14 Years Later, Disney’s Biggest Sci-Fi Gamble Is Officially a Cult Classic

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In 2012, Andrew Stanton, the acclaimed director behind animated hits like Finding Nemo and WALL-E, tried his hand at live-action filmmaking with John Carter. The movie was based on A Princess of Mars, a classic science fiction novel, but it received generally mixed reviews and didn’t perform well in theaters, resulting in a nearly $200 million loss for Disney.

Though originally a major disappointment for Disney, Stanton’s sci-fi film is gaining popularity now. With news of a new animated version of the main character, people are revisiting the 2012 movie and starting to appreciate how closely it follows the original story, leading to a dedicated and growing fanbase.

John Carter is a Sprawling Sci-Fi Adventure Affected By its Marketing and Budget

The story centers on an Army Captain (played by Taylor Kitsch) from the Civil War era who finds himself mysteriously transported to Mars—known as Barsoom by its people. On this new world, he discovers reduced gravity and uses his military skills to aid in the conflict between the cities of Helium and Zodanga.

Despite boasting stunning visuals, a compelling storyline, and a talented cast featuring Willem Dafoe and Dominic West, John Carter ultimately failed to achieve success.

Let’s talk about John Carter. Financially, it was a huge misfire. While it made $284 million at the box office, it cost a whopping $263 million to make, and when you factor in marketing and everything else, the total budget climbed over $300 million. Sadly, the money didn’t translate to good word-of-mouth. As a critic, I can tell you it didn’t resonate with most of us – it landed with a pretty dismal 52% score on Rotten Tomatoes, 51% on Metacritic, and a 6.6/10 on IMDb. It’s a cautionary tale, really.

Considering its $300 million budget, it’s worth noting that Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End cost the same amount five years earlier and was then the priciest movie ever made. However, Pirates had the advantage of being part of an already popular and successful series.

This uncertainty showed up in the studio’s struggle to decide on a title for the film. It was originally going to be called John Carter of Mars, but executives and director Andrew Stanton feared the “of Mars” part would narrow its appeal, particularly after a similar film underperformed the previous year.

Okay, so here’s the thing – they actually hurt the movie by shortening the title. “John Carter” just doesn’t ring any bells for most people, so a movie with that as the title doesn’t exactly scream ‘must-see!’ And honestly, the marketing made it even worse. Director Andrew Stanton made a strange choice to not show the film’s fantastical elements in the trailers. It felt like they were deliberately hiding the cool stuff that might have gotten people excited and convinced them to buy a ticket. It was a real head-scratcher!

The film’s marketing suffered because the team was headed by someone unfamiliar with the movie industry, resulting in a poorly focused campaign. A Disney executive later told Vulture it was “one of the worst movie marketing campaigns ever,” and felt like the team actively discouraged audiences from getting interested.

The movie John Carter had all the right ingredients for success. However, its rising production costs – which meant it needed to earn a lot just to cover those costs – combined with a poorly executed marketing campaign ultimately led to its failure.

Critics faulted John Carter for not providing enough background information, which made it hard for people unfamiliar with the original story to connect with the film. Its slow speed, likely caused by budget-related editing, also drew criticism. However, the film arguably didn’t deserve complaints about how it fit into the science fiction genre or comparisons to other space adventures.

John Carter Was Wrongfully Compared to Other Sci-Fi Epics

If you enjoy science fiction, you’ll likely recognize the story of John Carter. It’s important to note that Edgar Rice Burroughs’ original books were a major inspiration for many sci-fi adventures that followed.

A lot of the criticism surrounding the movie John Carter came from people who hadn’t read Edgar Rice Burroughs’ original books. These viewers were expecting a space adventure similar to Star Wars, and they evaluated the film based on that expectation. However, the relationship is actually reversed: Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars stories were a major inspiration for Star Wars, introducing many of the ideas that the later film would become famous for.

Planets like Tatooine, from Star Wars, have a lot in common with Barsoom, the setting of the John Carter stories on Mars. Characters like Princess Leia echo Dejah Thoris, creatures like the Banthas were inspired by the Banths, and the idea of the Jedi even comes from concepts like the Jeddak and Jedi-bendu found in Burroughs’ books. George Lucas himself has often said that the John Carter series, which he enjoyed as a fan, greatly influenced his work.

Despite some issues, like distracting flashbacks, John Carter generally works as an adaptation of the source material, as both fans and critics have indicated. Director Andrew Stanton clearly put a lot of effort into bringing Burroughs’ world to life.

The film stays true to the original story while delivering a fun, action-packed adventure, much like the books by Burroughs. Though the characters aren’t always complex, they work well, and the movie’s visuals are particularly strong, especially considering it’s Stanton’s first time directing a live-action film.

John Carter’s Reputation Has Improved Over Time

Even after 14 years, John Carter’s ratings haven’t changed much, remaining at a 60% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film still has a dedicated following, particularly among fans of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ original stories.

Many critics who disliked the movie when it first came out have since changed their minds. On its 10th anniversary, Richard Newby of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that John Carter was the best possible adaptation of A Princess of Mars, and likely the best we’ll ever see. He even complimented the film for developing the characters from the original novel more fully.

Drew Taylor from The Wrap offered a similar take, noting that while “John Carter” has its problems, it’s also surprisingly enjoyable. Later, Sandy Schaefer of SlashFilm pointed out the film wasn’t perfect, but successfully blended the feel of a classic Western with the visual style of a retro science fiction adventure.

Viewers have also been quick to support the film. Online discussions, social media posts, and fan sites are full of positive comments about the movie’s visuals, performances, and how true it stayed to the source material. Many now believe the film’s initial poor reception wasn’t due to its quality, but rather to issues with how it was marketed and its limited budget.

While John Carter isn’t flawless, it deserves another look and has rightfully gained a dedicated fanbase. It represents a time when studios were more willing to take risks and create grand, energetic adventures, rather than simply trying to please everyone.

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2026-01-18 02:19