Josh Gad as Ludlow chased by Pac-Man in Pixels. Photo / AP
Josh Gad as Ludlow chased by Pac-Man in Pixels. Photo / AP
From a giant Pac Man attacking the planet to a lacklustre superhero reunion, this year's biggest bombs have been revealed.
Despite the pull of stars like George Clooney, Adam Sandler and Bradley Cooper, and respected directors like Brad Bird and Guy Ritchie, at least five blockbusters are expected to makea combined loss of hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Hollywood Reporter said four of the big six movie companies in the United States have taken big hits this season, with major flops on their hands.
The five biggest bombs are Tomorrowland (Disney, expected loss US$120-150 million - NZ$191 - $238m), Pixels (Sony, expected loss US$75m - NZ$119m), Fantastic Four (Fox, expected loss US$80-100m - NZ$127 - $159m), The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (Warner Bros, expected loss US$80m - NZ$127m) and Aloha (Sony/Fox, expected loss US$65m - NZ$103m).
Fantastic Four and Pixels are still being released in some territories, but critics have widely panned both movies, with Las Vegas Weekly's Josh Bell comparing Pixels to ebola.
After saying Pixels was "slightly less lazy and obnoxious than his other recent efforts," Bell really puts the boot in.
"Of course, calling Pixels one of Sandler's better movies is like calling a particular strain of Ebola somewhat less horrifically painful; either way, it's not pleasant"
The flop of Fantastic Four has even called into question the previously airtight strategy of wheeling out Marvel action movie after movie and watching the cash roll in.
