Although 2021 was full of successful releases and financial hits, there were also several surprising projects that proved to be the most disappointing movies of 2021. The year saw a ton of reboots, remakes, along with a few great original films. Perhaps because of the extensive competition, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many movies struggled to match expectations, with some significant releases ultimately coming up short.
In many ways, 2021 was define by franchises new and old. The Matrix decided to come back with The Matrix Resurrections to mixed reviews. Marvel released a slew of new superhero content, such as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and The Suicide Squad sequel. Meanwhile, Disney pumped out a number of critically acclaimed films like Free Guy, Jungle Cruise, and Encanto. Streaming services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, and HBO Max also threw their hats in the ring with a myriad of original films, some good and some bad. Furthermore, and possibly because of complications for the movie-going public, it was a banner year for genres that don't often get a lot of credit, such as action and horror.
With all of the outstanding films that came out in 2021, there were bound to be a couple of movies that generated a lot of hype but didn't quite live up to it. 2021 saw an influx of movies because, after the previous detrimental year, studios wanted to prove they wouldn't let the pandemic keep them down. Ultimately, many of the following films failed because pre-sold audiences to popular franchises were let down by rehashed storylines and lazy writing. Here are 2021's most disappointing movies.
The Many Saints of Newark
Coming in at the most disappointing movie of 2021 is The Many Saints of Newark. Fans of the massively successful HBO show The Sopranos were set up to explore Tony Soprano's tumultuous history and introduction to the mafia. However, what audiences got was retconned canon, major character changes, and something that altogether didn't feel faithful to the television series. While Michael Gandolfini did a decent job channeling his father, James Gandolfini, the story of The Many Saints of Newark wasn't up to par compared to The Sopranos. The Many Saints of Newark story changes were not welcomed by viewers, as fans have been waiting for 13 years for a continuation of the franchise after its controversial ending. The Sopranos ending riled up viewers enough, having to wait over a decade for a disappointing prequel just added insult to injury.
Coming 2 America
The original Coming to America is arguably one of comedian Eddie Murphy's best movies. With the announcement of the SNL alumni returning to stand-up via Netflix and Coming 2 America, it seemed like the star was set for an overdue comeback. If Coming 2 America showcased an original plot, the movie could've done just that. Unfortunately for Eddie Murphy, the plot of the sequel was anything but original. Viewers felt that the movie was a simple less-funny rehash of the original film. Bumping down an Eddie Murphy film to a PG-13 rating doesn't properly give the comedian room to do what he does best. The movie had high hopes at the start, but unfortunately, it just turned out to be an exercise in nostalgia and nothing else.
Red Notice
Red Notice had everything going for it. Anyone would be excited to see an original heist film starring talents like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot. The PG-13 rating promised fun for the whole family and a guaranteed multiple-watch popcorn flick. That being said, Red Notice epically bombed with critics. The movie was riddled with plot holes and headscratchers. Every single trope that is used in heist movies was repeated to a fault in Red Notice. It's unfortunate that filmmakers decided to underuse the star-studded casts' immense talents for the sake of promoting their own personal brands of acting. The movie turned characters into caricatures, leaving some viewers with the impression that Ryan Reynolds and Dwayne Johnson are better off working for Disney.
House of Gucci
House of Gucci promised fabulous fashion and camp for audiences. Everything about the movie screamed high potential. Ridley Scott directed the movie, Lady Gaga stars as the legendary Patrizia Reggiani, and the storyline was something yet untold on the screen. Lady Gaga's meteoric rise as a talented actress was what drew viewers to the film, but audiences were let down by the direction Scott decided to take it. Ultimately it seemed like Scott lost the threads of the story along the way. While it's true that there was a lot to follow, the plot was muddy at best. The most detrimental choice made during the film is arguably the perspective switch halfway through the movie. While that might work for movies like Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, its use in House of Gucci ultimately felt muddled.
Black Widow
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a goldmine when it comes to possible content. After her The Avengers introduction, audiences were wondering when Black Widow would finally get her own movie. When Marvel finally announced that the heroine was getting her own feature film there were high hopes among the fanbase. Disney's superhero branch hasn't made many mistakes in the past, so the Black Widow movie was bound to be a hit. However, that's not what happened. Black Widow had heaps of potential and could've taken a darker tone with Natalia Romanova's past. Unfortunately, it turned into just another standard Marvel movie, character analysis was pushed to the wayside, and Johannsen's talent wasn't showcased. Marvel dominated the 2021 box office, but a lawsuit and poor storyline choices didn't do Black Widow any favors.
Candyman
Since horror reboots are increasingly popular, it was only natural that the 1990's Candyman franchise should get a chance at a new story. Having Jordan Peele as the primary screenwriter on the project was a promise to viewers that the writer/director would bring his personal style of elevated horror to the series. It seemed like a match made in heaven with Jordan Peele as screenwriter and Nia DaCosta in the director's chair. However, Peele's style didn't work for the Candyman franchise and the lore was lost on him. While the movie is perfectly watchable, it failed to deliver anything approaching the thrills of the original. Elevated horror didn't work for the movie, and adding empathy to the villain's character made him less frightening all around. If Candyman's reboot were to discharge any subsequent sequels, hopefully, the original star Tony Todd will have more of a hand in it.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage
Tom Hardy returns as Eddie Brock, a.k.a Venom in the Spiderman universe spinoff. Marvel has done well with their current attention being paid to their list of antiheroes such as Deadpool. The first Venom movie did relatively well among die-hard Marvel fans, so many were excited about Venom: Let There Be Carnage. One of the biggest problems with the sequel was that it doesn't stay true to its comic book roots. The main character is simply too cartoonish for the grounded approach that the film takes. While it does have to follow the same aesthetics as the current Spiderman movies, the surroundings don't work for Venom's character. The married-couple repartee between the two main characters is fun, but the sequel didn't deliver in the same way as the previous Venom movie.
The Woman In The Window
Another of the most disappointing movies of 2021 is Netflix's The Woman in the Window. Actress Amy Adams is a powerhouse when it comes to portraying dramatic roles. After all, her talent has won her 6 Academy Awards. The Woman in the Window promised a deeply interesting story about an agoraphobic woman being gaslit into believing she didn't see a murder. While the movie definitely utilized Amy Adams acting chops, the plot was a little too complicated to follow on one viewing. Watching Dr. Anna Fox spend countless days holed up in her apartment gets tiresome after a while. The Woman In The Window leaves a lot of mysteries in its wake, and it's probably due to the twist ending. At first, the ending seems like a good choice, but the longer one thinks about it, the more it cheapens Adams' journey.
2021 was a big year for movies, and with the 2022 Oscars on the horizon, it'll be interesting to see what makes the cut. Unfortunately, as this collection demonstrates, there were plenty of disappointing movies in 2021. The problem with these films is that they had so much potential, but for various reasons didn't deliver on their promises.