Five Epic Hollywood Flops With Higher 'Approval Ratings' Than Donald Trump

We now have an increasingly authoritarian former reality television star for a president who seems intent on playing the Oval Office for "ratings," as evidenced by his insistence on turning his Supreme Court nominee announcement into a primetime event, and inability to let the inauguration crowds thing go.

As of Monday, President Trump's approval rating had sunk to 43%, following a weekend of widespread chaos spurred by his immigration ban.

Since the president seems to care so much about what the crowd thinks, we thought it would be fun to cross-reference his current approval rating with the Rotten Tomatoes audience scores of some famous Hollywood flops.

"John Carter" (2012)

Despite starring very sexy Friday Night Lights-alum Taylor Kitsch, Disney's 2012 epic is considered to be one of the biggest flops in film history. Forbes reports that it cost the studio $200 million in losses. Even The Economist weighed in on whether it was "the biggest flop ever."

"John Carter" Audience Approval Rating: 60%
Donald Trump Approval Rating: 43%

"Heaven's Gate" (1980)

(Rotten Tomatoes)

"If anything, Michael Cimino’s inert disaster of a Western has gotten worse over the years," Time Out wrote of Heaven's Gate in 2015. The 1980 film, widely considered to be a financial and artistic failure, cost a then-whopping sum of money to make and "nearly sunk the studio that made and released it, United Artists, when the $44-million production earned less than $3 million in U.S. ticket sales," according to the L.A. Times."Heaven's Gate" Audience Score:: 54%
Donald Trump Approval Rating: 43%

"The Alamo" (2004)

(Touchstone / Everett Collection)
Unlike the 1836 battle during the Texas Revolution, very few people remember The Alamo of 2004. Time cites the Dennis Quaid/Billy Bob Thornton epic war drama as one the most massive flops of all time. According to AMC, the movie cost more than $145 million to release and grossed a mere $25 million. Ouch.

"The Alamo" Audience Score: 45%
Donald Trump Approval Rating: 43%

"Evan Almighty" (2007)

Evan Almighty, the completely unnecessary sort-of sequel to 2003's Bruce Almighty centered around a modern-day retelling of Noah's Ark, was what the Baltimore Sun dubbed "a colossal dud." It was, according to the L.A. Times, slated to be Universal's big, summer tentpole film of 2007; instead, it sort of tanked. Interestingly, it still has a higher approval rating than Donald Trump.

"Evan Almighty" Audience Score: 52%
Donald Trump Approval Rating: 43%

"Waterworld" (1995)

At the time of its release in July 1995, Waterworld was the most expensive movie ever made. It is also, according to CinemaBlend, "widely regarded as one of the biggest cinematic belly flops of all time." The bloated, dystopian Kevin Costner adventure flick was a total mess that was only vaguely redeemed by the pretty fun Waterworld experience at Universal Studios. Regardless, Waterworld the movie and Donald Trump the president are currently tied for a 43% approval rating.
"Waterworld" Audience Score:: 43%
Donald Trump Approval Rating: 43%

Honorable Mention

In fairness, there are a few epic flops that Donald Trump still soars above, including Battlefield Earth (11% audience score), Gigli (13%), and Aloha (28%).