As 2025 comes to a close, we reflect on some movies that did not live up to expectations.
While some blockbusters soared, several high-profile projects—from beloved auteur experiments to massive franchise continuations—failed to meet the astronomical expectations of fans and critics alike.
Whether due to “remake fatigue,” bloated budgets, or baffling creative choices, here are the top 10 most disappointing movies of 2025.
1. Mountainhead
“Mountainhead” was the directorial debut of Succession creator Jesse Armstrong, starring Steve Carell as a tech-billionaire elder statesman.
While critics enjoyed the biting satire, general viewers found the dialogue-heavy, tech-jargon-filled script “insufferable” and “boring.”
2. Tron: Ares
Although its predecessor, Tron Legacy, offered more “visuals over substance”, we expected a little bit more with Tron: Ares.
Despite Nine Inch Nails providing the score, the film was panned as an “uninspired slog.” It grossed only $141 million against its massive budget, effectively stalling the franchise’s momentum once again.
3. HIM
HIM was a Jordan Peele-produced horror-thriller starring Marlon Wayans as a legendary quarterback with a dark secret.
Despite a fascinating premise, HIM was savaged by critics as a “sensory assault” that lacked a cohesive plot.
Many viewers found the constant strobe effects and “headache-inducing” editing unbearable. It currently stands as one of the lowest-rated films of the year, with critics calling it a “style-over-substance train wreck.”
4. Death of a Unicorn
“Death of a Unicorn” was an A24 dark comedy starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega about a father and daughter who accidentally run over a mythical creature.
While the cast was praised, the movie was panned for its “muddied tone” and “underwhelming CGI.” Critics felt the social commentary on the “evil elite” was shallow and repetitive, leading many to label it a “dreary affair” that failed to live up to the A24 brand.
5. Keeper
Director Osgood Perkins (of Longlegs fame) returned with a psychological horror starring Tatiana Maslany.
After the success of Longlegs, expectations for “Keeper” were sky-high. Unfortunately, Keeper was dismissed as “tedious” and “half-baked.” W
hile Maslany’s performance was a highlight, audiences reflected a deep frustration with the film’s “allergy to mystery” and its repetitive, slow-burning structure.
6. The Black Phone 2
The return of Ethan Hawke as The Grabber in a supernatural follow-up to the 2021 hit.
While the child actors remained strong, the sequel was criticized for “over-complicating” its own mythology.
Turning the once-human Grabber into a “Freddy Krueger-style” dream demon didn’t sit well with fans of the original’s grounded grit, leading to reviews that called it a “dizzyingly absurd” mess.
7. The Monkey
A Stephen King adaptation produced by James Wan and starring Theo James.
“The Monkey” was the year’s most “middle-of-the-road” disappointment. While it wasn’t a total failure, critics felt it played it too safe, turning a terrifying King short story into a “blood-soaked cartoon” that lacked genuine scares.
8. Opus
“Opus” was A24’s “pop-star thriller” starring Ayo Edebiri and John Malkovich as a reclusive, cult-leading icon.
Despite a $10 million budget (modest for some, but high for indie horror), it made a dismal $1 million in its opening weekend.
Critics panned it as a “meandering mess” that wasted the charisma of its leads on a predictable and hollow plot.
9. Captain America: Brave New World
Marvel debuted Sam Wilson as the new Captain America, featuring Harrison Ford as Red Hulk.
Marred by extensive reshoots, the final cut felt like a “copy-and-paste job” of The Winter Soldier.
While it grossed $415 million, its massive production and marketing costs meant it failed to turn a significant profit for Marvel, leaving fans worried about “superhero exhaustion.”
10. M3GAN 2.0
M3GAN 2.0 was the sequel to the 2023 viral horror sensation.
Unfortunately, the sequel abandoned its “creepy-campy” horror roots in favor of becoming a generic sci-fi action riff.
By trying to be Terminator 2, it lost the unique charm that made the first film a cult classic, leading to significantly lower box office and fan engagement.
(Dis)Honorable Mention: A House of Dynamite
Academy Award-winner Kathryn Bigelow’s first film in nearly a decade—a high-stakes nuclear thriller with an ensemble including Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson.
While critics generally admired its tension, A House of Dynamite became the year’s most polarizing “frustration” watch.
Its repetitive “Vantage Point” structure—looping the same 20 minutes from different perspectives—exhausted viewers, and the abrupt, ambiguous ending left audiences feeling cheated.
This article was edited with AI and reviewed by human editors
