5 Disastrous Sci-Fi Movies That Killed Their Franchises

by

I’ve always been a huge sci-fi fan, and it’s amazing to see how consistently groundbreaking the genre has been for movies. It’s never stayed still, always changing and growing to stay fresh and exciting. For generations, sci-fi films have captivated us, and so many have become true classics. Of course, bringing these epic stories to life takes a lot of imagination and incredible special effects, which means big budgets are usually needed. That investment always carries a bit of risk, but when it pays off, it’s truly spectacular!

Successful sci-fi movies often launch long-running franchises, but not all of them do. Sometimes, a poorly received or unsuccessful sci-fi film can actually end a franchise. In the worst cases, a movie can kill a planned series before it even gets off the ground, preventing any sequels from being made. Unfortunately, some sci-fi films are so bad they completely destroy any chance of a franchise continuing.

5) Battlefield Earth (2000)

Often considered one of the biggest movie disasters ever made and panned by critics as the worst science fiction film of all time, Battlefield Earth is well-known for how poorly it performed. The movie is based on a 1982 novel by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, and was a project John Travolta felt strongly about – he even starred as the villain. Travolta is said to have put a lot of his own money into the film, which depicts a human uprising against a cruel alien power in the year 3000.

John Travolta initially mentioned plans for multiple sequels and spin-off movies, as the film only covered the first part of the lengthy source novel. However, those plans were quickly abandoned after the poor reception of Battlefield Earth. The movie received overwhelmingly negative reviews and performed very poorly in theaters, effectively ending any hope of a franchise before it could begin – no further films were ever made.

4) Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)

Over the years, numerous Star Trek films have been made, often seen as extensions of the popular TV series. While many were financially successful, the movies were known for varying in quality. This inconsistency became clear with the release of Star Trek: Nemesis in 2002. As the tenth film in the franchise and the fourth featuring the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Nemesis was unfortunately not a critical success.

The film Nemesis featured the crew of the Enterprise facing a dangerous clone of Captain Picard who had taken over the Romulan Empire. However, the movie received negative reviews and performed poorly in theaters, making it a major disappointment for Star Trek. As a result, plans for further films starring the cast of The Next Generation were cancelled. Nemesis was considered so unsuccessful that the Star Trek movie franchise paused for a significant period, ultimately returning with a reboot of The Original Series instead of continuing the existing storyline.

3) Terminator Genisys (2015)

The Terminator movies were once a major force in science fiction, famous for their innovative time travel stories and thrilling action. The first two films were particularly well-received, but the series began to lose steam over time. The 2015 film, Terminator Genisys, was a critical failure and ultimately ended the franchise.

Terminator Genisys was meant to be a fresh start for the Terminator movies, but it was heavily criticized and led to the cancellation of any planned follow-up films. The series later continued with Terminator: Dark Fate in 2019, which completely disregarded Genisys and all other movies made after Terminator 2. Genisys was so poorly received that it almost killed the entire Terminator franchise, which is considered a classic in science fiction.

2) Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)

I remember being blown away by the original Independence Day – it was a truly great sci-fi film of the 90s. So, when Independence Day: Resurgence was announced, I was definitely excited! The first movie perfectly blended sci-fi and disaster elements with a huge alien invasion story, and it worked brilliantly. The sequel promised to give us even more of that same excitement. Unfortunately, when it finally came out, it just didn’t quite live up to expectations, and it wasn’t the hit many of us were hoping for.

Despite the enduring appeal of the original Independence Day, its sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence, was poorly received by critics and didn’t perform well at the box office. Director Roland Emmerich had hoped to make a third film, but the disappointing reception of Resurgence ended those plans, effectively ending the franchise after only two movies.

1) John Carter (2012)

Science fiction has seen its share of flops, but some movies really shouldn’t have failed. The 2012 film John Carter is one of those. It was an ambitious adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic Barsoom series, telling the story of an American Civil War soldier who unexpectedly ends up on Mars and gets caught up in the planet’s conflicts.

Despite receiving mixed reactions from critics, the movie John Carter wasn’t financially successful. This unfortunately led to the cancellation of the planned sequels, preventing the story from fully developing. Although John Carter has gained a dedicated fanbase over time, it’s still remembered as a major box office failure, making it very unlikely that we’ll ever see a continuation or remake, even though the story had a lot of potential for a big-screen saga.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/list/6-best-upcoming-sci-fi-sequels-in-2026/embed/#

Read More

2026-01-16 17:13