With the ongoing pandemic affecting moviegoers' willingness to venture out into theaters and studios like Warner Bros. and Disney using new hybrid theatrical and streaming release strategies for some of their biggest films, 2021 has been an unpredictable year at the box office in which some of the year's best films underperformed financially.
While 2021 was a great year critically for musicals, the best and highest-profile releases struggled at the box office with West Side Story and In the Heights flopping. Additionally, blockbusters like The Suicide Squad and critically acclaimed dramas such as Nightmare Alley also failed to live up to expectations financially, despite rave reviews. (Note: all 2021 box office data is pulled from Box Office Mojo and will change as some movies are still in theatrical release).
Nightmare Alley ($5,404,829)
With plenty of awards buzz, visionary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro at the helm, and an all-star cast, Nightmare Alley seemed poised to make a solid performance at the box office. However, the thought-provoking and technically impressive film about a fraudulent clairvoyant's attempts to manipulate and swindle the rich has yet to crack the top 200 highest-earning films of 2021.
Unfortunately for Nightmare Alley, the film debuted against Spider-Man: No Way Home, the runaway highest-earning film of the year. With a limited appeal and unbeatable competition on its opening weekend, the neo-noir stumbled out of the gate and quickly became one of the most disappointing films of the year at the box office, despite its creative brilliance.
The Many Saints Of Newark ($12,720,603)
With a built-in audience of fans of The Sopranos, the prequel film The Many Saints of Newark was a highly anticipated exploration of Tony's younger days. However, even with the hype and Sopranos fan base, the movie was a box office disappointment.
While most critics reviewed the film favorably, many fans were less than enthusiastic about the movie they received after years of waiting. The combination of mixed word of mouth and the option to watch at home on HBO Max proved to be too much for the film to overcome.
Last Night In Soho ($22,957,625)
After the success of Baby Driver, fans of director Edgar Wright were eager to see what he had crafted in the psychological thriller Last Night in Soho. The film effectively uses the director's signature style to tell a compelling story with engaging characters and a timely message.
While the film itself features an intriguing story, film's marketing struggled to tell audiences what the movie was about and mostly showcased the film's visuals instead. Whether as a result of poor marketing or overall low interest in the film, Last Night in Soho only managed to become the 98th highest-grossing movie of 2021.
King Richard ($26,181,536)
Based on the incredible true story of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, King Richard is an inspiring sports drama that is elevated by one of Will Smith's career-best performances in the title role as the Williams sisters' father.
Despite King Richard's obvious crowd-pleasing appeal, movie star leading man, and feel-good nature, the film's box office gross barely puts it in the top 100 earners for the year, currently coming in at number 94. Like many other films, the movie was likely affected by Warner Bros.'s decision to release it on HBO Max and theaters simultaneously.
The Last Duel ($30,539,159)
Bolstered by a tremendous cast full of recognizable stars, distinct narrative style, and well-filmed fight sequences, The Last Duel saw director Ridley Scott effectively bring to life a thoughtful and relevant story about sexism, misogyny, and honor.
While critics praised the movie, audiences mostly overlooked it and some questioned the film's handling of its delicate subject matter. The film's marketing struggled to accurately represent the movie's themes and despite being one of Scott's best movies in years, the film could not find a mainstream audience.
Respect ($31,379,399)
Bringing the story of music legend Aretha Franklin to the big screen, Respect was touted as one of the year's best biopics, thanks in large part to an outstanding central performance from Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson.
Despite positive reviews and a well-known leading lady, the movie came and went without making much of an impact at the box office. As older audiences have been slow to return to theaters, it is not shocking that a film about a singer whose prime came nearly 50 years ago only managed a modest box office haul.
West Side Story ($36,622,823)
Few concepts sound as likely to succeed as a Steven Spielberg remake of a beloved classic that is garnering significant Oscar buzz, and yet somehow even with all that it has going for it, West Side Story is easily one of the biggest box office disappointments of the year.
Considering that the film, based on a 60-year-old play and movie adaptation, mostly appeals to an older audience, it is likely that West Side Story's weak box office performance was the result of older filmgoers' hesitation to return to theaters during the pandemic.
In The Heights ($43,879,041)
Based on the Broadway show by Lin-Manuel Miranda, In the Heights has incredible performances that give life to the energetic and inspiring musical about the inhabitants of a changing neighborhood in New York. With great musical numbers and a feel-good spirit, the film quickly established itself as one of the best musicals in recent history.
However, the film failed to elicit the same enthusiastic response from audiences that some of the other Miranda-related properties have. Possibly affected by a same-day release on HBO Max, In the Heights was a commercial flop despite its quality.
Candyman ($77,411,570)
Co-written by emerging horror icon Jordan Peele and featuring timely social commentary, Candyman hoped to generate buzz based on its connection to a beloved franchise and impressive talent. The film had had everything going for it yet failed to make a splash, currently ranking as just the 45th highest-grossing movie of the year.
Thanks to a smart budget and decent returns, the film is far from a flop but it deserved to be seen by a far larger audience than it managed to attract, especially considering that it barely beat out a lesser horror like The Forever Purge by less than a million dollars at the box office.
The Suicide Squad ($167,400,219)
Following the poorly received Suicide Squad, 2021's The Suicide Squad is a soft reboot that introduces a cast of great new characters and features an over-the-top R-rated tone. Director James Gunn brings his signature humor and heart to the film, creating a fun and action-packed superhero film.
Despite the creative success of The Suicide Squad, the film failed to generate the expected box office numbers. The film's financial success was likely impacted by its simultaneous release on HBO Max, but the movie only managed to gross $167,400,219, compared to the first Suicide Squad's significantly higher take of $746,846,894.