A selection of films that failed to become the new Twilight and The Hunger Games. 
Not everything is a franchise, it's a fantastic blockbuster with young stars and an interesting story concept. Sometimes failures happen, and projects conceived as a new successful series of films remain a single product that everyone quickly forgets about. Today, using quotes from critics from Rotten Tomatoes, we will look at just such cases, noting that even the status of “Twilight”, “Divergent” and “The Maze Runner” still needs to be earned.
The Golden Compass (2007) 
IMDb: 6.1
An adaptation of the first book in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. Apparently, New Line Cinema planned to release three films, but poor box office and reviews killed the idea. But the project involved Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee, Eva Green and Kathy Bates. Here's what critics say:
Without the edge and controversy of its source material, The Golden Compass is reduced to impressive visuals that struggle to compensate for its sluggish storytelling.
The Fifth Dimension (2009) 
IMDb: 6.1
The duo of Chris Evans before playing Captain America and Dakota Fanning did not help the fantasy film about people with superpowers break even at the box office. Critics called the film visually vibrant, but plot-wise impulsive and confusing.
I am the Fourth (2011) 
IMDb: 6.1
The film is billed as the start of a franchise, but the familiar plot and unconvincing acting add up to one noisy, generic and forgettable sci-fi thriller.
Chronicles of Predatory Cities (2018) 
IMDb: 6.1
Good visuals and Peter Jackson in the producer's chair did not help the passable plot and not particularly remarkable characters.
The film has no shortage of eye-catching special effects, but it lacks the high-octane narrative fuel to give this futuristic fantasy sufficient cinematic flare.
Chaos Walking (2021) 
IMDb: 5.7
The young stars of Marvel and Star Wars Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley, accompanied by Mads Mikkelson, did not save the project from guess what? Of course, undeveloped characters and an unremarkable plot, which ruins an interesting idea with a planet of men whose thoughts are heard and visible to everyone around. By the way, this is also a film adaptation of a book and also has no chance of continuation due to its own failure.
The film goes down a potentially interesting path, but this dystopian adventure greatly breaks its own premise and falters badly in its ending.
Guest (2013) 
IMDb: 5.8
Author Stephenie Meyer wrote the science fiction novel The Host in 2008, right after finishing the Twilight story. 5 years later the book was made into a film, but it wasn’t even close to being a hit. Critics called the resulting film "poorly written and dramatically ineffective."
Beautiful Creatures (2013) 
IMDb: 6.1
Beautiful Creatures is a tedious adaptation of a young adult novel that feels like a watery version of Twilight.
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013) 
IMDb: 5.8
The film borrows ingredients from every fantasy franchise of the last 30 years, but the creators can't seem to figure out what to do with them.
Eragon (2006) 
IMDb: 5.1
Eragon is a fantasy epic devoid of any magic, brought down to earth by unconvincing world-building and a cast of stars who seem confused by the script.
Vampire Academy (2014) 
IMDb: 5.4
Critics have called the film "Twilight" meets "Mean Girls," but the combination "lazyly borrows details from its predecessors and offers little humor or thrill."
5th wave (2016) 
IMDb: 5.1
With its unimpressive special effects and plot lines taken from every previous dystopian sci-fi film for young adults, The 5th Wave is ultimately a bland, unremarkable spectacle.
The Last Airbender (2010) 
IMDb: 4.0
Here comes M. Night Shyamalan's famous flop, based on the first season of the popular animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender.
The film wastes its source material with an incomprehensible plot, terrible acting and detached direction.
Dragonball: Evolution (2009) 
IMDb: 2.5
The film is made with modest scope and little inventiveness, lacking the magic that made the books on which it is based a cult sensation.
Which of these films do you suddenly like, despite the critics' verdict?
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