If you’ve been following the saga of Marvel’s Ant-Man, you’ll know why we’re skeptical of this one. The trailer might have looked great, and the film itself is promising, but we can’t help but to feel on the fence about it. After Wright departed the project, a lot of people lost faith. And while it does seem that the new filmmaking team has managed to pull things together, there’s still a very big chance that Ant-Man could be Marvel’s first flop.
While Ted was a massive success upon its release, we’re not betting on the sequel just yet. Sure, Mark Wahlberg is back to lead and Seth MacFarlane is returning to direct, but there’s one little thing that we’re all forgetting: A Million Ways To Die In The West. The aforementioned western/comedy was a complete dud, landing in theatres last summer and barely making a dent. Critics panned it and audiences weren’t too happy, either. We all know that Seth MacFarlane has it in him to make brilliant comedy, but his last effort left some serious doubt in our minds as to whether or not he can strike gold twice with Ted 2.
Insidious is one of my favorite horror movies, ever. Its sequel, while not as good, is a decent entry into the genre as well. So, why am I concerned about Insidious: Chapter 3? Honestly, I’m not exactly sure why I can’t feel 100% confident in this film. Perhaps it’s because James Wan won’t be returning to direct. Or maybe it’s because stars Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne are gone. Or maybe it’s because we’ve seen so many horror franchises go off the rails by pumping out sequel after sequel. Whatever the reason is, Insidious: Chapter 3 is going to have to do one hell of a job to prove that this franchise is worthy of a third entry.
Anyone who saw Tammy can tell you why Spy, as promising as it may look, could turn out to be a flop. Tammy was McCarthy’s star vehicle last year, and while not a total dud, it certainly didn’t do much for critics or audiences. Admittedly, it’s hard to go wrong with Paul Feig, who’s writing and directing here, but I’m still inclined to think that maybe, just maybe, audiences are starting to tire of McCarthy’s shtick.
Like Ant-Man, this is another superhero film that’s been receiving a lot of negative press lately. Also like Ant-Man, the trailer did ease a lot of our concerns, but that doesn’t mean Fox has a surefire hit on their hands. There’s still a whole lot that we don’t know about Fantastic Four, as well as a couple of questionable moments in an otherwise solid trailer. We’re not counting out Josh Trank’s reboot just yet, but this is another one where we’re going to need to see a final product before we can label it a lock for success.
When a film takes as long as Mad Max: Fury Road has to get from production to theatres, one has to be skeptical. Not only did it take years to get Mad Max: Fury Road made, but filming actually wrapped back in 2012. After extensive reshoots and several other issues that kept it from release, it will finally hit theatres this year. We’re definitely looking forward to seeing Hardy in the lead role, but even despite the impressive marketing campaign that we’ve seen thus far, you’ve got to wonder: why has it taken so long to finally see Mad Max: Fury Road?
District 9 was pure brilliance, but Neill Blomkamp’s other sci-fi blockbuster, Elysium, left a lot to be desired. And so, I think it’s understandable that we don’t have complete faith in Chappie to deliver. A strong cast and an intriguing premise, along with Blomkamp’s unique vision mean that we’re probably in for a treat, but then again, that’s what we all thought about Elysium.
From that awkward title to the controversial changes to the franchise’s plot and characters, there’s a lot about Terminator: Genisys that has people worried. Trailer reactions were mediocre, and with a franchise like this there’s definitely a lot that could go wrong. While I personally think it will be unlikely for Paramount to have a total flop on their hands here, it definitely could turn out to be one of the most divisive films of 2015.
