The joke was on Morbius when it opened to dismal reviews on April Fool's Day. Critics panned the film, which is currently one of the lowest-rated Marvel movies on Rotten Tomatoes.
While it is the most recent, Morbius is far from the only Marvel disappointment. Before the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, many early efforts suffered low budgets. Over the years, there have also been misguided interpretations of the comics and many failed attempts to launch franchises. Where did these films go wrong, and how does Morbius rank compared to other rotten Marvel movies?
Blade: Trinity (2004) — 25%
The Deadpool.
Sometimes an ensemble cast works, but Wesley Snipes notoriously did not play well with others on the set of Trinity. Snipes' diva behavior and his rivalry with director David Goyer made for a tense and unproductive production. The actor phoned in his performance, ruining his career and putting a stake in the trilogy.
The Punisher (1990) — 24%
The first Punisher movie struggled right out of the gate. Trailers promised that it would get a theatrical release, and it did, pretty much everywhere except in the United States. Due to financial difficulties, New World sold The Punisher to Live Entertainment, which released it direct-to-video.
The film played loose with the source material, and audiences were unimpressed. Dolph Lungren as Frank Castle doesn't even wear his iconic skull emblazoned shirt. The exploitation spectacle prioritized a massive body count over character development resulting in a by-the-numbers shoot-em-up with zero heart.
Dark Phoenix (2019) — 22%
new timeline (that had some gaping plot holes). Unfortunately, it ended the same way as the previous phase with a failed adaptation of 'The Dark Phoenix Saga.'
Post-production was an uphill battle of reshoots and delays. The film lumbered into theaters and barely broke even, earning $252 million on its $200 million investment. Despite languishing in post-production for over a year, the film felt rushed and half-hearted. The by-the-numbers superhero flick underwhelmed audiences and killed all prospects of a sequel.
Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance (2011) — 18%
With Dark Knight trilogies. However, the script he wrote would have been R-rated, and the studio insisted that it be PG-13.
The finished Ghost Rider has aged extremely poorly and the sequel was even cheesier than the first. Critics lampooned its half-baked effects and over-the-top performances. Cage called it quits, refusing to return for the planned sequel. The franchise ended, and the rights returned to Marvel Studios soon after.
Man-Thing (2005) — 17%
To say Man-Thing sunk at the box office would be kind. The film earned only $1.1 million back from its $30 million budget.
Man-Thing was supposed to be shot in New Orleans but moved to Australia for budgetary reasons. Producer Avi Arad ittedly did not keep tabs on the production. Man-Thing ended up being a Rated-R creature feature with few connections to the comics. After audiences walked out of test screenings, the film sat on a shelf for two years. It was then dumped onto the Sci-Fi network and eventually home video.
Morbius (2022) — 16%
Sony keeps trying to make their Spider-villain universe happen no matter how many times the Tomatometer tells them it never will. The studio released the first trailer for Morbius back in 2020. The pandemic and reshoots delayed the film multiple times. By the time it finally hit theaters, audiences had moved on.
Morbius opened to largely negative reviews, with critics calling the blood-light vampire flick uninspired and lifeless. Many condemned the dated effects and choppy editing. Despite this, star Jared Leto has expressed interest in reprising the role.
Howard The Duck (1986) — 14%
Howard the Duck is similar to eighties family films where an alien enlists a new human friend to help them get home. Unfortunately, the movie was too scary and raunchy for kids. It was also nothing like the satirical comics. Howard of the comics was rude, and his stories were existentialist.
While Howard has always had a cult fanbase, co-writer and producer Gloria Katz did not know what to make of him. The movie reduced Howard to a bizarre sci-fi romp that prioritized special effects over storytelling.
Captain America (1990) — 13%
Captain America was a game of hot potato that ended with fans getting burned. Production began in the early eighties. The film bounced from Universal Studios to Cannon before falling into Albert Pyun's hands at the 21st Century Film Corporation. Pyun took liberties with the source material, namely with the Red Skull.
The film should have come out in 1990 for Cap's 15th anniversary. The studio pushed back the release several times before releasing it direct-to-video in 1992. Based on the movie's overwhelmingly negative reception, they should have left it on ice.
Elektra (2005) — 11%
Jennifer Garner debuted as Alias. Director Rob Bowman had very little time to develop what he had envisioned as a more character-driven action film.
Elektra tanked at the box office. The film took itself too seriously and failed to deliver thrills. Critics blamed it for ruining Garner's career and female lead superhero movies for the next decade.
Fantastic Four (2015) — 9%
No one involved in the Fantastic Four movie could agree on the tone. 20th Century Fox and co-writer Jeremy Slater were not on board with Josh Trank's dark vision for the film. The movie was a box office bomb that lost over $80 million. It also won Razzie awards for Worst Director and Worst Picture.
The drab tone of the picture was anything but fantastic. It meshed poorly with the cartoonish effects and campy dialogue. The previous Fantastic Four films might not have been Certified Fresh, but at least they were fun.
