Entertainment
10 Box Office Bombs That Surprised No One
Legendary screenwriter and author William Goldman once wrote, pertaining to Hollywood, “Nobody knows anything.” For as much research, analysis, and money goes into the pre-production, filming, and marketing of movies, studios ultimately have no idea what’s going to hit and what’s going to flop. Some of the greatest box office triumphs came from movies that appeared to be dead on arrival, filled with grave uncertainty and doubt within their respective studios, only to win over the public and find an audience.
In the end, moviegoing is a natural phenomenon that can’t be calculated. However, in certain cases, as with these 10 movies below, we saw these bombs from miles away. From behind-the-scenes drama to poor marketing, these films were destined to become a punchline in the trade publications.
10
‘Monkeybone’ (2001)
Henry Selick is one of our most imaginative animation visionaries living today. 30 years since its release, he is still rudely ignored as the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas, which is often erroneously credited to screenwriter Tim Burton. However, if there’s one film that the Coraline director would wish that everyone would forget about, it would be his 2001 flop, Monkeybone, a confounding cinematic experience that was seemingly made for no one.
Grossing a meager $7 million on a $75 million budget, Monkeybone was Selick’s foray into new territory, as it blends live action filmmaking with his trademark stop-motion animation. Starring Brendan Fraser as a cartoonist who falls into a coma and is transported to another universe that threatens to supply the world with nightmares, the making of Monkeybone soured Selick from ever making another live-action feature, as he has since condemned the final product released to the public. The bizarre tonal register, uncanny visual aesthetic, random humor, and bonkers story were immediate turnoffs for casual audiences. The audacious animation style was a costly endeavor for 20th Century Fox, and there was simply no way of selling the film’s idea on a poster or trailer. Monkeybone, lampooned by critics, represents the harsh reality of taking a big artistic swing that whiffs.
9
‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ (2019)
Not only is Terminator 2: Judgment Day a perfect object, its conclusion wraps the story up from 1984’s The Terminator so tightly that a sequel was never in demand. However, Hollywood has to Hollywood, and audiences were sporadically fed sequels to James Cameron‘s classics, none of which were wholly satisfying. Still, they kept performing fairly well at the box office. By the time Terminator: Dark Fate arrived in 2019, audiences were not going to be fooled again, leading to a financial failure that may have terminated the franchise altogether.
In a cruel twist of fate, the surprisingly inventive and engaging Terminator: Dark Fate, the series’ apex since Terminator 2, was the one that failed for its studio, Paramount, with its $261 million worldwide gross falling short of its whopping $185 million budget. While not the most devastating flop, Tim Miller‘s retconning of the events following T2, botched in the uninspiring Rise of the Machines, Salvation, and Genisys, immediately lacked any audience and critical enthusiasm. Even with James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger back on board as producer and star, respectively, and Linda Hamilton reprising her role as Sarah Connor, Dark Fate was a victim of the world not wanting to be fooled for a fourth time. With the scope and budget continuously ballooning, it was clear that Terminator needed a factory reset rather than chasing after the glory of its first two entries.
8
‘Dolittle’ (2020)
Say what you want about modern moviegoing tendencies, but audiences aren’t dumb. Just because the world loved Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe doesn’t mean they’re going to sign up for anything he stars in, especially when his Avengers: Endgame follow-up looked as silly and nonsensical as Dolittle. Released during the brief window in 2020 before things went awry amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the new adaptation of the animal whisperer, originally played by Rex Harrison and Eddie Murphy, carried a weighty price tag for something that was set up for failure.
On the surface, Dolittle‘s box office performance of $251 million worldwide gross is impressive, but when compared to its $175 million budget, these gaudy numbers were hardly worthy of celebration for Universal. Anyone who was following the news of its production, directed by Stephen Gaghan, knew that a stinker was in order, as the film underwent three weeks of reshoots by multiple directors after poor test screenings. Downey’s spontaneity and improvisation were great for Iron Man, but his freewheeling creative process led to a disastrous production. The chaos of the set is felt on the screen—a disorganized and rudderless mess of a movie. By giving a reheated performance, filled with his usual snarky quips, Downey proved he was desperate for Christopher Nolan to upend his screen persona in Oppenheimer.
7
‘Lightyear’ (2022)
“This is the origin story of the human Buzz Lightyear that the toy is based on,” wrote Chris Evans in a Twitter post that lives in infamy. Emblematic of the glut of IP in cinema, Pixar stooped low for a blatant cash grab in Lightyear, the inexplicable spin-off of the Toy Story franchise centered around the fake person who spawned the fake toy, Buzz Lightyear, here voiced by Evans instead of Tim Allen. The fact that Evans needed to clarify its synopsis was a telltale sign that a bomb was set for launch in 2022.
Grossing $218 million worldwide is relatively low for Pixar sequel standards, and this number is even more egregious when pitted against its whopping $200 million budget. Lightyear‘s existence is indicative of Disney’s obsession with milking their own properties without a clever angle. The film, directed by Angus MacLane, was truly something nobody asked for. Any ardent fan of the Toy Story series will tell you that interest in how the Buzz toy was created within the universe was little to none. Expanding on the Buzz lore taints the purity and charm of the series, making Lightyear woefully disjointed within this beloved franchise. Disney and Pixar are already making a killing off Toy Story sequels, which sees its fifth installment in 2026. This head-scratching spin-off was born out of sheer greed.
6
‘Borderlands’ (2024)
Video game movies are all the rage these days. In fact, they may have even surpassed superhero movies as the most coveted IP by studios in the wake of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Minecraft. Still, rights to a beloved game aren’t enough to trick audiences into thinking you have the next blockbuster—take, for example, Borderlands, a total wipeout at the box office in 2024 that everyone saw coming from a mile away.
There’s no way of spinning the film’s financial performance, as its $32 million gross on a $115 million budget is a flop of the highest order. Quick research into the making and release of Borderlands, starring an overqualified Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jack Black, raised countless red flags. Development hell often indicates an impending bomb, and the writing was on the wall for Borderlands, which was announced in 2015, filmed in 2021, and underwent reshoots in 2023. Director Eli Roth, whose R-rated vision was sanded down for a PG-13 rating, was replaced by Tim Miller during reshoots. Even though two directors worked on it, Borderlands is bereft of any artistic direction. The film is a watered-down Guardians of the Galaxy wannabe with inert action and comedy. Borderlands feels trapped in 2015, with its smarmy dialogue and punk sensibilities being incredibly dated a decade later.
5
‘The Flash’ (2023)
By the time The Flash was released in theaters in 2023, the term “superhero fatigue” had reached the lexicon. This phenomenon was the only thing that could account for the string of underachieving comic book adaptations dating back to the year prior. In hindsight, we may have been overthinking it all, as sometimes, a movie is just an outright stinker, like Warner Bros’ failed attempt at orchestrating a colossal event for the disjointed DC saga.
Despite WB’s efforts to sell The Flash as the cinematic event of the year, its $271 million worldwide gross fell short of its hefty $200 million price tag. The last thing audiences wanted amid our collective superhero fatigue was a bloated film like The Flash, directed by Andy Muschietti and starring Ezra Miller in the titular role, which required casual viewers to be caught up with a handful of previous DC installments. The movie was radioactive from the start due to the behind-the-scenes drama involving Miller’s legal issues and personal scandals. Two particular vices of the superhero genre, third acts riddled with cheap CGI and forced character cameos, reached their nadir in The Flash, leaving theaters in pin-drop silence at the reveal of Nicolas Cage and George Clooney as an alternate Superman and Batman, respectively. This cinematic folly signaled that audiences had evolved, as forcing superhero properties without a fresh take wasn’t enough to create a blockbuster anymore.
4
‘Gigli’ (2003)
They say there’s no such thing as bad publicity, but tell that to the team behind Gigli, and they’d quickly refute that adage. A movie now synonymous with “flop,” Gigli was such a disaster that it put Martin Brest seemingly in permanent director jail and turned Ben Affleck, who subsequently married his co-star, Jennifer Lopez, into a punchline for the tabloids. This is a quintessential “so bad it’s good” movie, yet even irony couldn’t draw people to theaters in 2003.
While we’re prone to reclaim movies once viewed as disappointments, there is no redeeming Gigli, a shapeless
Grossing a lowly $7 million on a $54 million budget, Gigli, a romantic-comedy set in the criminal underworld featuring two marquee movie stars, should’ve been a slam dunk, but people know a bomb when they see one. The film dropped a staggering 82% percent in gross in its second weekend of release, indicating that word of its creative ineptitude spread quickly. While we’re prone to reclaim movies once viewed as disappointments, there is no redeeming Gigli, a shapeless, poorly acted (notably an unforgivable Justin Bartha performance that was already insensitive in 2003), and lethargic film lacking humor and romance. Brest fell asleep behind the director’s chair, as his flair for high-octane action and comedy, seen in Midnight Run, is nowhere to be found. Gigli even fails as a cult “bad” movie like The Room, as there is little joy or energy in the film’s meandering conversations between the two lead stars-turned-couple.
3
‘Battlefield Earth’ (2000)
John Travolta‘s career arc is quite the adventure. After his breakthrough in the 1970s, he soon lost his reverence and viability in the public eye by the early ’90s, only to have Quentin Tarantino revive him with Pulp Fiction. His unexpected comeback restored his A-list credibility, but his self-destructive nature came back to haunt him with the sci-fi disasterpiece, Battlefield Earth, one of the most ridiculed and loathed films in recent history.
General audience curiosity in this strange-looking mess wasn’t enough to make up for costs, as the 2000 film directed by Roger Christian grossed $29 million on a $73 million budget. A movie practically designed to dominate the Golden Raspberries, Battlefield Earth wants us to take this story of alien invasion and enslaved human uprising seriously, but everything about it, from the obnoxiously flashy visual language to the garish makeup and costume design, is a laughingstock. Of course, everyone had their guns out for this film due to Travolta’s ties to Scientology and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, who wrote the film’s source material. The trailers alone made viewers long for Tarantino to give this gifted actor a worthy part. You could do a lot worse than spend a night mocking Battlefield Earth‘s ridiculous script and story logic, but the people were unwilling to pay the price of admission in theaters.
2
‘Madame Web’ (2024)
Not everyone can be the Marvel Cinematic Universe—just ask Sony’s extended Spider-Man universe. They may have the rights to certain Marvel Comics characters, but they don’t have the vision and standard of quality shepherded by Kevin Feige. Following the lackluster whiffs in Venom and Morbius, Sony’s attempts at retaining control of Spider-Man while Tom Holland thrived in the MCU reached their nadir with Madame Web, this generation’s signature bad movie that is still worthy of dissection.
Superhero fatigue or not, Madame Web, which only grossed $100 million on an $80 million budget, was a flop the moment its first trailer dropped, featuring the notorious line “He was in the Amazon with my mom when she was researching spiders right before she died.” Dakota Johnson is captivating in romantic comedies or indie dramas, but as a superhero, she’s completely out of her league. A peak example of “gas-leak cinema,” something is just off throughout all of Madame Web, from the stilted acting and choppy ADR to the lackadaisical pace and frictionless stakes. S.J. Clarkson‘s film is begging Spider-Man to swing in and save the day, as, without the marquee character’s presence, this origin story is completely aimless. Sony pushed their luck with Madame Web, who learned the hard way that audiences in 2024 were not automatically lulled by the Marvel Comics logo.
1
‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ (2024)
Just because a movie performed well, even one billion dollars well, doesn’t mean we demand a sequel. Joker was always designed to be a one-off, stand-alone film starring Joaquin Phoenix and directed by Todd Phillips. Five years after dominating the box office and winning multiple Academy Awards, Warner Bros. egregiously overstayed their welcome with Joker: Folie à Deux, a towering box office bomb and source of sheer audience outrage that will be nearly impossible to top.
Warner Bros’ 2025 triumph was a needed comeback after the calamitous performance of their 2024 Joker sequel, which grossed $207 million on a $190 million budget, a seismic drop-off from its previous installment. On paper, Phillips using his cachet to turn a Joker sequel into a dark musical crossed with a prison and courtroom drama is intriguing, and it’s a brilliant counter to the formulaic nature of comic book movies. However, ideas only get you so far, as Joker: Folie à Deux, also starring a wasted Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, is woefully executed. Every scene is punishingly dour without the sophistication of a weighty drama, and the musical numbers play as distractions rather than artistic statements. For such a major blockbuster, the film is inexplicably condensed in scope, merely serving as a recap of what happened in the 2019 movie. Laboriously paced and insultingly one-note, Folie à Deux let everyone know ahead of time that this would be a folly with its title. After the exhausting discourse and controversy surrounding Joker, people were ready to move on from Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) and his anarchic ways.
- Release Date
-
October 4, 2024
- Runtime
-
138 minutes
- Writers
-
Scott Silver, Todd Phillips, Paul Dini, Jerry Robinson, Bruce Timm, Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- Producers
-
Emma Tillinger Koskoff
Marlo Hampton is one of the most talked-about cast members from “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Most recently, she appeared on the show for its 14th and 15th seasons. Now, years after her exit, she’s slamming former costar Porsha Williams in a fiery new interview. Plus, she gave an update on where she stands with other “RHOA” ladies, such as Kenya Moore.
Marlo Hampton Slams ‘RHOA’ Star Porsha Williams
Hampton appeared on an April 2026 episode of Cam Newton’s “Funky Friday” podcast for an extensive interview. During a section of the conversation, the NFL icon asked the 50-year-old “RHOA” alum where she stood with some of her former costars.
When he mentioned Williams’ name, she said, “I don’t like her. She’s a hater, complicated.” After that, she continued, “But anyway, that’s just complicated because she was very against me coming back two seasons ago.”
Hampton then explained that when Williams was in talks to return to “RHOA” for season 16, “she was “one of the main people against me coming back.” She went on, “And one thing I don’t play with, I would never try to stop someone from getting their check.
The ‘RHOA’ Alum Explained Why Porsha Williams Didn’t Want To Film With Her
Hampton continued this line of discussion, revealing why she thinks Williams didn’t want her on “RHOA” season 16. She said, “I’m the one who will hold her accountable. I’m gonna ask the questions. She likes to run sh-t.”
From there, Newton asked why Bravo would go along with Williams’ demands. She stated, “I don’t know. She sold them a dream that she was coming on with a husband and gonna live this huge lifestyle and be in this expensive home.”
Hampton went on to note that Williams was unable to deliver what she seemingly promised for season 16 of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” noting that she was going through a divorce and couldn’t show her home at the time.
Elsewhere in the interview, Hampton also slammed Moore, calling her a “hater” and “disgusting.” The “RHOA” alum also claimed that Moore “goes too far.” However, she also admitted that many on the cast, including herself, went too far, leading Bravo to make changes to the show.
‘RHOA’ Fans Are Divided
As mentioned, Hampton is one of the most revered former cast members from “RHOA.” However, her appearances in seasons 14 and 14 left many fans of the hit Bravo show with sour tastes in their mouths. Because of this, some are calling her latest comments hypocritical.
One person said on Instagram, “Marlo, this is how we feel about you.” Another fan wrote, “Marlo, you have always been a Porsha hater.”
A different social media user said, “Kenya goes too far? They act like they never did anything to Kenya. Apollo literally lied on her, and the whole world believed it when Pheadra co-signed that lie. Marlo said Kenya didn’t give birth to Brooklyn and called her a test tube baby. Like, let’s be for real. But when Kenya claps back, it’s too far.”
Someone else wrote, “Porsha has not hated on Marlo at all. Marlo on the other hand was always hating on Porsha. Nobody wanted you to come back.”
Marlo Announced Her Exit In 2024
Hampton made her first appearance on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” during the show’s 4th season as a friend of. After that, she was featured on multiple seasons of the show in this capacity. It wasn’t until season 14 that she became a full-time housewife, a role she maintained through the following installment.
However, in February 2024, she announced she would not be returning for the show’s 16th season. Hampton told PEOPLE, “My contract with ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ ended when season 15 wrapped. This break from ‘RHOA’ is a fresh start, allowing me the space to participate in new creative entertainment projects focused on my future, and not reliving my past.”
She concluded, “I look forward to my continued relationship with Bravo and NBC Universal.”
Hampton Recently Sent Her Nephew Off To College
“RHOA” fans know that a significant part of Hampton’s storyline for her last two seasons involved her taking custody of her two nephews. After her time on the show ended, she provided updates on the boys via social media, including the college admission process for the older of the two, Michael.
According to Bravo, she confirmed in April 2025 that he was preparing to go away for college. She said in a social media post, “Michael and William, I love you more than words can say. We’ve grown so much together—through the challenges, the joy, and all the little moments in between. Becoming a family under one roof wasn’t always easy, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
The “RHOA” alum added, “Watching you both grow into incredible young men fills me with so much pride. As we step into this next chapter with Michael heading to college, I’m ready for all that’s to come—together, always.”
He is now a student at Hampton University.
Coachella Day 1 already brought the heat, but one look in particular has everyone doing a double-take, and all eyes are on Kristy Sarah as she stepped into the desert serving straight-up ethereal baddie energy. And let’s just say… the timeline is NOT being quiet about it, because this look has folks stopping the scroll in real time.
RELATED: Desmond Scott Breaks Silence As Fans Show Support For Kristy Sarah After Infidelity Divorce (UPDATE)
Kristy Sarah Turns Heads At Coachella
On Saturday, Kristy Sarah took to social media to show off her Coachella Day 1 fit, and let’s just say she understood the assignment and then some. In a series of Instagram posts, she shared photos and videos of herself posted up in the desert surrounded by dirt, cactus, and friends while rocking an off-white cream ensemble featuring a corset-style top with a lace neck detail paired with matching satin or silk shorts. She topped it off with a textured cream cowboy hat, gold wrist jewelry, and cow-print knee-high cowboy boots, while her glam was fully beat with gem accents around her eyes giving full ethereal festival vibes.
The Comments Said “We’re Staying Right Here”
Fans wasted no time running to Kristy Sarah’s Instagram comment section—and they filled it UP real quick. Some were jokingly asking how anyone could ever fumble her, while others were fully hyping her Coachella Day 1 look and calling her fit a whole moment. And of course, plenty of ladies were just happy to see her glowing, happy, and fully in her element out in the desert.
One Instagram user @alexismvondeak said, “😍😍🔥🔥🔥❤️❤️❤️❤️happiness looks beautiful on you Kristy🫶🏼”
This Instagram user @glopunzo commented, “Can we see the back too😍😍😍👀👀”
And, Instagram user @theanithamaputsi shared, “she ate , she the main birthday meal.😍🔥”
Meanwhile, Instagram user @yobhrissy wrote, “You BETTTERRRRR“
While Instagram user @_clevelands_finest said, “Imagine fumbling this woman and she gets finer day after day😍😍😍😍😍”
Finally, Instagram user @datopbreagain2 added, “Kristyyyy, you’re so mfing fine.🥶😍”
Mama Puts Growth In Motion After Speaking Out
Y’all! It seems like Kristy Sarah is truly walking in everything she said she would. After previously opening up about feeling like she was building her social life “from scratch” and struggling with stepping back out into social settings, Kristy is now showing herself actively pushing through that discomfort and making more intentional appearances. She had explained that motherhood and life routines had pulled her into a different phase, and transitioning back into prioritizing herself hasn’t been easy—but she’s been committed to changing that.
In her earlier message to fans, Kristy admitted that even just leaving the house can trigger anxiety, not because of getting ready, but because of actually stepping out the door. However, she shared that forcing herself to show up has been paying off, and she’s now focused on saying yes more, leaning into hobbies, and prioritizing experiences for herself. She also noted that post-pandemic habits contributed to her social anxiety, but she’s actively working through it by attending more meaningful events—and now fans are watching as she puts that growth into action in real time.
RELATED: Oop! Did Desmond & Kristy Scott React To Marissa Springer’s Claims About A Shopping Spree And Dana Tran?
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
Dax Shepard reflects on befriending Eric Dane after almost fighting each other at an AA meeting: 'I hated him'
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“I ended up loving him so much,” Shepard said of the late actor, who died at 53 in February following a battle with ALS.
Roomies, Bow Wow’s son, Stone Moss, got the surprise of his life when he realized his dad was one of the performers at the ‘Boys 4 Life’ tour. Bow’s mom, Teresa Caldwell, shared a video of Stone’s reaction on social media, and the cuteness is next level!
RELATED: It’s Poppin’! Lil Mama Crashes Bow Wow’s Brooklyn Show As They Hilariously Address Look-Alike Rumors (VIDEO)
Bow Wow’s Son Goes Viral For His Sweet Reaction To ‘Boys 4 Life’ Tour
Recently, Bow Wow’s mom, Teresa Caldwell, shared footage from the ‘Boys 4 Life’ tour on Instagram. The quick clip shows Bow Wow’s son Stone, whom he shares with model Olivia Sky, sitting near the stage, trying to get a peek at what’s about to go down. Stone was chilling with his grandma in a black Champion T-shirt, looking confused as he tried to connect the dots and figure out how his dad ended up onstage. As soon as Bow Wow’s mom dropped the video, fans flooded the comments with reactions, calling him Lil’ Bow Wow for real.
Peep the video here.
The Internet Can’t Stop Talking About Stone’s Adorable Reaction
Folks online kept flooding Teresa’s comment section with reactions to the video of Stone. Some admitted they didn’t even know the rapper had a son, while others couldn’t believe how fast he’s grown up.
Instagram user @allandra_leann wrote, “He looking like i know that’s not my dad up there ❤️”
Instagram user @iamshaunie wrote, “He’s adorable 😍😍😍😍”
While Instagram user @afrovocative wrote, “When bow wow said how old his son is, I literally gasped because I still thought he was only like 2 years old. 😮”
Then, Instagram user @her_libra_t wrote, “wow Daddy’s twin ❤️❤️”
Another Instagram user @yellowgoldgoddess wrote, “Awww….🐾 Little-Lil Bow wow 🐾 😂 they look exactly alike.”
Instagram user @breewill_iam wrote, “He said wait a minute 🤣🤣🤣🤣”
While another Instagram user @_mutti wrote, “I had no idea Bow wow had a son, so handsome!”
Then another Instagram user @msdeefnp wrote, “I feel like I hear his little mind saying ‘wait what?’”
Finally, Instagram user @tricey630 wrote, “His handsome self have no idea how his daddy is that man 🥰”
Twin Energy Runs In Bow Wow’s Family
At this point, Bow Wow and his kids are triplets. While some fans are just getting introduced to his son Stone, plenty already know his daughter Shai Moss, whom he shares with Joie Chavis. Bow and Shai stay taking over social media with their viral daddy-daughter moments. Most recently, they had TikTok on lock when they hopped on a viral dance challenge that had fans living for the rapper in daddy mode. See the video below.
@.shaimossHes acting like he dont got rhythm smh😭🙄♬ Dumb wit it (get in dea) – Geaux Teezy
RELATED: That’s Twin! Bow Wow & Shai Moss Went Copy-Paste On A Viral TikTok Dance & The TL Is Here For IT (WATCH)
What Do You Think Roomies?
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He also appeared in his nephew Jonathan Nolan’s CBS series “Person of Interest.”
Entertainment
Harrison Ford opens up about dealing with depression: 'I was socially ill, psychologically not well'
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The iconic star recently explained how discovering acting during college helped him overcome his struggles.
One Instagram user @chachipaulino wrote, “primary custody during the school year ? Ok basically SHE WON 🥳”
This Instagram user @the.jee.spot claimed, “I can’t wait until the reunion now, cuz K is gonna drag this 😂😂😂”
And, Instagram user @tevin92bk added, “When the man get CUSTODY you know you MESSED UP 😫😮”
Meanwhile, Instagram user @_goodie2shoez shared, “Baby she about to have the best year of her life!! Normalize these men being full time parents!“
While Instagram user @d0pesince commented, “What kind of attorney did she hire!?“
Lastly, Instagram user @__destinialexis said, “Damn praying for her!!!“
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Manon Bannerman announced her hiatus from the K-pop group in February.
By TeeJay Small
| Published
Netflix subscribers have been subject to numerous price hikes in recent years, as the streaming giant continues squeezing every possible droplet of profitability out of their audience. If you feel that these price hikes are so outrageous that they should be outlawed, you’re not alone. Apparently, the government of Italy is taking action against Netflix, with Variety reporting that Italian customers may be entitled to millions in refunds. While this bears little immediate relevance to U.S. audiences, the ongoing legal case could set an important precedent for streaming practices in the future.
Per Variety, a Rome court has sided with a consumer advocacy group against Netflix. The filing argues that exponential price hikes, which took place from 2017 through 2024, are in direct violation of Italy’s national consumer code. Specifically, the Movimento Consumatori claims that corporations cannot unilaterally raise their rates on subscription-based services without offering advanced notice and a valid reason for the change. Since Netflix has made no major sweeping changes to its service and offered no such notice, they are alleged to be in violation of Italy’s consumer protection laws.
Netflix Fights Back
Reps from Netflix have already announced an intention to appeal this ruling, though it’s unclear what grounds they have to argue. The streamer has 90 days from the initial April 1 ruling to make their case, or they’ll be subject to daily $800 penalties. Meanwhile, lawyers Paolo Fiorio and Riccardo Pinna have demanded Netflix offer refunds of hundreds of dollars to individual subscribers.
Specifically, the legal team articulated “A Premium subscriber who has paid for Netflix continuously from 2017 to the present day is entitled to a refund of about €500 ($577), while a standard subscriber is due a refund of about €250 ($288).” Netflix boasted a subscriber base of over 8 million monthly users in Italy back in 2024, so these payouts could range into the hundreds of millions if they come to fruition.
Will Netflix Actually Have To Pay Up?
For now, it’s hard to say with any certainty that Netflix will pay up, or that this legal case will have sweeping ramifications for the streaming industry. Individual cases have been brought against streamers in European nations such as Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands, though they have yet to cause any major ripple effect. But, if Netflix does seek to continue raising its rates, it bears asking, what exactly are we paying extra for?
To paraphrase one proud Italian-American from the small screen, Netflix subscribers may soon be informing the streamer, “You’ve got 90 days to give me my money.” If Netflix wants to respond with a Tony Soprano quote of their own, I’d suggest “with all due respect, you got no f-ing idea what it’s like to be number one.”
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“The Hills” cast, then and now: See the stars nearly 20 years after the hit reality show's debut
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