Ambitious Movies That Missed the Mark

From 'Nine' to 'Megalopolis', these big-swing films failed to fully connect with audiences.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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This article examines 10 ambitious movies that ultimately fell short, despite their grand aspirations and star-studded casts. Films like "Nine," "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones," and "Cats" tried to do something bold but ended up disappointing critics and audiences. The article explores why these movies didn't work, finding value in studying the filmmaking process and learning from their missteps.

Why it matters

Analyzing ambitious but flawed movies can provide valuable insights into the filmmaking process. While a swing and a miss is often better than playing it safe, understanding why these movies didn't connect can help future filmmakers avoid similar pitfalls and create more successful works. The article celebrates the spirit of ambition while acknowledging the challenges of translating big ideas into compelling cinema.

The details

The article covers a range of ambitious but problematic films, from the star-studded musical "Nine" to the divisive "Star Wars" prequel "Attack of the Clones" and the widely panned "Cats" adaptation. It also delves into lesser-known misfires like the 1998 "Godzilla" reboot, the 2014 "Amazing Spider-Man 2," and the 1978 disaster movie "The Swarm." Additionally, the piece examines older films like the 1931 Best Picture winner "Cimarron" and more recent efforts like Terry Gilliam's long-delayed "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote" and Francis Ford Coppola's upcoming "Megalopolis."

  • The article was published on February 25, 2026.
  • "Nine" was released in 2009.
  • "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" was released in 2002.
  • "Gods of Egypt" was released in 2016.
  • "Godzilla" (1998) was released in 1998.
  • "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" was released in 2014.
  • "The Swarm" was released in 1978.
  • "Cimarron" was released in 1931.
  • "Cats" was released in 2019.
  • "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote" was released in 2018.
  • "Megalopolis" is an upcoming film.

The players

Jeremy Urquhart

The author of the article, who examines these ambitious but flawed films.

Francis Ford Coppola

The acclaimed director of "Megalopolis," a long-delayed passion project.

Terry Gilliam

The director of "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote," another long-gestating project.

Alex Proyas

The director of "Gods of Egypt," whose career was derailed by the film's failure.

Shia LaBeouf

An actor who appears in the documentary about the making of "Megalopolis."

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What they’re saying

“Look, ambition should always be celebrated on some level, because a movie going big or trying something weird and stumbling is usually better than a movie feeling lazy or slapped together while being dull to watch.”

— Jeremy Urquhart, Author (collider.com)

“There's so much in Nine that might sound interesting or high-quality on paper, yet the execution is so lacking, and it's a really tedious movie to actually get through.”

— Jeremy Urquhart, Author (collider.com)

“Gods of Egypt was enough of a mess that it put Alex Proyas, with his otherwise solid track record that included The Crow and Dark City, in director's jail.”

— Jeremy Urquhart, Author (collider.com)

What’s next

The article does not mention any definite and predictable future newsworthy moments related to the stories covered.

The takeaway

While ambition should be celebrated, these films serve as cautionary tales, highlighting the challenges of translating big ideas into successful cinematic experiences. Analyzing their missteps can provide valuable lessons for filmmakers, helping them avoid similar pitfalls and create more compelling and cohesive works in the future.