8 Movies That Will Tank And 7 That Won't

We've seen them and we know Hollywood is making more of them. You know, those huge films about something important for someone, somewhere out there… and it sounds and looks great but the marketing and commercial inability just causes the film to tank at the box office. We've watched them, bought tickets for them, and tried to enjoy them for the sake of hoping it will get better. But, a movie that tanks can't be saved, and that's just the way things are.

To better define it, movies that 'tank' are films the studios put a lot of money into making with the hopes and expectations of making a lot of money from it but, when it is released, the gross amount fails to reach the goal, by a long shot, which counts as 'tank'-ing. Smaller companies, sometimes, come together to fund one project and those can 'tank' as well. It just depends on proper marketing, advertisements, the cast, and story.

One of the most recent films considered a 'tank' is “Ghost in the Shell” (Par). According to reports, $110 million was put into the making of the film but it only grossed $39.3 million in America and $124.2 internationally, totaling $163.6 million. Subtracting the production amount from the total gross, the film only grossed barely over half the production amount, which is half less than the expected amount.

On the other end of the spectrum, huge box office blockbusters are on the horizon for the summer of 2017. Some great sequels, epic adventures, a baby tree that dances, and those with superhuman abilities. That's right, they're coming back to us, just in time for summer, right when we need them the most, and when the world is on vacation in shifts. That's right, they are here to blow the box office to bits!

Let's begin with a list of eight films being released from now until Summer that will TANK at the box office, according to my prediction!

15 The Dinner (5/5)

After watching the trailer once… I really wonder why such big names commit to such terrible story lines. The son of a rising politician (Richard Gere) commits a crime and will get away with it… ? Parents protecting their children… ? This is a pretty hot mess given the trailer available on IMDB.com. A good and strong cast which is something a lot of movies lack, but the story is a bit below them all. Oddly enough, this film looks very expertly and dramatically lit to add to the dramatic effect of how serious and over the top the film looks to be. All the sexiness and seductiveness of the story comes from scenes from the dinner, and when the story moves on to the contents of the discussion during the dinner, the movie takes on a different but edgier look. This only adds to the confusion of what the story is about and how this dinner is so important given all the other drama in their lives, including their big secret and the sin committed. Perhaps, Harrison Ford or Tom Hanks should be added to the list of crooked politicians who don't look the part. But, the budget should be between $25-50 million, in my opinion. I just hope the millions were worth it.

14 King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (5/12)

Here's the problem with this film that looks to be quite a ringer at the box office with big names like Charlie Hunnam and Jude Law as headliners and Guy Ritchie as the director. As it is, usually, when there are more than two big names in the film, audiences aren't too sure what to make of it. Either they go to see it to see if the story is any good or their favorite actor is still as wonderful as before. Even after watching the trailer, this rugged story about King Arthur's claim to power and taming the lands around him, with his knights of the round table, suddenly taking on the story format of a violent Snow White with ideas from Game of Thrones and elements from The Lord of the Rings, it just feels like a mad rush of multiple concepts being thrown together to try to make more money off the genre. Staying true to the adventure category, Guy Ritchie will add his bizarre twist to the story, along with the great and intense acting talents of the two leading men. It's just the original take on the story that can scatter the fans, divide viewers and popular critic opinion of the film.

But, with all the visual effects, the ins and outs of glamorous women, and heated passions, it will make a lot of money, but the question of doubling the production cost still hangs in the air.

13 Lowriders (5/12)

Another movie about cars, the street life, and family. Somehow, this movie feels a bit out of place in the American box office, but is a great push for Hispanic-American culture and agenda to get out of the shadows of Hollywood. Although very ambitious for taking on past criticisms and stereotypes, this film has some scattered thoughts, according to the trailer. Also, there are a few ideas and details that feel a bit too unreal, which takes from the impact possibility of the film. It's not the story that will tank this movie, but the lack of big names in it. Even with Eva Longoria and Demian Bichir as the headliners, the rest of the cast are unknowns. A cameo from Vin Diesel seems necessary to get people to the theatres, but that hardly seems likely. Some major story elements that throw the viewer include the protagonist and his decisions when it comes to his life, his family, and his consequences. This film feels like a bigger story than an hour and 39 minutes can fit, yet it is just one film. It's difficult to predict the budget, but reaching $50 million would definitely take this film off of the Tank list!

12 Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (6/2)

Didn't think you'd see this film on the Tank list, right? Me neither, but given the star power put into this DreamWorks Animation and Scholastic Entertainment, film rendition of the popular middle-school book series, and the costs of beautiful animation work these days, the costs must be well over $50 million. This means the first week at the box office would have every kid with their parents at the movie theatres, hoping to bring in some adults aware of the series and silliness. With Kevin Hart as a headliner and a list of big names following him, including Ed Helms as seen on the trailer, this film looks to be a great summer flick for kids and those seeking an animation with a unique twist on a tale about troublemakers making trouble and then atoning for them by cleaning up after the trouble they have made. This doesn't look to be as wondrous as Zootopia or Finding Nemo but, closer to the fun-flick-for-all type of feeling. Which is needed this summer, given the very few animation releases but, it won't tank too badly and it's in great company.

11 The Mummy (6/9)

How many mummy movies have there been now? At least a good decade's worth, right? As if it needed revamping, Universal Studios is bringing in Tom Cruise to headline and add to the action-packed adventure and fantasy of the powers of an unearthed mummy choosing him to do her bidding. Unfortunately, this film might tank because of the concept itself. As if horror and action needed to find a middle-ground and create a new genre, sticking Tom Cruise into a mummy film will turn off many of the horror fans and the action fans might not take too well to the horror elements in this film. With Alex Kurtzman as a director, the film is promised to look good with splendid acting, and even Russell Crowe is featured as Dr. Henry Jekyll, adding to the star power and sci-fi/fantasy intrigue, but the overall ideas going into this film feels a bit too tattered to deal with. Almost like the run-around of Fast 7, running from someone who is hunting you, only to face and fight them… I guess, the biggest questions concerns how this film will do its first week at the box office and, will Tom Cruise continue with horrors after this?

10 Rough Night (6/16)

When seeing films like this… women are simply painted in such terrible lighting, especially when the big names in Hollywood choose to green light and make junk like this. Women party and then wonder why they have such terrible reputations and these ladies simply enact it all out, assuming women can behave so poorly all in one night. The writers added the final kicker of it all, murdering the male performer and dealing with the aftermath. In a premature high school feeling flick about women making bad decisions, starring Scarlett Johansson, Zoe Kravitz, Kate McKinnon, Demi Moore, Ilana Glazer, and Jillian Bell, the budget is unknown but quite up there, given the number of big names in this film. In theatres mid-June, this film is targeting the young women who are looking forward to a party anthem-type of film, something to give the women of the world traction and attention, much like how the women of Sex and the City did in the past.

9 Baby Driver (6/28)

I had the hardest time placing this on my list of tanks. On one hand, it features Ansel Elgort, lead teen heart-throb since The Fault in our Stars. On the other hand, he's featured in an action, crime/thriller film… which features several huge Hollywood leading males like Kevin Spacey, Jon Bernthal, Jon Hamm, and Jamie Foxx. This sort of a period piece, as seen in the trailer, starts campy and then takes a sour turn as the story continues. This film seems very familiar because of the 1990 comedy musical teen film, Cry-Baby, featuring a very young Johnny Depp and Amy Locane. Ansel Elgort seems to be taking the role of Depp, except the story feels more like a flushed-out version of what could have happened in the older film. As usual, there is a love interest, a girl that encourages Baby to do good, and then the world flips for him because of a job gone wrong, and some pretty bad men coming at him and his innocent girlfriend. In a crazed Grease Lightning and Cry-Baby mix of a time where feelings and emotional teen turmoil took the lead, with a guesstimated budget of $15 million, Baby can drive it home but not top the box office in my opinion.

8 Dunkirk (7/21)

I know, I know, I know… From the moment I saw a preview of Dunkirk at the theatres, I predicted the strong possibility that it will tank at the box office. Another mostly-male cast about the difficulties of being a man facing the wartime… even the addition of Harry Styles will not save this film from the tank list. As painful as it is to see it here, from what's been seen in the trailers and previews, there is a lot of story and emotion, but also a lot of lull and down time before any action or decisions are made on behalf of the main character. In another epic Christopher Nolan film, the look and feel of the film is amazing, and a very emotion depiction of the high-strung emotions during the war times. The powerful images and impressions in this film will, definitely, be great for educational purposes and influence. However, in terms of entertainment, it won't break the box office, but it will bring the men and women who remember those days, along with curious historians to the theatre.

Now, turning to the brighter side of the box office, here are seven Summer blockbusters that will truly pack in audiences at the theatres, according to my predictions!!

7 Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 (5/5)

WHO CAN NOT BE EXCITED ABOUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST FILMS TO COME OUT BEFORE THE SUMMER, ACTUALLY, STARTS?! Featuring a team of the silliest misfits, starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, and Bradley Cooper. Oddly enough, even Vin Diesel is featured as the voice of Baby Groot. Life seems a bit empty without the team of terrifying outlaws that will bridge the Marvel Universe into the future and more possibilities. With Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Pictures, there's no chance the budget is less than the first film's $170 million, which grossed over $300 million, a definite NOT Tank, which was why it led to the sequel. With a run time of 121 minutes the first time around, the sequel takes up 136 minutes. The music will be great, as it was in the first, and the plot should be as good, if not better, than the first! It is recommended for the world to watch this because of it's goofiness and awesomeness. Go see it. You'll see why it's not a Tank! Have fun! Take a boy you like with you!!

6 Alien: Covenant (5/19)

Get ready for 123 minutes of Rated R Twentieth Century Fox film and more productions, starring Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, and more, including a host of stars who are taking a turn at the sci-fi/thriller genre. According to the trailer, Walter is sent with a team to a new planet and discovers David had survived and was killing aliens. On IMDB, there are short films and one of them explains David's survival after Prometheus called Film Short (Prologue: The Crossing) and it is shot with the same mystery and light of the previous films, picking up right after, with the voice of David to guide viewers. Elizabeth goes to sleep and David explores the culture of those that came before them. The ship lands and there is no more, which does rev up curiosity as to what happens when they land, how are they greeted, what happens to Elizabeth, and how does David get to where he is in the film. Lots of questions require lots of answers, and the franchise has been doing so well, it's no question about this film having more to work with than the estimated $130 million its prequel had. You can be assured that the opening weekend for this film will beat its prequel due to the lack of bad press and with the added hype the videos give to it, not to mention several new faces to be killed off and the return of David, the beloved character linking this film to “Prometheus”.

5 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (5/26)

Later this May, Jack Sparrow will face his toughest enemy yet. Returning from the dead with his own legion, Captain Salazar hunts for Jack while Jack is on another hunt for a mythical powerful object with a young man and woman. Kiera Knightley and Orlando Bloom are still in the picture, but the new faces offer more to see, experience, and broadens the story quite a bit. Being a Disney production, there's no way the publicity would go wrong for this film. Not to mention, being a part of a much bigger franchise, with Johnny Depp embodying Jack Sparrow again, without fail, it is expected for him to deliver a flawless loveable character on the big screen. With all his drunken shenanigans, troubles, and the action packed fight scenes, Jack's survival is something the fans wonder about, and with the last film coming out in 2011, it's been long enough of a wait. This is a film that makes back its production budget in every way, shape, and form. One of the furthest films from the tank list, and one of the most highly anticipated films!

4 Wonder Woman (6/2)

If you haven't fallen in love with Gal Gadot from the past The Fast and the Furious films, then you DEFINITELY will when you see her in action in Wonder Woman. From leaping off great heights to saving the hottie, Chris Pine, she is an Israeli beauty who can become the next Xena. Not only is she beautiful, but she knows how to use her accent to render others speechless, and her facial expressions can range for 'evil b!t*h' to the princess of the Caribbean. She's my girl-crush always, and apart from her film career, she is devoted to her husband and children. Back to the film world, there was a lot of controversy when Gadot was first cast as Wonder Woman because she is very thin, unlike how Amazonian women are said to be. But, after much protest, Gadot worked hard to train her thin body into a lean and muscular build, which helped her perform many of the stunts in the film by herself and not a stunt double. So, with brains, a body, and beauty, who can NOT want to see this interpretation of the beginning of Wonder Woman and how she left the islands for the world beyond? This film, with all its star power, is unlikely to tank, especially since she made her cameo appearance in the most recent Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice film. With a budget of $120 million, this film can easily double its gross the first week!

3 Transformers: The Last Knight (6/23)

IT HAS BEEN THREE YEARS since the release of the last film in this franchise and, since the first, many of the characters have changed, been swapped around, and more, but the Transformers have remained the same and, seeing the end of Optimus Prime made many believe it was the end of the series. But wait,… this film will be released mid-June and just in time for fans to flock to theatres to witness the return of the beloved and different Optimus Prime. As usual, there is a mission, a resistance, and a history with Transformers on Earth? How interesting and strange it is to see men on horses fighting these great robots, instead of tanks and guns. A clashing of the past with the present, this film brings together many elements of the past to help solve the mystery of the future for Cybertron and Earth. If the previous film had an estimated budget of $200 million, it's more than likely this film has a similar budget, or a bit more, with the inclusion of horses, more wardrobe variations, and great cavernous sets. The computer graphics will be quite amazing, as well as Mark Wahlberg and the cast of familiar faces.

2 Despicable Me 3 (6/30)

As it always goes, Steve Carell will bring to life Gru and Kristin Wiig will perk up Lucie Wilde, and we'll get to see Grucie on the scene with villains, and Dru, Gru's twin brother he never knew about. How fun it is with the Minions, as usual, along with the girls: Margo, Edith, and Agnes. After being fired, Dru recruits Gru and wants him to go back to being a villain. We discover a lot about Gru's past and he will, most likely have to make important decisions regarding his future and his family. But this is what adds to the loveable-ness of the film. It appeals to children, adults, and everyone in between. It's a great movie to laugh at, cry during, and just something fun for the family to watch together, should they want to. Having been four years since the last film in this franchise, and since the prequel did so well, the budget is more than $50 million and grossed far more the first week. Gru will bring people to the theatres and, I'm sure, everyone is curious about the future of Gru and his career with his Minions, wife, and the three girls.

1 War for the Planet of the Apes (7/14)

WHO can watch this trailer and not run out to go see it the moment it hits theatres?! Ten days after Independence Day comes the next great war between angry humans and intelligent apes, led by Caesar. Having come such a long way, Caesar develops relationships, finds purpose, and fights for those he loves. The story is, as always, touching, and about man versus the darkness in our hearts. Its prequel had an estimated budget of $170 million and though it tanked the first week, the total gross made up for it. This film must be in the same realm when it comes to budget, but will make more because it is the more epic moment of Caesar's life and struggle; how he chooses to continue despite losses and what happens when he faces off with the Colonel. With action/adventure dramas like this film, it is such a good example of what happens when coexistence fails. But, since the beginning of this franchise, especially given the older versions before this remade storyline, it feels an either the end of an epic story or the beginning of peace. Either way, this film will bring in the audiences, and should it be the end, it will be epic and of the best motion capture series ever done since Gollum.