It’s interesting to note that while “White House Down” and “Olympus Has Fallen” share similar themes, only one of them developed into a franchise. This raises the question as to why this happened for one but not the other. Movies like these, including “White House Down” and “Olympus Has Fallen”, are quite common in Hollywood cinema, especially political thrillers that revolve around the White House or U.S. leadership. For decades, these themes have been popular in films.
An intriguing aspect of the films “White House Down” and “Olympus Has Fallen” is that they were both unveiled in the same year, 2013. Both pictures revolve around a central duo collaborating to thwart an attack on the White House; Gerard Butler and Morgan Freeman star in “Olympus Has Fallen“, while “White House Down” showcases Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx as the leading actors. Interestingly, these movies were launched three months apart, with one turning into a successful franchise with multiple sequels, while the other failed to achieve the same level of success.
White House Down & Olympus Has Fallen’s Box Office & Critical Reception Explained
Both Movies Were Received Similarly, But Their Box Office Was Different
As a movie buff, I can’t help but ponder why one action-packed White House thriller took off as a franchise and another didn’t. A logical starting point is to examine their box office successes and critiques.
Delving into the critical reception, there wasn’t much to distinguish between these two films, just like the stories themselves were not dramatically different. However, when it comes to the reviews, White House Down edged out Olympus Has Fallen slightly, with a 52% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. On the other hand, Olympus Has Fallen fell a tad short, garnering a 50% critical approval rating.
| Movie | Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score | IMDb Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olympus Has Fallen | 50% | 66% | 6.5/10 |
| White House Down | 52% | 62% | 6.3/10 |
Interestingly, it appears that more people have reviewed Olympus Has Fallen compared to White House Down, which might explain the slight difference in their numbers. However, it seems that movie audiences generally preferred Olympus Has Fallen over White House Down, as evidenced by its higher audience score of 62% on Rotten Tomatoes, surpassing White House Down’s score. Likewise, IMDb user ratings show a slight edge for Olympus Has Fallen, with a rating of 6.5 compared to White House Down’s 6.2.
It seems that both films, Olympus Has Fallen and White House Down, receive similar evaluations from critics and audiences. However, when it comes to box office success, there’s a clear difference: White House Down grossed more than Olympus Has Fallen, with a total worldwide earnings of $205 million compared to the latter’s $170 million. Interestingly, Olympus Has Fallen was made on a budget of only $70 million, while White House Down had a much higher production cost of $150 million.
How Olympus Has Fallen Became A Franchise And How The Sequels Compare To The Original
The Fallen Franchise Is Cheaper & More Appealing To Audiences
It’s clear from the box office revenues of both films, White House Down and Olympus Has Fallen, that the latter was more successful in becoming a franchise, whereas the former was not. A general practice in Hollywood is for a film to earn at least twice its production budget before it starts generating profits for the studio. In the case of Olympus Has Fallen, the movie not only covered its production costs but doubled them and then made an additional $30 million. Conversely, White House Down merely recovered its budget and would have needed to earn at least another $100 million just to break even.
The reason Olympus Has Fallen expanded into a series is because it was followed by London Has Fallen in 2016. Despite receiving mixed reviews from both critics and viewers, London Has Fallen attracted larger global audiences, raking in $205 million against a budget of just $60 million. Consequently, the studio decided to produce another installment, which came out in 2019 and was titled Angel Has Fallen. This movie is frequently considered the highest-rated film in the Has Fallen series by fans, boasting an impressive 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, significantly higher than any other film in the series.
The movie “Angel Has Fallen” further cemented the franchise’s commercial strength. Even though it earned $146 million, it had the smallest budget in the series at $40 million. Consequently, a fourth film titled “Night Has Fallen” is being penned, and a TV series spin-off named “Paris Has Fallen” was released in 2024. Another TV spin-off, “Apollo Has Fallen”, began production in the same year, demonstrating indisputably that “Olympus Has Fallen” outperformed “White House Down” by giving rise to a total of five connected narratives.
Why White House Down 2 Never Happened
The Movie Was Not Successful Enough
Essentially, contrary to expectations, the movie “White House Down” didn’t manage to match the financial success of “Olympus Has Fallen.” This is rather surprising given that it actually made $30 million more than its competitor. However, the significant increase in production costs for “White House Down,” amounting to an additional $80 million, made a sequel financially unviable. Over a decade later, the likelihood of a sequel remains slim due to the high costs that would be incurred if the original cast were to reprise their roles, making such a sequel highly improbable.
Olympus Has Fallen Was Ultimately The “Winner” Of 2013’s White House Movies
That Continues Winning To This Day
It’s clear that “Olympus Has Fallen” outshone “White House Down” in the 2013 White House movie category. While “White House Down” had to settle for second place, “Olympus Has Fallen” was the audience favorite. This is evident from the response to both films and the Rotten Tomatoes scores. The success of “Olympus Has Fallen” can be attributed to its smart budgeting by Millennium Films compared to Sony Pictures’ $150 million investment, making it the clear winner in 2013.
The films in the Olympus Has Fallen series remain popular even after a decade, while White House Down has mostly faded from prominence aside from a brief revival on streaming platforms in 2023. Compared to White House Down, it’s clear that Olympus Has Fallen reigns supreme when you consider the two TV spin-offs as well. Star Gerard Butler’s performances have carved out a significant niche in modern cinema for action movies that are both loud and entertaining. A fourth film is now in development for the series.
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2025-04-30 15:39