Failed ‘Power Rangers’ Reboot Would Have Included Four Movies

It’s a shame the 2017 Power Rangers movie didn’t do better, because it could have launched a whole series of films. Unfortunately, it didn’t earn enough money at the box office to make that happen.

Dacre Montgomery, known for playing the Red Ranger in the Power Rangers movie, recently shared that he and his co-stars – Naomi Scott, Becky G, Ludi Lin, and RJ Cyler – had all agreed to star in at least four Power Rangers films.

My first job was a truly defining experience. After ten years of trying to become an actor and facing rejection, landing that film – a four-movie deal with Lionsgate – was incredible. It was structured similarly to the way Lionsgate launched the Hunger Games franchise,” Montgomery explained to MovieWeb.

Sadly, those plans fell apart quickly – much like one of Rita Repulsa’s typical monster attacks – when the movie didn’t do well in theaters.

We had big plans for the franchise, envisioning a lot of creative growth. But ultimately, it came down to finances. The studio didn’t earn enough money back on its investment to justify continuing with the project, as Montgomery explained.

Despite the 2017 Power Rangers movie not being a huge success, the Stranger Things star isn’t upset about it. He’s actually looking forward to seeing where the Power Rangers franchise goes next, as reports suggest it’s getting a live-action reboot on Disney+.

I’ve heard they’re starting over with the show again, and it sounds like Saban may have sold the rights. I’m really optimistic about what’s next. Power Rangers is special to so many people, and I’m confident whoever takes it on will do a fantastic job. I really enjoyed my time with it,” he said.

The movie Power Rangers, which came out in theaters on March 24, 2017, received mixed reviews. While it earned $142 million at the box office, it cost around $105 million to make, and after factoring in marketing and other costs, the studio is estimated to have lost $74 million.

Guilty Pleasure Movies From the ’90s

Guilty as Sin (1993)

Okay, let me tell you about Guilty as Sin. It’s a fascinating pairing – Sidney Lumet, the director known for serious, realistic films, teamed up with Larry Cohen, a king of low-budget thrills. And somehow, it works. The premise is clever: it’s like a flipped Basic Instinct, with a lawyer falling for the charming suspect in a murder case. Lumet mostly lets his actors run with it, and the result is basically a showcase for Don Johnson. He’s absolutely magnetic as a truly awful, yet incredibly charismatic, man – you’ll want to punch him, honestly. There’s a scene in a bar that perfectly captures it: a woman offers to buy him a drink, and he basically demands she pay for the one he’s already finished and then walks away! The ’90s were full of these erotic thrillers, and most deserved the criticism they got. But Guilty as Sin? It’s a surprisingly fun, and deliciously sleazy, little gem.

Escape From L.A. (1996)

With an average Letterboxd rating of 2.9, Escape From L.A. was initially considered a significant decline from John Carpenter and Kurt Russell’s earlier hit, Escape From New York. While that criticism is fair, Escape From L.A. has a unique energy. It’s less of a gritty action movie and more of a playful sci-fi parody. You can almost imagine Carpenter enjoying the film’s silliness, especially during its most over-the-top moments (like Snake Plissken surfing!). If you approach it as a self-aware comedy, even its flaws – including some notoriously bad CGI – become part of the fun.

Johnny Mnemonic (1995)

The movie Johnny Mnemonic has an average rating of 2.8 on Letterboxd. When it was released, Roger Ebert famously called it “idiotically grand” – and that’s a perfect description of why it’s so enjoyable despite its flaws. While the film’s prediction of the internet in 2021 isn’t quite right, its depiction of a world controlled by powerful, uncaring corporations feels surprisingly relevant today. The movie is filled with people wearing surgical masks, and a few characters warn about the dangers of technology. Sure, some of the gadgets – like Johnny’s virtual reality headset and gloves – look silly now. But that’s part of the fun! Dated and cheesy futuristic tech only adds to the guilty pleasure of watching a movie like this.

Disclosure (1994)

With an average Letterboxd rating of 2.8, Disclosure is already a bit of a guilty pleasure due to its premise – Michael Douglas as the victim of sexual harassment. However, the film truly stands out for its over-the-top climax. It takes place in a virtual reality world so wild, it makes Johnny Mnemonic seem realistic. It’s a prime example of 90s camp and a must-watch for that reason.

Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995)

With an average Letterboxd rating of 2.8, Mel Brooks’ final film, Dracula: Dead and Loving It, often gets overlooked. While it’s true the movie isn’t as beloved as his classics like The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, and Spaceballs, that doesn’t mean it’s a failure. The film notably pairs Brooks with comedy legend Leslie Nielsen and contains some genuinely hilarious moments, like a scene where Steven Weber tries to stake a sleeping vampire and gets drenched in a huge burst of fake blood, all while Brooks’ Dr. Van Helsing cheerily offers encouragement from a safe distance. (“She’s almost dead!” he exclaims.)

Trial and Error (1997)

With an average Letterboxd rating of 2.7, this movie stands out as a surprisingly enjoyable film from a period where many sitcom stars struggled to succeed in movies. It’s a funny, quirky take on the ‘fish out of water’ story, similar to Kindergarten Cop, featuring Michael Richards of Seinfeld pretending to be a lawyer when his friend (Jeff Daniels) is unable to attend court due to a wild bachelor party. It’s a clever, high-concept comedy that’s rare today, and it also features an early film role for Charlize Theron.

Alien Resurrection (1997)

With an average Letterboxd rating of 2.6, this Alien film is often considered a mess, but that’s almost expected when Xenomorphs are involved! Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet brought a playful, quirky sense of humor to the usually dark Alien series. It’s the only film in the franchise where you’ll see a scientist jokingly ‘kiss’ a Xenomorph through glass. This version of Ripley is quite different—a clone who’s both human and alien, even sporting black and green nails—but Sigourney Weaver’s performance as this unusual character is arguably her strongest in the entire series. The story of mercenaries fighting for survival at an overrun outpost isn’t particularly compelling, but Jeunet’s unique vision and Weaver’s performance elevate the film above its often-criticized reputation.

The Phantom (1996)

With an average Letterboxd rating of 2.6, The Phantom is best described as a fun, if not particularly good, movie. Based on the classic comic strip, it’s a delightfully cheesy superhero adventure starring Billy Zane as the titular hero. While it’s not a masterpiece, Zane is charming, Treat Williams is wonderfully over-the-top as the villain, and a young Catherine Zeta-Jones makes an appearance. The film also features the Phantom’s animal companions – a horse and a wolf – who even seem to have a conversation with each other at one point. It’s a silly, enjoyable ride.

Congo (1995)

With an average Letterboxd rating of 2.6, Congo is a fun, if somewhat cheesy, attempt to capitalize on the success of Jurassic Park. Like that film, it’s based on a Michael Crichton novel, but this time features highly intelligent apes instead of dinosaurs. The script, by John Patrick Shanley, doesn’t take itself too seriously, creating a thriller that’s intentionally over-the-top (including a memorable hippo attack!) and surprisingly moving at times. (Tim Curry’s scene at the Lost City of Zinj is a perfect example!) Congo is definitely low-budget entertainment, but it embraces that wholeheartedly and delivers exactly what it sets out to be.

Junior (1994)

With an average Letterboxd rating of 2.4, Junior aimed to recapture the magic of the hit comedy Twins, again directed by Ivan Reitman and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. However, it doesn’t quite land the laughs and, in that respect, can be seen as a disappointment. Still, Junior is a uniquely odd film, making it hard to dismiss entirely. The plot centers around Schwarzenegger playing a fertility doctor who artificially inseminates himself to test a new drug—and that’s just the beginning of its strangeness. It’s a fascinating film for anyone interested in the gender dynamics explored in 1990s romantic comedies and deserves a closer look.

Super Mario Bros. (1993)

The recent animated Super Mario Bros. Movie successfully brought the popular Nintendo games to life, something the 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros. definitely didn’t do. However, that’s part of what makes the older film so enjoyably strange. It’s not a good movie, but its sheer oddness gives it a unique charm. The heroes, played by Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo, get pulled into a bizarre alternate world called “Dinohattan,” where Dennis Hopper, sporting bleached blonde, dinosaur-like hair, reigns supreme. A big franchise like Super Mario Bros. wouldn’t be allowed to get this weird today, and maybe that’s why I keep revisiting it, flaws and all.

Batman & Robin (1997)

With an average Letterboxd score of 1.9, Batman & Robin is widely considered a bad movie. However, despite its flaws, the author finds a strange enjoyment in it. There’s something oddly satisfying about seeing so much money and effort wasted on a film that’s so intentionally silly. George Clooney plays Batman, smirking through fights with Uma Thurman’s Poison Ivy and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Mr. Freeze, who constantly makes ice-related puns. While a franchise full of movies like Batman & Robin would quickly become tiresome, after two decades of very serious Batman films, the author has come to appreciate its campy charm. They even admit to enjoying it – they and the movie are, dare they say, ‘cool’ with each other.

2026-04-11 00:58