2017 was a year of many strong cinematic offerings across genres and budgets, but it also produced a surprising number of notable disappointments. Several high-profile projects failed to live up to expectations, some franchises were hurt by poor installments, and a few renowned actors and directors endured unusually weak outings. Below is our list of the 10 worst film releases of 2017, with concise takes on why each title missed the mark. Share your thoughts in the comments if you agree or disagree.
10. Alien: Covenant
Visually striking but narratively confused, Alien: Covenant struggled with pacing and tone. As a prequel installment in the Alien saga, it over-explained elements that earlier films kept mysterious, diminishing much of the franchise’s original mystique. The film’s attempts to reconcile science-fiction mystery with broader exposition left it feeling long, flat, and emotionally distant, undermining decades of established atmosphere.
9. Justice League
Justice League suffered from the same unevenness that plagued several DC films of the era: fragmented storytelling, an inconsistent tone, and overreliance on CGI effects. The film felt stitched together and failed to generate real emotional stakes or convincing chemistry between characters. Technical fixes and visual effects often drew attention for the wrong reasons, leaving audiences with a hollow experience rather than a thrilling team-up.
8. The Book of Henry
Coming from a director who had enjoyed major success just two years earlier, The Book of Henry aimed for heartfelt originality but stumbled badly in execution. The film tried to blend multiple tones and themes and ended up feeling tonally inconsistent, unfocused, and often unintentionally awkward. The story’s odd shifts made it difficult for viewers to settle into a coherent emotional arc, and the film ultimately failed to justify its eccentric choices.
7. The Snowman
Despite a promising pedigree—an experienced director, a well-regarded source novel, and a strong lead cast—The Snowman arrived as a baffling, disjointed crime adaptation. The film’s plot often abandoned logical progression, and the overall sense of craft and pacing was uneven. Talented performers were frequently let down by a screenplay and editing approach that failed to sustain tension or clarity.
6. Baywatch
With comedic talents like Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron on board, Baywatch had the potential to deliver a raucous, crowd-pleasing reboot, but instead it settled for a slow-moving and uneven buddy-comedy that relied heavily on tired gags. The film’s pacing and tonal choices prevented punchlines from landing, and the end result felt like a missed opportunity rather than an inspired update of the classic TV property.
5. The Mummy
Designed to launch a shared “Dark Universe,” The Mummy shifted its focus toward star power and blockbuster spectacle at the expense of coherent mythology. The film often resembled an action vehicle more than a true reinvention of the classic horror adventure, and its tonal ambiguity left audiences unsure whether to treat it as a monster movie, an action thriller, or a franchise pilot. Plans for follow-ups were eventually reconsidered after the film’s underwhelming reception.
4. The Circle
The Circle aimed to tackle contemporary themes around surveillance and social media but delivered them in a way that felt simplistic and heavy-handed. Despite an experienced director and a solid cast, the film’s execution flattened its ideas into predictable beats and juvenile moralizing. The result is a well-intentioned project that fails to provoke meaningful reflection.
3. The Emoji Movie
An animated feature that was widely criticized for its tone and concept, The Emoji Movie struggled to justify its existence beyond a timely gimmick. Reviewers and audiences alike found the premise thin and the storytelling distressing rather than delightful for young viewers. Building a children’s film around a fleeting cultural phenomenon demanded more imaginative worldbuilding than the movie supplied.
2. Geostorm
Geostorm offered a high-concept disaster premise—what if weather systems could be weaponized?—but the execution felt formulaic and muddled. The film relied on familiar, predictable beats and failed to build suspense or believable stakes. For an action-driven picture, the character work and plot mechanics were surprisingly perfunctory, undercutting the impact of its central idea.
1. Fifty Shades Darker
Following the commercial success of the first film, Fifty Shades Darker returned with a new director and the same lead actors but failed to improve on what many viewers found problematic in the franchise: thin character development and a script that rarely stirred genuine emotion or chemistry. The sequel felt obligated rather than inspired, and that sense of obligation showed on screen, making it the most disappointing major release of 2017 in our view.
There you have it: our picks for the 10 worst films of 2017. Each of these titles had elements that might have worked in a different configuration, but collectively they illustrate how high expectations and star power don’t always translate into satisfying cinema. If you have thoughts on this list or predictions for future flops and surprises, leave a comment below.