When Reshoots Backfire
Reshoots are nothing new in Hollywood. Sometimes, they’re used to fix pacing, clarify plot points, or insert new scenes after test screenings. But other times, they reflect chaos behind the scenes, like studio interference, last-minute rewrites, or creative disagreements. In these cases, reshoots don’t save the film—they doom it. Here are movies that were reshot but still went down in flames.
Justice League (2017)
After Zack Snyder stepped away due to a family tragedy, Joss Whedon took over and reshot large portions of Justice League, injecting humor and trimming Snyder’s darker tone. The result? A jumbled mess that pleased no one and bombed at the box office. Fans clamored for Snyder’s original vision, which finally surfaced in 2021 as Zack Snyder’s Justice League—a four-hour epic that showed how different things could’ve been.
Justice League ALL Trailers + Clips (2017) | Movieclips Trailers, Rotten Tomatoes Trailers
Suicide Squad (2016)
Following the success of Deadpool, Warner Bros was worried that Suicide Squad was too grim and gritty for audiences. They ordered extensive reshoots to add more humor and style to the movie—but the tonal whiplash was palpable, and critics panned its incoherent plot. While it made money, the backlash was severe enough to greenlight a quasi-reboot in 2021.
Suicide Squad - Official Trailer 1 [HD], Warner Bros.
Fantastic Four (2015)
Josh Trank’s Fantastic Four was plagued with production troubles, but the reshoots sealed its fate. Drastically altering the third act and visibly changing characters’ appearances (Kate Mara’s wig became infamous), the film was released in a confused, truncated state. It flopped so hard that Fox canceled its sequel and relinquished the franchise when Disney bought the studio.
🎥 FANTASTIC FOUR (2015) | Full Movie Trailer in Full HD | 1080p, TRAILER CITY
The Snowman (2017)
Director Tomas Alfredson admitted that 10-15% of the script wasn’t filmed due to scheduling issues. Later reshoots attempted to fill in the gaps, but the damage was done. Critics didn’t hold back on their opinions of the film’s incoherence, and audiences decided to skip it. It became a notorious example of how even star power (Michael Fassbender) can’t save a botched production.
The Snowman - In Theaters October 20 - Official Trailer (HD), Universal Pictures
The New Mutants (2020)
Originally pitched as a horror-infused spin on the X-Men universe, The New Mutants was delayed multiple times and underwent extensive reshoots to tone down its darker elements. By the time it was released, it felt neutered and outdated. Critics called it forgettable, and pandemic-era box office returns sealed its fate as a flop.
The New Mutants | Official Trailer | 20th Century FOX, 20th Century Studios
Cats (2019)
Universal reshot numerous VFX-heavy scenes after horrifying reactions to the first trailer. Even after patching the CGI post-release (an unprecedented move), Cats couldn’t overcome its uncanny visuals and baffling tone. Critics ridiculed it, and it lost over $70 million—now a cautionary tale in adapting stage musicals.
CATS Official Trailer (2019) Taylor Swift, Idris Elba Movie HD, ONE Media
Gigli (2003)
Initially a dark crime drama, Gigli was retooled to emphasize the romantic pairing of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez amid real-life tabloid buzz. The reshoots clashed tonally with the original film, resulting in a bizarre hybrid that critics and audiences loathed. It bombed at the box office and was a punchline for years.
Gigli (2003) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers, Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
All The King’s Men (2006)
Despite an Oscar-winning cast and heavy promotion, this remake fell apart in reshoots. The studio pushed for a more streamlined, conventional edit, cutting important context. Critics called it muddled and overly melodramatic. It failed to connect with audiences, disappearing quickly from theaters.
All the King's Men (2006) Trailer, Movie Trailer Locker
Heaven’s Gate (1980)
Behind the scenes, Michael Cimino’s epic Western spiraled out of control, with costly reshoots and a ridiculous runtime that increased the budget to $44 million (huge for the time). The film flopped catastrophically, contributing to the collapse of United Artists. While it is now seen as a cult classic, it remains a landmark Hollywood failure.
HEAVEN’S GATE (1980) | Official Trailer | MGM, Amazon MGM Studios
The 13th Warrior (1999)
Originally directed by John McTiernan, Michael Crichton was brought in to reshoot the film after test screenings flopped. The musical score was replaced, action scenes reworked, and the ending reshot. The resulting film felt uneven, and it lost nearly $100 million at the box office.
The 13th Warrior (1999) | Modern Trailer, Sankhara
Superman II (1980/2006)
Originally filmed back-to-back with Superman: The Movie, Richard Donner was fired before completing Superman II. Richard Lester reshot much of the film, adding campy humor. Fans did turn out to see the theatrical cut, but they still lamented Donner’s missing vision. The 2006 Donner Cut offered a more serious, coherent take—highlighting how reshoots changed the story’s tone.
The Predator (2018)
After poor test screenings, Shane Black reshot the entire third act, transforming a darker ending into a more conventional action climax. The result was a messy narrative full of underdeveloped characters and weird tonal shifts. It disappointed fans and critics alike, stalling any franchise momentum.
The Predator | Official Trailer [HD] | 20th Century FOX, 20th Century Studios
Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)
The original film by Paul Schrader was shelved for being “too cerebral”. Renny Harlin was brought in to reshoot almost everything, adding gore and action. The Harlin version was critically panned, and Schrader’s cut was later released as Dominion. Neither version resonated with audiences, proving that reshoots can’t always fix a film.
Exorcist: The Beginning (2004) Trailer #1, Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers
Jonah Hex (2010)
Plagued by reshoots and rewrites, Jonah Hex lost all of its supernatural elements and was turned into a much simpler story. The result? A 70-minute incoherent mess that was torn apart by critics. Even Josh Brolin and Megan Fox couldn’t save it from being one of the decade’s biggest bombs.
Jonah Hex (2010) Trailer HD | Josh Brolin | Megan Fox, Film Trailer Channel
The Invasion (2007)
Originally directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, this Invasion of the Body Snatchers update was reworked by the Wachowskis and James McTeigue. New action scenes and a more hopeful ending were added. The disjointed result pleased no one and flopped despite Nicole Kidman’s star power.
King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword (2017)
Guy Ritchie’s attempt to turn the Arthurian legend into a gritty action-fantasy saw multiple reshoots to amp up the action and humor. But that only turned the movie into an over-stylized jumble. Critics found it exhausting, and audiences ignored it. With a reported $175 million budget, it was a colossal failure.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017) - Official Trailer, IGN
RoboCop (2014)
The reboot of RoboCop underwent reshoots to tone down violence and broaden appeal. But stripping away the satire and grit of the original left fans cold. It wasn’t a disaster—but the muted reaction and disappointing box office numbers killed any hopes for a new franchise.
Death Wish (2018)
Eli Roth’s remake of Death Wish was reshot to soften some of the violence and appeal to a broader audience after mass shootings in the U.S. Unfortunately, it only made the film feel more tone-deaf. Critics called it bland and outdated, and it failed to make much of a cultural impact.
DEATH WISH Trailer (2018), KinoCheck.com
Envy (2004)
Originally a dark comedy, Envy underwent major reshoots to make it more appealing to a wider audience. Entire subplots were removed and a new ending added. The tonal confusion left critics baffled, and audiences indifferent. Even Jack Black and Ben Stiller couldn’t save this one.
ENVY - OFFICIAL TRAILER - 2004, Movie Trailers
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Lucasfilm fired original directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller deep into production, replacing them with Ron Howard, who reshot around 70% of the film. Despite having such a talented director at the helm, Solo lacked spark and originality—and fans were still reeling from The Last Jedi. It became the first Star Wars film to truly flop, leading Disney to rethink standalone films.
SOLO: A Star Wars Story Trailers (2018), FilmSelect
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