The year 2023 was filled with excitement, especially for the return of the film and theater business. Fans have once again seen the likes of Harrison Ford, Vin Diesel, and even a couple of Marvel and DC stars. It was indeed a fruitful time after an onslaught of massive franchises returned to the big screen.
Still, not all of the films that premiered this year were as grand as everyone expected. Some movies failed to perform at the box office, while others were heavily criticized for specific reasons. Even the power of A-list actors and a star-studded cast did not save them. Here are some of the famous figures whose films this year did not live up to everyone’s expectations:
Harrison Ford
Starring in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Harrison Ford was the ultimate selling point of the movie along with the nostalgia of the franchise. It was not a total catastrophe, yet many pointed out the saturated visual effects that stole away the essence of the story.
The film heavily relied on the fame of the title while ignoring the need to develop a plot that truly paid respect to its legacy. In the end, it felt like a tired franchise trying to revive itself.
Chris Evans
The star power of Chris Evans, together with Ana de Armas, in Ghosted should have attracted many viewers, especially after their famous stints working on huge projects such as Avengers: Endgame and No Time To Die.
The movie only wasted the actors’ potential to do anything remarkable. It was forgettable, and even though the pair had great chemistry, it was not enough to leave an impression of a romantic comedy.
Paul Rudd
The third installment of the Ant-Man franchise in the MCU somehow only served one purpose, and that is to introduce Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror. It failed to give off the same humor that viewers enjoyed in the first two installments.
Despite its promising marketing, the critical reviews heavily impacted its performance at the box office. Hopefully, this will serve as a wake-up call for Marvel Studios to pay attention to the heart of the story instead of peppering movies with bland jokes.
Zachary Levi
The first Shazam installment was a breather for DC fans, with a story that was truly enjoyable and characters that were relatable and fun. The sequel, however, lacked the elements that made the original movie great. The plot was mediocre, and it lacked character development.
Because word-of-mouth travels faster than light, these claims affected the film’s performance. Fans felt unenthusiastic, hence the low figures at the box office.
Vin Diesel
Not even the star power of Vin Diesel, Charlize Theron, Jason Momoa, Jason Statham, or Dwayne Johnson saved the Fast and Furious franchise. From the epic car-chasing scenes to the ridiculous stunts, fans have always had mixed feelings about the movies.
The first few installments were fun to watch, but as they prolong the film series, they have started to drag on. Even Diesel himself has become very egocentric about the significance of the franchise.
