Jack The Giant Slayer |work| 90%

Financially, the film was deemed a "box office bomb." Costing nearly $200 million to produce (plus marketing), it only grossed $197 million worldwide. This failure was largely attributed to poor marketing—the trailers looked silly, and the release date (March 1st) was too close to other blockbusters.

Director Bryan Singer—hot off X-Men: First Class —wanted something old-fashioned: a pre-CGI epic built on practical sets, animatronic giants, and old-school swashbuckling. He hired Oscar-winning cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel to shoot real castles, real mud, and real rain. The giants? Massive puppets and stunt performers in foam latex suits, digitally enhanced only when necessary. Jack the Giant Slayer

Estimated $185–$200M budget, with a $197.7M worldwide gross. Financially, the film was deemed a "box office bomb

While it may never get the sequel the directors hinted at (a potential Jack the Giant Slayer 2 was scrapped after the box office), the film has found a devoted audience. For parents looking for a fantasy film that isn’t too scary for tweens, or for adults who miss the swashbuckling adventures of the 80s and 90s, is a beanstalk worth climbing. Estimated $185–$200M budget, with a $197

The screenplay (credited to five writers, including The Usual Suspects ’ Christopher McQuarrie) smuggles in a weird theme: feudal systems are useless against monsters. The king (Ian McShane, always excellent) gives noble speeches. His knights wear shiny armor. They die first.