetic premise gives it a unique identity that will be appreciated by future audiences.
7
‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’ (2016)
Directed by Burr Steers
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a mashup of Jane Austen’s classic book with a full-blown zombie apocalypse. In this version, Elizabeth Bennet (Lily James) and her sisters are not just well-mannered women but trained warriors, ready to fend off the undead with swords and musketry. Mr. Darcy (Sam Riley) is also reimagined as a brooding zombie hunter whose pride is as dangerous as his skills with the blade.
If we had a nickel for every time there’s a zombie riff on a popular story in the 2010s, we would have two nickels, which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice. The first one, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, albeit entertaining, was not a runaway success. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, too, tanked at the box office for its irreverent take on the story, but like the presidential reimagining, it’s a whole lot of fun, embracing weirdness with sincerity. With the book as the backbone, the film is quite coherent and also somewhat respectful to Austen’s world. This genre fusion may find a niche audience who appreciates this big swing. With its campy and affectionate tone, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is destined to be loved by select groups that celebrate the unusual.
6
‘In the Heart of the Sea’ (2015)
Directed by Ron Howard
In the Heart of the Sea tells the harrowing true story that inspired Moby Dick. The story centers on Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth), an experienced first mate passed over for captain in favor of the less competent but well-connected George Pollard (Benjamin Walker). Tensions build between the two as they journey into the Pacific in search of whale oil, only to come face to face with a monstrous, near-mythical white whale that wrecks their ship and strands them thousands of miles from home.
Despite Ron Howard‘s name and a strong ensemble cast that also includes Tom Holland and Cillian Murphy, In the Heart of the Sea sank at the box office, suffering from stiff competition, sandwiched between The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. But it’s quietly building a second life thanks to streaming platforms and the high production qualities. The film’s practical sea-set sequences and haunting visual style, with sun-bleached desperation and storm-tossed dread, offer a level of realism that plunges viewers into the characters’ toils. It’s an old-school adventure epic that’s both exhilarating and bleak. As more viewers discover this film for the first time, In the Heart of the Sea is due for reevaluation.
5
‘A Cure for Wellness’ (2016)
Directed by Gore Verbinski
A Cure for Wellness follows Lockhart (Dane DeHaan), a young and ambitious executive sent to retrieve his company’s missing CEO from a mysterious wellness center tucked in the Swiss Alps. Upon arrival, he finds a seemingly idyllic yet unsettling retreat where patients drink vast amounts of mineral water and never seem to leave. As Lockhart begins to investigate, he uncovers a disturbing history tied to the facility’s past and grotesque medical experiments.
This slow-burn horror thriller is thoroughly unique, unlike anything Hollywood has ever put out. Its indescribable premise, mouthful title, and release calendar contributed to its commercial flop and left many critics puzzled. The film was deemed too long, too weird, and too disturbing for mainstream viewers, but that’s exactly why it will endear itself to other, more niche audiences over time. Gore Verbinski, the inventive and visionary director of the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films, directs with operatic flair, blending psychological dread and gothic romance. This rare beast in modern studio filmmaking is destined to be rediscovered by horror fans looking for something immersive and twisted.
4
‘Blackhat’ (2015)
Directed by Michael Mann
Blackhat follows convicted hacker Nicholas Hathaway (Chris Hemsworth), who’s temporarily released by U.S. and Chinese authorities to help track down a cybercriminal responsible for a devastating explosion at a nuclear plant. As Hathaway joins a global manhunt stretching from Chicago to Hong Kong to Jakarta, he becomes deeply involved in high-stakes digital warfare and corporate sabotage, while developing a romance with networking engineer Chen Lien (Lust, Caution‘s Tang Wei).
Though it bombed at the box office and faced criticism for its dense plot, Michael Mann‘s Blackhat has slowly gained recognition as an ahead-of-its-time techno-thriller praised for its accurate depiction of hacking. Mann’s digital cinematography, once criticized as cold and disorienting, now feels apt for capturing a world obsessed with the digital. Aside from Hemsworth, the film boasts great supporting actors like Viola Davis and Holt McCallany. As technology develops quickly, Blackhat is being reappraised not just as stylish genre fare, but as a prescient vision of our vulnerable, interconnected life. A better-paced director’s cut is also available for those who complain the film is moving too slowly.
3
‘Suspiria’ (2018)
Directed by Luca Guadagnino
Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria is not so much a remake of Dario Argento’s 1977 cult classic but more of a complete reimagining. The film follows Susie Bannion (Dakota Johnson), a quiet but determined American dancer who arrives at the prestigious Markos Dance Academy, just as one of its students has gone missing under mysterious circumstances. As Susie’s star rises under the stern eye of artistic director Madame Blanc (Tilda Swinton), she begins to unravel the dark truth lurking beneath the academy’s rigid structure.
The original Suspiria is still a very much beloved film, especially for critics and cinephiles who love the film’s stunning use of color. So, when an update arrived, naturally, it was rejected. Guadagnino even goes as far as saying that the film “made absolutely nothing” at the box office. However, as a new story, the film succeeds where it counts. Its story with themes of historical trauma and motherhood hit all the notes, while the unexpected, brutal scenes continue to terrorize and traumatize audiences everywhere. Production-wise, the film is a treat. With cinematography by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom and music by Thom Yorke, the new Suspiria has an inspired edge compared to other films of the decade. It’s a spellbinding film that’s only getting stronger with time.
2
‘John Carter’ (2012)
Directed by Andrew Stanton
John Carter tells the story of a Civil War veteran played by Taylor Kitsch who is mysteriously transported to Mars, known to its natives as Barsoom. Gifted with incredible strength and agility thanks to Mars’ lower gravity, he finds himself caught in the middle of an interplanetary war. Carter is reluctantly drawn into the conflict between warring Martian factions, ultimately siding with the fiercely intelligent Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins).
Based on the thematically rich A Princess of Mars books by Edgar Rice Burroughs, John Carter is a notorious Hollywood failure. The film is now synonymous with box office disaster, thanks to its unappealing title and unfocused marketing. However, beyond its failures lies a film bursting with imagination and sincerity, and while it may have suffered from tonal inconsistencies, it has its many standout moments. Director Andrew Stanton, in his live-action debut, brings a heartfelt tone that’s rare in modern blockbusters. The visual effects are sublime, especially the Tharks and other Martian creatures. The film’s flop ensured that sequels or reboots of this story are off-limits, but fans have begun to reclaim John Carter as a misunderstood gem. In several years, the film might be synonymous with grand, otherworldly adventure instead of a box office bomb.
1
‘Cloud Atlas’ (2012)
Directed by Lana & Lilly Wachowski and Tom Tykwer
Cloud Atlas is an era-spanning epic that weaves six interconnected stories across centuries, from the 19th-century Pacific Ocean to a distant, post-apocalyptic future. The story ranges from a lawyer’s moral awakening regarding the slave trade, to a ’70s journalist uncovering a deadly conspiracy, to a futuristic clone uprising in dystopian Korea. Each narrative, with actors like Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Doona Bae, and Hugo Weaving playing multiple roles across timelines, explores how individual actions ripple through time.
Critics were sharply divided, and audiences were largely baffled by its sprawling timelines. Cloud Atlas failed to recoup its budget, dismissed by many as overlong, confusing, or too emotionally heavy-handed. But in the years since, it has slowly built a passionate following. The film’s emotional sincerity, daring structure, and philosophical ambition now feel ahead of their time. It feels like an ambitious movie unicorn, especially in today’s landscape where studios mostly play it safe. The Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer truly have made a film unlike any other. What once seemed like a beautiful mess now registers as a profound meditation on life. Cloud Atlas‘s legacy is getting more and more appreciated. The film is built for those who appreciate cinema that dares to have a say.
Cloud Atlas
- Release Date
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October 26, 2012
- Runtime
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172minutes
