Once upon a time, Disney could do no wrong. From the golden age of hand-drawn animation to the billion-dollar reign of the MCU, the studio has built an empire on timeless storytelling and cultural dominance. Whether it was The Lion King in the ’90s or Frozen in the 2010s, Disney rarely missed a beat when it came to box office numbers. Even its acquisitions, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Fox, turned out to be strategic masterstrokes that turned Mouse House into a monarch.
But the 2020s? They have told a different story so far. The decade kicked off with a global pandemic that shuttered theaters, rewired viewing habits, and forced Disney to pivot towards streaming. While hits like Encanto, Turning Red, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 reminded audiences of Disney’s magic, the studio also spectacularly stumbled sometimes.
In the last five years, Disney has faced a string of underperformers that fell flat. Due to bloated budgets, lukewarm reception, and appalling creative choices, these movies were a mixed bag. Here’s a look back at Disney’s biggest flops of the 2020s so far.
11
‘Strange World’ (2022)
Budget: $180M; Gross: $73M
In the vibrant land of Avalonia, a family of fearless explorers led by a reluctant farmer named Searcher Clade embarks on a journey to save their energy source, a miraculous plant called Pando. The expedition spirals into a generational clash when Searcher reunites with his estranged father, Jaeger, a legendary adventurer who vanished decades ago, and his son Ethan, who is eager to forge his own path.
A Gorgeous World Few Wanted to Visit
Despite its lush visuals, high-concept premise, and heartfelt themes of family, Strange World never found its audience. Directed by Don Hall (Big Hero 6) and co-written by Qui Nguyen (Raya and the Last Dragon), it had the markings of a modern Disney adventure. In fact, Searcher was the studio’s first openly LGBTQ+ lead. And yet, with a reported budget of up to $180M and a global box office of just $73M, it was a misfire.
10
‘The Marvels’ (2023)
Budget: $275M; Gross: $206M
A cosmic mashup of powers and personalities, The Marvels brings together Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) as they mysteriously begin swapping places whenever they use their abilities. The trio, now forced to deal with the quantum chaos caused by Kree revolutionary Dar-Benn, has to work as a team and stop his destructive plan.
A Muddled Superhero Sequel
With a staggering budget of $275M and a worldwide gross of $206M, The Marvels became the lowest-earning MCU movie to date. Under Nia DaCosta’s direction, it had flashes of charm, especially with Vellani’s infectious and beloved Kamala back in the mix. But the tonal shifts were ever-present, and the villain arc was relatively thin. The body-swapping gimmick, however visually daring and inventive, felt like a filler after one point. Overall, the reception was lukewarm.
9
‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ (2023)
Budget: $300M; Gross: $384M
Set in 1969, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is the last outing for Harrison Ford’s iconic character. He’s on the brink of retirement, but is pulled back into adventure by his goddaughter, Helena. Together, they chase the mythical Antikythera device, which can supposedly locate fissures in time. Their quest also pits them against a Nazi-turned-NASA scientist played by Mads Mikkelsen.
A Costly Farewell to a Legend
Though it earned $384M globally, Dial of Destiny barely broke even against its $300M+ budget, making it a bittersweet send-off for one of cinema’s most celebrated heroes. Directed by James Mangold, the movie marked the first Indy installment not helmed by Spielberg or conceived by Lucas. Ford’s performance, as usual, was amazing, and it was backed by John Willaims’s Grammy-winning score. But the pacing, reliance on CGI de-aging, and the confusing time travel finale left fans divided.
8
‘Lightyear’ (2022)
Budget: $200M; Gross: $226M
Buzz Lightyear, the space ranger we thought we knew, gets a cinematic origin story in Disney’s Lightyear. Not as the toy from Toy Story, but as the fictional hero who inspired it. The movie opens with Buzz and his commander Alisha Hawthorne crash-landing on the hostile planet T’Kani Prime. Determined to fix his mistake, Buzz keeps on testing hyperspace fuel and leaping years into the future, while being stuck in his mission.
Too Meta For Its Own Orbit
Lightyear is all about confronting the consequences of obsession and learning to embrace the present moment. The emotional beats, however, get diluted by exposition-heavy sequences and a villain twist that lacks punch. Critics were split. So. despite Pixar’s pedigree and a $200M budget, Lightyear grossed just $226M worldwide. Even conceptually, it was framed as “Andy’s favorite movie,” which only raised more questions than intrigue.
7
‘Wish’ (2023)
Budget: $200M; Gross: $255M
Set in the kingdom of Rosas, Wish follows 17-year-old Asha, who dreams of seeing her grandfather’s wish granted by the benevolent King Magnifico. When she discovers that he hoards wishes rather than fulfilling them, Asha makes a desperate plea to the stars. Her call is answered by a glowing, mischievous ball of light that grants magical powers and awakens the first creatures. Together, they rally to fight Magnifico and liberate the kingdom’s stolen dreams.
Magic Without Spark
Released as part of Disney’s centennial celebration, Wish had certain ingredients that would make it a classic. Musical numbers, a plucky heroine, a climax that finds the villain consumed by his own greed, and a message about believing in one self. But with a $200M budget and a global gross of $255M, it barely scraped past break-even, especially after marketing and distribution costs. The reason? It felt too safe and too processed.
6
‘Haunted Mansion’ (2023)
Budget: $150M; Gross: $117M
Haunted Mansion is a supernatural comedy that finds single mom Gabbie and her son Travis moving into Gracey Manor and discovering that it is crawling with ghosts. Desperate for help, they assemble a quirky team of a historian, a fake priest, a grieving astrophysicist, and a psychic. Together, they uncover the mansion’s dark secrets.
A Clumsy Haunted House Romp
Blending jump scares and heartfelt moments, this one tries to translate one of Disney’s classic theme park attractions to the big screen. It also gets a stacked ensemble of actors, like LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jared Leto, to play interesting roles. And yet, it fails to conjure box office magic. Made with a $150M budget, Haunted Mansion touched just $117M in global earnings.
5
‘Jungle Cruise’ (2021)
Budget: $200M; Gross: $220M
Jungle Cruise takes place in 1969, and it tells the story of intrepid botanist Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) and her brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall) as they journey deep into the Amazon in search of the Tears of the Moon, a tree whose petals are said to cure any illness. They hire Dwayne Johnson’s Frank Wolff to help them navigate the treacherous waters, but the adventure pits them against a bunch of adversaries.
Sinks Under the Weight of Ambition
Despite its breezy tone, charismatic leads, and a summer release date, Jungle Cruise did not quite sail into blockbuster territory. Disney put a hefty $200M budget into replicating the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean and The Mummy, but barely nudged past break-even with a global gross of $220M. Leaning heavily on nostalgic tropes, it lacked the narrative spark to stand out.
4
‘Mulan’ (2020)
Budget: $200M; Gross: $69M
A live-action remake of the beloved 1998 animated movie, Mulan centers on Hua Mulan, a young woman in Imperial China, who disguises herself as a man to take her ailing father’s place in the army and defend her country from invaders. As she trains under Commander Tung and bonds with fellow soldier Honghui, Mulan grapples with her identity and the power of her inner chi.
A Commercial Collapse
Unlike the original, Niki Caro’s Mulan trades musical numbers and Mushu for sweeping landscapes, wire-fu combat, and a more solemn tone rooted in Chinese folklore. Mandy Walker’s cinematography and Bina Daigeler’s costume design earned award nominations. However, its release was marred by pandemic delays, the casting choice drew criticism, and some beloved animated aspects were noted to be missing. Which is why, with a $200M budget and a global box office of just $69M, Mulan became one of Disney’s most expensive misfires.
3
‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ (2021)
Budget: $100M; Gross: $130M
Raya and the Last Dragon takes you to the fractured kingdom of Kumandra, where warrior princess Raya is on a quest to reunite the five tribes and defeat the Druun, malevolent spirits that turn people into stone. Her journey leads her to Sisu, the last dragon whose magic once saved the world. But first, they must travel across Tail, Talon, Spine, and Fang, to collect the broken shards of a gem that once helped keep the Druun at bay.
Promising Critical Darling
Even though Raya and the Last Dragon earned glowing reviews (93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes), its theatrical run was hampered by the pandemic and its simultaneous Disney+ Premier Access release. With a $100M+ budget and a global gross of $130M, it fell short of expectations. Awkwafina’s Sisu brought levity, and the climax, where Raya chooses trust over vengeance, was poignant. It even earned an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature, but commercially, it bombed.
2
‘Snow White’ (2025)
Budget: $240–270M; Gross: $206M
Another Disney live-action movie that turned out to be one of the biggest flops of the 2020s so far is Snow White. Based on the 1937 classic, it follows the titular princess as she is forced into servitude by her vain and power-hungry stepmother, the Evil Queen. After the Magic Mirror declares Snow White “the fairest of them all,” the Queen orders her execution. So she escapes into the forest, finds refuge with seven dwarfs, and rallies to reclaim the kingdom.
Technically Impressive but Soulless
The story blends musical numbers, forest chases, outstanding performances from Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, and Andrew Burnap, and a climactic showdown involving a poisoned apple. It has the legacy elements, for sure, but against a budget reportedly between $240–270M, Snow White only made $206M worldwide. The aim was to modernize the fairy tale, but the movie only stumbled with its execution. The reception was also clouded by political backlash and the CGI dwarfs lacked the original charm.
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