10 Most Disappointing Movies of the 2000s
Published on August 19, 2013. Updated August 16, 2017Is there anything worse than waiting months for a film’s release only to walk out of the theatre disappointed and depressed? Probably not. The 10 movies below were some of the most anticipated movies of the past decade. Unfortunately, while many were successful in some aspects, the overall consensus from critics and movie-goers is that these films simply didn’t measure up to the hype they received before their releases.
Here are, what we consider, the 10 most disappointing movies of the 2000s:
10. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Release date: May 1, 2009
Sequel? Prequel
RottenTomatoes Score – 38%
Why We Were Excited About It: Sabretooth, Deadpool, and Gambit team up with Wolverine in a comic fan’s dream come true.
Why We Were Disappointed By It: A forgettable and overused plot frustrated comic loyalists and X-Men fans alike.
In a Word: Cliché
Compare To: X-Men – 82%, X2 – 87%, X-Men: The Last Stand – 57%
9. The Matrix Revolutions
Release date: October 27, 2003
Sequel? Yes
RottenTomatoes Score – 36%
Why We Were Excited About It: This final chapter of the storyline that blew our collective minds promised to offer wows on all fronts.
Why We Were Disappointed By It: What happened to continuity and common sense? A muddled dialogue and spiritually confusing storyline failed to wow anyone.
In a Word: Anticlimactic
Compare To: The Matrix – 87%, The Matrix Reloaded – 73%
8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Release Date: November 17, 2000
Sequel? No
RottenTomatoes Score – 53%
Why We Were Excited About It: Expectations of a holiday treat ran high with Jim Carrey headlining Dr. Seuss’ live-action big screen debut.
Why We Were Disappointed By It: The movie baffled critics and audiences alike by infusing a classic with humor and social commentary Dr. Seuss would never approve of.
In a Word: Charmless
Compare To: How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1965) – 100%
7. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Release Date: June 24, 2009
Sequel? Yes
RottenTomatoes Score – 20%
Why We Were Excited About It: Michael Bay’s special effects wizardry and penchant for awesome robotics and huge explosions returns to thrill fans.
Why We Were Disappointed By It: The film seems more like a 150-minute sizzle reel of metal grinding noises huge explosions than a movie.
In a Word: Cacophony
Compare To: Transformers (2007) – 57%
6. Ocean’s 12
Release Date: December 10, 2004
Sequel? Yes
RottenTomatoes Score – 55%
Why We Were Excited About It: An all-star cast returns to the big screen to bust our guts once again.
Why We Were Disappointed By It: The cast knew how much you liked the first installment and flaunted it in front of you.
In a Word: Smug
Compare To: Ocean’s 11 – 82%
5. A Good Day to Die Hard
Release Date: February 14, 2013
Sequel? Yes
RottenTomatoes Score – 14%
Why We Were Excited About It: After the fourth film rescued the franchise, we were stoked for the next installment of McLane kicking butt.
Why We Were Disappointed By It: A weak plot, boring dialogue, and sloppy filming made this a snooze fest instead of the action movie we hoped it would be.
In a Word: Dispiriting
Compare To: Die Hard – 92%, Die Hard 2 – 67%, Die Hard 3 – 52%, Live Free or Die Hard – 81%
4. Funny People
Release Date: July 31, 2009
Sequel? No
RottenTomatoes Score – 68%
Why We Were Excited About It: Funny folks (including Adam Sandler, Leslie Mann and Seth Rogen) cast in a movie about funny folks – that means one of the funniest films of the decade, right?
Why We Were Disappointed By It: The movie was too muddled to be inspiring, too whiny to be hilarious, and too long to be enjoyable.
In a Word: Mediocre
Compare To: Superbad – 88%
3. Terminator Salvation
Release Date: May 21, 2009
Sequel? Yes
RottenTomatoes Score – 33%
Why We Were Excited About It: With Skynet on the hunt and Dark Knight Christian Bale cast as hero John Connor, hype was high.
Why We Were Disappointed By It: The film forgot franchise origins and went off on a special effects spree that was contrived and empty.
In a Word: Turgid
Compare To: The Terminator – 100%, Terminator 2 – 98%, Terminator 3 – 70%
2. Shrek the Third
Release Date: May 18, 2007
Sequel? Yes
RottenTomatoes Score – 40%
Why We Were Excited About It: The third installment of the franchise made famous by poking fun at fairy tales promised more laughs for all.
Why We Were Disappointed By It: Sloppy writing that lacked the sass and wit of the first two movies.
In a Word: Ugly
Compare To: Shrek – 89%, Shrek 2 – 89%
1. The Hangover Part 2
Release Date: May 26, 2011
Sequel? Yes
RottenTomatoes Score – 34%
Why We Were Excited About It: A sidesplitting comedy team reunites in Bangkok for more laughs.
Why We Were Disappointed By It: A near-copy of the first film proved not nearly as funny the second time around.
In a Word: Lazy
Compare To: The Hangover – 79%