[tldr_position]Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore has been critically scathed and underperformed at the box office, and the Honest Trailer notes that it killed the franchise. The series had so much potential, but it turns out that even movies part of Harry Potter's wizarding world aren't completely critic-proof. Now, the series in risk, and Warner Bros.' five-movie plan might end up getting abandoned.
However, a lot worse has happened to films that deserved it a lot less. Whether these movies were misunderstood by critics or audiences weren't ready for them, their poor box office results and underwhelming reviews killed their franchises. But some of them have since returned better than ever.
Scream 4 (2011)
Though Scream 5 appeared 11 years later, the fourth installment of the horror franchise is what set the franchise back by over a decade. While the newly released fifth movie is getting praised for being a worthy legacy sequel, Scream 4 was a legacy sequel too, only it didn't get the same reception and was critically panned.
However, though it doesn't have the meta touch that the series is known for, it's still a thrilling slasher movie, and it's great seeing the characters back on screen together. The new characters are just as fascinating, and Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere) left such an impression on fans that she is returning for the in-development Scream 6 too. And some even think it's the only good movie in the Scream series.
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
Joe Dante's Gremlins 2: The New Batch is a completely different beast from the horror original and is more of a satire of itself. But it's hardly surprising that the film killed the franchise, as it's full of fourth-wall-breaking supernatural and fantastical madness. Dante agreed to return as director so long as he had total creative control, which is an agreement that Warner Bros. probably regrets.
But though the film bombed at the box office, the sequel has a huge cult following, and many fans think it's much better and more creative than the overly sentimental holiday movie that is the original. The franchise has recently returned but in the safest way possible. Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai is an animated family-friendly show that has a completely different tone from The New Batch and the original.
Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994)
The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult might not just be the last movie in the Naked Gun franchise, but it could be the last great spoof movie too. The 1994 movie was criticized upon its release, as it was more of the same kind of gags. And while the threequel might not be as great as the original film in the series, those absurd gags still hold up today.
Its final action sequence takes place at the Academy Awards where Frank and a terrorist are playing mind games with each other in front of a crowd of glamorous actors. And as each Oscars ceremony gets more controversial, bizarre, and out of control than the last, it's even funnier watching The Final Insult today.
Batman & Robin (1997)
If Batman & Robin was successful and critics were receptive to it, who knows how the timeline could have changed. There probably would have been several more campy Batman movies and Christopher Nolan would never have made the Dark Knight trilogy. However, critics hated the 1997 film, it was a box office bomb, and it forced Warner Bros. to put the franchise on an eight-year hiatus.
But for as campy as it is, in hindsight, it could very well be that it was released at a time when audiences weren't ready for something like that. The movie is full of self-aware jokes and it doesn't take itself seriously, which is the approach a lot of modern-day superhero movies have. And between Uma Thurman's iconic performance of Poison Ivy and Mr. Freeze's genuinely moving story arc, Batman & Robin is actually underrated.
Tron: Legacy (2010)
Tron: Legacy followed 1982's Tron by 28 years, and it improved on its predecessor in almost every way. The sci-fi adventure looked incredible, had great use of 3D, and it had one of the first examples of de-aging. The movie even had an amazing synthy soundtrack from Daft Punk. The studio couldn't have been more focused on the vibe and aesthetic of the movie, but that was Tron: Legacy's downfall.
The 2010 movie had a narrative that didn't make much sense and was hard to follow, which led to a disappointing box office performance and a threequel being put on hold indefinitely. But it was an audio-visual experience on a scale that no other film could deliver, and it's worth watching for that alone.
Die Another Day (2002)
Die Another Day didn't kill the James Bond franchise per se, as Casino Royale was released just four years later, but it did kill the Pierce Brosnan series. But for as disliked as it was when it first hit theatres 20 years ago, the movie contains many classic elements and sequences that fans remember fondly.
The 2002 movie features Jinx (Halle Berry,) one of the most memorable Bond girls, and Miranda Frost (Rosamund Pike,) another beloved Bond girl. It's the only Bond movie to feature John Cleese as Q, there's an invisible Aston Martin, and the iconic Ice Palace in Iceland. And at the very least, Die Another Day would make a great 007 video game.
Superman Returns (2006)
Several movies have killed franchises before they've even started, with a recent example being the Mummy reboot. But in 2006, a planned Superman series was cut short too. Superman Returns did well with critics, but it underperformed at the box office, killing any chances of a sequel even though Warners Bros. was planning Superman Returns 2.
While Superman is a symbol of hope and he's the optimistic answer to his cynical Gotham counterpart, Man of Steel and the following DCEU movies have depicted him as a miserable Metropolis civilian. And Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice depicted Lex Luthor more like a chaotic Joker without a plan than a meticulous evil businessman. In hindsight, with the recent portrayal of the character and his world, Superman Returns is a faithful, fun, inoffensive release.
Muppets Most Wanted (2014)
The Muppets franchise is going incredibly strong when it comes to television, as it has had several different TV shows on the go concurrently and the special Muppets Haunted Mansion was released on Disney+ just last year. However, in terms of movies, the franchise has been at a standstill for almost 10 years. It didn't take long for the franchise to be killed after it was just revitalized with the refreshing take on the series with 2011's reboot, The Muppets.
But Muppets Most Wanted has better songs than its predecessors, takes place around the world, and has an interesting espionage spy narrative. The film even tripled down on the comedy actors, as, instead of Jason Segel, Most Wanted stars Ricky Gervais, Ty Burrell, and Tina Fey. But some might have thought that was overkill. Despite the movie having an 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, it massively underperformed and there unfortunately hasn't been a Muppets movie since.