Liam Neeson is known for action films, but he hasn’t often appeared in science fiction. And that might be a good thing – his few sci-fi roles haven’t been particularly successful. He simply seems more convincing as an action hero in realistic settings than in worlds filled with spaceships and extraterrestrials.
Okay, so let’s be real – Battleship isn’t a cinematic masterpiece. It’s a 2012 sci-fi action movie starring Liam Neeson, and it’s… well, it’s based on the board game! The cast includes Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgård, Brooklyn Decker, and even Rihanna making her movie debut. Critics definitely weren’t kind, calling it unoriginal and confusing. Honestly, it’s not great. But, I’m a completionist when it comes to Liam Neeson, so I was happy to find it’s currently streaming on Tubi for free!
‘Battleship’ Felt Like a Bad Cash Grab
After the huge success of the 2007 movie Transformers, it was natural for Hasbro to explore other properties they owned and see if they could become successful films. They decided on G.I. Joe, a smart choice because, like Transformers, it already had a dedicated fanbase from years of collecting toys and watching the cartoon.
Turning the board game Battleship into a movie was a major misstep. While many people enjoyed the game as kids, it didn’t have a natural story to build on. The movie jumped from guessing coordinates at the dinner table to an alien invasion, which felt completely out of place. It seemed like the filmmakers were hoping to replicate the success of Transformers, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out.
‘Battleship’ Lost A Boatload of Money
Universal Pictures
Despite costing over $220 million to produce, the movie Battleship earned about $313 million in theaters. However, most of that – only $65 million – came from tickets sold in the United States. Although the total sounds decent, it wasn’t a strong financial performance.
Despite its marketing efforts, the movie Battleship ultimately lost money. Theaters, particularly international ones, take a significant portion of the revenue, leaving less for the studio. The Hollywood Reporter estimates Universal Pictures lost a hefty $150 million on the film, likely causing some panic among studio executives – and a few jokes about sinking battleships.
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Despite its flaws, Battleship is a fun, mindless action movie – perfect for switching off and enjoying. While it’s a bit long at over two hours, the exciting parts make up for it. Plus, it’s available on Tubi, so you can watch this delightfully over-the-top Liam Neeson film without spending a penny.
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2026-03-05 17:05