$200 Million Robert Downey Jr. Fantasy Blockbuster Flops at Box Office, Now on Netflix!

In 2019, after a decade of dedicated service, Robert Downey Jr. bid farewell to Marvel and his iconic role as Iron Man. Simultaneously, the American actor prepared for his future by taking on a role that seemed tailor-made for him.

In 2020, he starred in “Dolittle,” a family-friendly fantasy that adapts the children’s novels by Hugh Lofting. This character is familiar, having been portrayed twice before. While Rex Harrison first played this quirky doctor in the 1967 musical, many remember Eddie Murphy’s portrayal more vividly.

What is this movie about?

After losing his wife seven years earlier, the eccentric Dr. John Dolittle, a renowned doctor and veterinarian in Queen Victoria’s England, secludes himself behind the walls of his manor, surrounded only by his exotic animal friends.

But when the young Queen (Jessie Buckley) falls seriously ill, Dr. Dolittle, initially reluctant, is forced to set sail for a mythical island on an epic adventure to find a cure for her illness. Along the way, he encounters old adversaries and discovers strange creatures, a journey that helps him regain his brilliant mind and courage.

During his quest, the doctor is joined by a young apprentice and a lively group of animal friends, including an anxious gorilla, a stubborn but enthusiastic duck, a bickering pair consisting of a cynical ostrich and a cheerful polar bear, and finally a stubborn parrot who serves as Dolittle’s most trusted adviser and confidant.

A Turbulent Production

When “Dolittle” was released in February 2020, the film had a tumultuous journey. Despite all its efforts, director Stephen Gaghan (known for “Traffic”) failed to impress Universal during test screenings. The studio then called on a new director and screenwriter – Jonathan Liebesman (known for “Ninja Turtles”) and Chris McKay – to write and shoot additional scenes in an attempt to “save the movie”.

In France, over 1.2 million viewers rushed to theaters to see this new version of Dolittle. While this figure is respectable, globally the movie struggled. With a budget estimated at $200 million according to the American media outlet Forbes, the film was a major flop, resulting in a loss of $50 to $100 million for the studios. Post-Avengers life has been more than challenging for Robert Downey Jr, even though he walked away with a handsome paycheck.

According to Variety, Downey leveraged his then-current popularity to negotiate a $20 million salary. The inclusion of other big stars like Tom Holland, Emma Thompson, and Ralph Fiennes, who voiced the animals, also likely had a significant impact on the budget.

Despite relatively high-quality special effects and some entertainment value praised by certain viewers on the AlloCiné page, “Dolittle” failed to win over the majority, as evidenced by its 2.9 out of 5 rating. Its nomination for a Razzie Award that year, which honors the worst in film, certainly didn’t help.

Available to watch on Netflix.