The Real Reason These 2000s Disney Movies Flopped

The world is in peril, and the only man that can save it is dead. Thankfully, he has a wacky twin (Chris Rock), who is recruited by a crusty CIA agent (Anthony Hopkins) to save the planet. The basic plotline of "Bad Company" is your average mismatched action-comedy duo in the vein of "48 Hrs." or "Tango and Cash." Many of these films had turned into big box office hits in the past, and it wasn't far-fetched that "Bad Company" could follow in their footsteps financially. It didn't hurt that Hopkins was fresh off headlining the massive box office hit "Hannibal," which grossed over $165 million domestically alone.

However, while audiences love seeing Hopkins as a sneaky cannibal speaking in eloquent riddles, it seems that they're less prone to show up when he's firing off a gun and quippy one-liners. For his part, Rock, at this juncture, didn't have a lot of experience being the leading man of massive box office hits. As a result, "Bad Company" unsurprisingly cratered at the box office, earning only $69.1 million worldwide on a $70 million budget. 

Its theatrical run wasn't helped by how its plot, involving a potential terrorist attack, conjured up such strong reminders of 9/11 that it was delayed from its initial December 2001 release date (via Den of Geek). Even with a few extra months of breathing room, people still want escapism in their action films, not reminders of horrific tragedies, and moviegoers stayed away from "Bad Company."