Launching a cinematic universe based around a toy franchise seems relatively normal in today’s film industry.Mattel is starting a new universebased on the success ofBarbie, and we’ve even seen studios launch cinematic universes based around Spider-Man’s villains or classic Universal monsters. But in 2012, Universal’s plan for aHasbro-based cinematic universewas ahead of its time.
Though it shares its name with the infamous board game,Battleshipdoesn’t involve strategy. The filmbarely resembles its namesake, unless there’s another version ofBattleshipwhereRihannafights against alien invaders. Universal’s latest pipe dream arrived in the wake ofMichael Bay’s original Transformerstrilogy, and it shows.Battleshipfeels like it could exist in the same universe as Optimus Prime, and certain moments had me convinced the naval ships were about to transform into Decepticons. Nevertheless,Battleshipwas a certified failure,with a massive budget and poor returns, which killed the franchise before it ever had a chance to set sail.
The $30 Million Sinkhole ‘Battleship’ That Killed a Franchise Before It Even Started
Before shooting a single usable frame,Battleshipalready racked up $30 million, which is never a promising start to a new franchise. In an age beforestudios relied on the cheapest possible VFXto create the surreal,Universal spent a considerable sum of money on quality CGI and practical effects.By negotiating military contracts,Battleshipcould use real US naval vessels and shoot at maritime bases. Most seafaring sequences were shot on location off the coasts of Hawaii, Louisiana, and California.Combined with extensive action scenes,countless practical explosions, and a star-studded cast, the budget quicklyinflated to a staggering $30 millionbefore they’d shot a single usable frame of footage.
Universal understandably wanted to sinkBattleshipbefore it began production, but CEOAdam Fogelsonwanted todouble down on their investment. They resolved to increase the film’s budget from $150 to $200 million and produce a global box-office hit for a return on their investment. WithPeter Bergon boardand the success of theTransformersfranchise,Battleshipbeing a success wasn’t out of the question. Berg’s later films demonstrate his potential in military-based movies, such asLone Survivor,Patriots Day,andDeepwater Horizon. With big names likeLiam Neesonand Rihanna also attached,Battleshiphad all the makings of a summer hit, even if the plot lacked in some areas.
Nevertheless, the film became a glowing example ofwhy it’s better to cut your losses and move on to the next investment.Battleship’s final budget is estimated to be around $220 million, excluding marketing costs. The film made back $300 million by the end of its theatrical run,whichwouldn’t be enoughfor the film to break even, which swiftly ended Universal’s vision for a Hasbro cinematic universe.
$220 Million Budget and Lackluster Storytelling Doomed Universal’s Hasbro Cinematic Universe
Though he was featured heavily in the marketing, Liam Neeson’s Admiral Shane hadminimal screentimein the movie.Taylor Kitschled the film, having convinced Hollywood he was the next big star. Kitsch is a talented actor who ran into an unfortunate string of movies and was hot on the heels ofDisney’s catastrophic misfire,JohnCarter, before joiningBattleship. Given the film’s immense budget, Universal likely couldn’t afford Neeson for the whole runtime and opted to bring in some lesser-known actors at the time. Peter Berg later admitted toThe New York Times, “I thought I could pull off Battleship without a big star.” However,lacking a star is far from Battleship’s problem.
Liam Neeson’s 34% Rotten Tomatoes Sci-Fi Thriller Lands in Top 10 Days Before It Leaves Streaming
The sci-fi action movie holds a 34% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The combination of a board game and an alien invasion left the film’sstory tonally confused,resulting in a plot that was a complete mess. Any attempt to resonate with a military audience was squandered by making aliens the villain. Why the film couldn’t have used an opposing nation’s army as an antagonist still baffles viewers to this day. More importantly,Battleshiplacks the presence of a main villain, instead presenting anameless alien armywith generic leaders without backstory or personality. High-quality spectacle can salvage an action film, even if the character and story fall flat, as seen inTransformers. However,Battleship’slow-stakes action, faceless alien army, and shallow character developmentmake the film a slog for most audiences.The movieincorporates references to the board game, such as a convoluted sequence involving guessing enemy ship coordinates, which feels completely unnecessary in a story that’s already diverged from the game in its opening premise.
‘Battleship’s Overlooked Subplot Conveys a Heartwarming Message for Military Veterans
Despite its pitfalls and financial failure, the film has its redeeming qualities.Battleshipbelongs on a list with films likeNope,Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, andLicorice Pizza, where many of the subplots are more intriguing than the main story. Most people overlookBattleship’ssurprisingly emotional storyaround retired veteranLt. Col. Greg Gadson. Gadson portrays a fictionalized version of himself in the film. Gadson is an amputee who lost both his legs during an IED attack while on tour in Iraq. In the film, Samantha, who plays Neeson’s daughter, is a physical therapist who must work with Gadson to destroy a communications relay. Gadson’s character undergoes a hard-hitting journey to come to terms with his injuries andunderstand how he can still be an effective soldierdespite his setbacks. If you can overlookBattleship’sridiculous alien invasion premise, the filmcarries an important messagethat hits home for a significant portion of its target audience.
The film also boasts impressive visuals,filming onboard staggering US Navy vesselslike the USS Missouri and USS Sampson and even Japanese destroyers like the JS Myōkō.Battleshipuses authentic ship interiors and exteriors andcaptures the immense scaleof military vessels. Blended with some impressive CGI from ILM,Battleshippulls off spectacle better than most modern action films. In today’s industry, Berg’s commitment to filming practical set pieces is admirable. The film also features many actors yet to become movie stars. Aside from Kitsch and Rihanna,Alexander SkarsgårdandJesse Plemonsfill out the cast, putting in respectable performanceslong before becoming household names.
WhileBattleshipis a certified flop, it’s still enjoyable. Berg’s experience shooting onboard Navy vessels and capturing large-scale oceanic spectacles undoubtedlyaided him in shootingDeepwater Horizon, allowing fans of Berg’s later work to find similarities. Even if you’re a fan of Liam Neeson and disappointed to see him vanish early on inBattleship, it might beworth soldiering on to find the diamonds in the rough.
Battleship
