The X-Men franchise has undoubtedly left a monumental legacy in the realm of superhero cinema, achieving remarkable success over the years. However, a closer examination reveals an astonishing fact: despite its glory, the series harbors one significant misfire that may fade into obscurity due to its dismal box office performance.
Although films like Deadpool and Logan marked the conclusion of the Fox cinematic universe surrounding the X-Men, recent developments suggest a revival of interest. Notably, several prominent cast members from the franchise have joined the line-up for Avengers: Doomsday, prompting speculation about additional X-Men characters potentially appearing in its sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars. This renewed engagement underscores the franchise’s enduring appeal, making the examination of its biggest commercial failure all the more intriguing, particularly the film released in 2020.
Major Milestones of Fox’s X-Men Cinematic Universe
High Earnings of X-Men Films
Across its lifespan, the X-Men franchise has graced audiences with a total of 14 films, collectively generating over $7 billion in box office revenue. Remarkably, each installment averages an impressive $529 million, a strong figure for any cinematic series. The intricate timeline of X-Men, featuring various casts and narratives, has created a formidable fanbase, resulting in spin-offs such as Wolverine and Deadpool.
| Title | Production Budget | Domestic Box Office | Worldwide Box Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadpool & Wolverine | $200,000,000 | $636,745,858 | $1,338,071,348 |
| Deadpool 2 | $110,000,000 | $324,591,735 | $786,362,370 |
| Deadpool | $58,000,000 | $363,070,709 | $781,947,691 |
| X-Men: Days of Future Past | $200,000,000 | $233,921,534 | $747,862,775 |
| Logan | $127,000,000 | $226,277,068 | $614,202,315 |
| X-Men: Apocalypse | $178,000,000 | $155,442,489 | $542,537,546 |
| X-Men: The Last Stand | $210,000,000 | $234,362,462 | $459,260,946 |
| The Wolverine | $115,000,000 | $132,556,852 | $416,456,852 |
| X-Men 2 | $125,000,000 | $214,949,694 | $406,348,630 |
| X-Men Origins: Wolverine | $150,000,000 | $179,883,157 | $374,825,760 |
| X-Men: First Class | $160,000,000 | $146,408,305 | $355,408,305 |
| X-Men | $75,000,000 | $157,299,717 | $296,872,367 |
| Dark Phoenix | $200,000,000 | $65,845,974 | $246,356,895 |
The X-Men film series experienced fluctuations in popularity, with the inaugural film grossing an impressive $296 million against a $75 million budget, while subsequent sequels reaped even greater earnings. This franchise introduced iconic characters, such as Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, and while a reboot within the MCU is on the horizon, the legacy of these films will endure for years.
The Discrepancy in Box Office Performance: A Closer Look at The New Mutants
The Unprecedented Failure of The New Mutants
As an avid supporter of Josh Boone’s 2020 film, The New Mutants, it is disheartening to note that its box office numbers paint a bleak picture. Previously, the franchise’s lowest-grossing entry was Dark Phoenix, which achieved over $246 million. In stark contrast, The New Mutants hit a staggering low, mustering a meager $47 million globally—an incomprehensibly small sum compared to its predecessors.
This film’s revenue is less than 10% of the average earnings within the franchise, raising eyebrows and prompting questions as to why it struggled so drastically. Featuring a talented cast that included rising stars such as Anya Taylor-Joy, Maisie Williams, and Charlie Heaton, the film had every opportunity for success, with its fresh tone and appealing characters. Yet, despite these strengths, it ultimately faltered.
Understanding the Low Box Office Result of The New Mutants
Factors Contributing to the Film’s Disappointment
Several factors contributed to the disappointing box office return of The New Mutants. Originally intended to launch a new franchise, complications arose due to studio disagreements stemming from the Fox-Disney merger in 2019. While reshoots were planned following principal photography in 2017, these never materialized, causing the film to essentially be put on hold for an extended period before its eventual release.
Finally released in a less-than-ideal timeframe in August 2020, the movie was met with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely impacted theater attendance. With many cinemas closed and audience reluctance to venture out, The New Mutants faced overwhelming obstacles that led to its financial downfall.
Reflecting on the performance of The New Mutants highlights not just shocking numbers but also the broader context of the film’s troubled production and release. It seems that Disney’s strategic approach did little to bolster the film’s prospects. Despite the lack of commercial success, the film is worth revisiting for its portrayal of characters that fans have long cherished, offering enjoyment even when the film itself did not fully meet expectations for a sprawling new franchise.