Key Takeaways:
– Despite his fame as Spider-Man, Tom Holland has experienced a few cinematic failures.
– The historical drama ‘The Current War’ didn’t do well at the box office despite commendable performances.
– ‘Chaos Walking’, despite heavy investment, failed to captivate audiences or critics.
– The fantasy adventure ‘Dolittle’, despite its Marvel star power, also fell short of the mark.
Best known for his role as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) Spider-Man, 27-year-old English actor Tom Holland has solidified his place among Hollywood’s most pursued talents. However, not all his ventures have met with box-office success or critical acclaim.
The Current War: A Historical Drama That Fell Short
Following Holland’s MCU debut in 2016’s ‘Captain America: Civil War’ and the subsequent success of the ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’, the actor decided to diversify his portfolio. He took on the role of Samuel Insull, an innovator and electricity tycoon, in the historical drama ‘The Current War’ in 2017.
Despite sharing the screen with stars like Benedict Cumberbatch and Nicolas Hoult, Holland couldn’t salvage the movie’s box-office performance. Criticized for its execution, it only grossed $12.2 million against its $30 million budget, classifying it as a commercial failure.
Chaos Walking: A Rough Sci-Fi Ride
Before the release of the Spider-Man threequel, ‘No Way Home,’ Holland starred alongside Daisy Ridley and Mads Mikkelsen in the sci-fi movie ‘Chaos Walking’ in 2021. It depicts a dystopian society without women, where thoughts can be heard, and Todd Hewitt (played by Holland) must protect Viola following her crash landing.
The film’s production was tumultuous, with numerous rewrites and resounding reshoots following negative test screenings. These changes significantly increased the budget. Despite the effort, ‘Chaos Walking’ failed to engage audiences or critics, grossing only $26.5 million worldwide against an estimated budget of $100 million.
Dolittle: Fantasy Adventure That Couldn’t
Holland reunited with his Avengers: Endgame co-star Robert Downey Jr in the 2020 fantasy adventure ‘Dolittle,’ acting as the voice for Jip, a loyal dog to the titular character. Despite the Marvel star appeal, the film failed to tap a chord with viewers or critics.
‘Dolittle’ was subjected to extensive reshoots after an initial negative reception. It stands as the lowest-ranked Holland movie with a 15% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Lastly, it grossed $251 million globally against a budget of $175 million, leading to significant financial losses estimated around $100 million.
Despite these setbacks, Holland’s star power remains undiminished, thanks to his general success with MCU’s Spider-Man franchise. Yet, his less successful ventures serve as a reminder of the volatility of the film industry – even for superheroes
The movies ‘The Current War,’ ‘Chaos Walking,’ and ‘Dolittle’ are available for rent or purchase on Prime Video. Holland continues to explore roles beyond the superhero genre, with fans eagerly anticipating his future works.
Final Words
While the journey for the Spider-Man star has seen both highs and lows, the determination to keep expanding his career irrespective of setbacks underscores Tom Holland’s commitment to his craft. As he continues to don the Spider-Man suit and explore other varied roles, his fans continue to cheer him on, all set to welcome his future endeavours.
