Hollywood's Biggest 2011 Flops

Ticket sales were down, and these movies help explain why
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 1, 2012 1:20 PM CST
Hollywood's Biggest 2011 Flops, From 'Mars Needs Moms' to 'Arthur'
In this publicity image released by Universal Pictures, Daniel Craig is shown in a scene from "Cowboys & Aliens."   (AP Photo/Universal Pictures, Timothy White)

This was not a banner year for Hollywood, with domestic box office revenue down 4%, breaking a string of record highs. These films were part of the reason why. The Hollywood Reporter compiled a list of 2011's biggest flops, and there were some doozies—we've listed some of the standouts below. As you're looking at the numbers, remember that grosses are split with theaters, and that the budgets don't include marketing, so films that appear to have broken even are actually big losers.

  • Mars Needs Moms: Budget: $150 million, Worldwide Gross: $39 million
  • Sucker Punch: Budget: $82 million, Worldwide Gross: $89.8 million
  • Arthur: Budget: $40 million, Worldwide Gross: $45.7 million (Review)
  • Green Lantern: Budget: $200 million, Worldwide Gross: $219.9 million (Review)
  • Cowboys & Aliens: Budget: $163 million, Worldwide Gross: $178.8 million (Review)
  • Conan the Barbarian: Budget: $90 million, Worldwide Gross: $48.8 million.
  • The Big Year: Budget: $41 million, Worldwide Gross: $7.4 million
  • Happy Feet Two: Budget: $135 million, Worldwide Gross: $115 million
(More movie industry stories.)

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