1. Mars Needs Moms
Cost: Dh540 million
Earned: Dh140.5 million
A mega-loser for director and producer Robert Zemeckis, Mars Needs Moms became one of the most expensive bombs in Hollywood history, after the motion-capture animation failed to find a bigger audience.
The seventh and final Harry Potter flick has proven magic at the box office, setting new records in its opening weekend.
The Deathly Hallows Part 2 raked in over Dh1.7 billion in its opening weekend last week, besting the previous record set by Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince back in 2009, which made Dh1.4 billion upon release.
And with Daniel Radcliffe revealing that he "wept like a child" when filming wrapped, we hope those waterworks have turned to tears of joy… all the way to the bank!
2. Your Highness
Cost: Dh180 million
Earned: Dh88.5 million
Despite boasting some big names in Natalie Portman and James Franco, this medieval comedy failed to score with audiences. It was slammed as "crude and poorly written" by critics, leading a miffed Franco to snipe, "I didn't write that movie, I was just doing my job."
3. Arthur
Cost: Dh144 million
Earned: Dh164.5 million
This remake turned out to be more dud than Dudley Moore. Starring Russell Brand, Arthur lacked the laughs we've come to expect from the Brit star.
4. Prom
Cost: 29 million
Earned: Dh36.5 million
It was supposed to be a quirky sleeper hit for Disney, but the no-name-filled Prom turned out to be the lowest-grossing studio film of the year to date. Thank goodness Disney had Captain Jack to keep them going!
5. Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer
Cost: Dh72 million
Earned: Dh48.5 million
Starring Heather Graham, this teen flick was supposed to be the first in a mega-successful franchise of flicks based on the kids' book series. But things didn't work out as planned.
6. Green Lantern
Cost: Dh720 million
Earned: Dh936 million
OK, so this Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively movie made money, but nowhere near the Dh1.8 billion the studio bosses were expecting. Plus the movie was blasted by critics as "noisy, overproduced and thinly written."
7. Priest
Cost: Dh216 million
Earned: Dh270 million
This supernatural vampires vs werewolves movie, starring Paul Bettany as the titular Priest - with a cross carved into his forehead - was slated by critics as "dull", "derivative", "rag tag" and "pitiable". Ouch!
8. Sucker Punch
Cost: Dh296 million
Earned: Dh323 million
It may have made a bit of money back against its costs, but the Zack Snyder-directed flick was critically savaged and despite starring Emily Browning and Vanessa Hudgens, was dubbed "The worst movie of the year"by Vanity Fair.
9. Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil
Cost: Dh108 million
Earned: Dh49 million
As the first Hoodwinked flick was an unexpected hit, the studio thought a sequel couldn't fail. But this animation, voiced by the A-list likes of Glenn Close, Hayden Panettiere and Martin Short fell waaaay short of expectations.
10. The Beaver
Cost: Dh72 million
Earned: Dh3.6 million
Although Jodie Foster's flick was critically well(ish) received, audiences stayed away in their droves, largely due to the fact that it featured Mel Gibson… and a talking beaver glove puppet.
Whether they lost millions or were resolutely slammed by critics, 2011 has already proved a vintage year for some proper Hollywood howlers.
