Biggest box office flops of 2011 so far

Natalie Portman (from left), Danny McBride, James Franco in Zooey Deschanel star in "Your Highness," a box office flop.

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It’s been a rough year so far for Hollywood, which turned out a string of disappointments at the box office. Some hurt more than others, depending upon their production budgets and marketing costs. The following list doesn’t account for how much was spent on marketing, a figure usually kept secret, but we’re talking many, many millions.

1. ‘Mars Needs Moms’

Director Robert Zemeckis’ motion-capture animated film was one of the most expensive bombs in Hollywood history, costing at least $150 million to produce and grossing $21.4 million at the domestic box office. Overseas, it didn’t do much better, grossing $17.6 million for a total $39 million.

2. ‘Your Highness’

The raunchy comedy, set in medieval times, didn’t go over well with audiences, even if it starred newly anointed Oscar winner Natalie Portman (along with James Franco and Danny McBride). Costing $50 million to produce, the film earned $21.6 million domestically and a paltry $3 million overseas.

3. ‘Arthur’

The remake of the Dudley Moore comedy failed to rustle up many laughs, topping out at $33 million domestically. Starring Russell Brand and Helen Mirren, “Arthur” did even less overseas, earning $12.7 million for a global total of $45.7 million. The production budget was reportedly $40 million.

4. ‘Prom’

“Prom,” recipient of a mere $10.1 million at the domestic box office, was the first movie greenlit by Disney chairman Rich Ross to hit theaters. It’s the lowest grossing studio film of the year so far, but luckily for Ross, “Prom” cost only $8 million to produce.

5. ‘Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer’

Filmmakers were hoping to launch a new franchise based on the popular kids book series, but after three weeks the $20 million kickoff film has grossed only around $14 million to date.

6. ‘Green Lantern’

Costing at least $200 million to produce, “Green Lantern” needed to do a big number worldwide to be financially solid (think $500 million plus). Now, it looks like the Ryan Reynolds superhero pic will top out at roughly $250 million or $260 million worldwide. It didn’t help that the movie was bashed by critics.

7. ‘Priest’

The supernatural action film, based on a Korean graphic novel, was the most expensive movie ever made by Screen Gems, costing $60 million to produce. It collected a soft $29.1 million domestically, but made up some ground overseas, where it earned $46 million.

8. ‘Sucker Punch’

Director Zack Snyder’s female action-fantasy couldn’t find its groove, grossing $36.4 million domestically and $53.4 million overseas for a worldwide total of $89.8 million. The movie, which cost roughly $82 million to produce, came in No. 2 on its opening weekend behind “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules.”

9. ‘Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil’

The first “Hoodwinked!” was a sleeper hit, grossing $51.4 million domestically and $58.6 million internationally. The sequel, however, came and went quickly, earning only $10 million in North America and $3.6 million overseas. Its production budget was a reported $30 million.

10. ‘The Beaver’

For months there was heat around director Jodie Foster’s high-profile movie, but it quickly disappeared at the domestic box office, grossing less than $1 million. Many saw it as a referendum Mel Gibson, who stars in the film opposite Foster,. The specialty film cost $20 million to produce.

Hollywood Reporter

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