AceShowbiz - Despite repeated attempts, Paramount Pictures has struggled to ignite a successful live-action G.I. Joe franchise. Each film has faced critical panning and underwhelming box office returns. Now, with whispers of a potential crossover with the Transformers universe, fans can revisit the saga. Starting next month, the first two installments of the G.I. Joe live-action film series will be available on Paramount+, offering a chance to re-evaluate these divisive adaptations.

The cinematic journey began in 2009 with G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, directed by Stephen Sommers. This initial foray starred Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Lee Byung-hun, and Dennis Quaid. Critics largely dismissed it, earning a meager 33% on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus highlighted its "cartoonish, over-the-top action fest propelled by silly writing, inconsistent visual effects, and merely passable performances." Financially, it underperformed, grossing approximately $300 million globally against a reported $175 million budget.

A few years later, a soft-reboot arrived with 2013's G.I. Joe: Retaliation, helmed by Jon M. Chu. This sequel introduced Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in a prominent role, during a period he was known as a "franchise savior." While it slightly improved on its predecessor's box office, pulling in around $375 million worldwide against a $150 million budget, critical reception remained equally poor. Retaliation landed an even lower 28% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics describing it as "overwhelmed by its nonstop action and too nonsensical and vapid to leave a lasting impression."

The most recent attempt to revive the G.I. Joe universe came in 2021 with Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins. Directed by Robert Schwentke, this origin story proved to be the biggest financial disappointment yet for the G.I. Joe films, grossing a mere $40 million globally against an estimated budget as high as $110 million. This string of underperformances has cast a long shadow over the future of live-action G.I. Joe stories, particularly after the mixed reception and box office struggles of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, which itself teased a crossover.

The potential live-action crossover between G.I. Joe and Transformers remains speculative, especially amidst the high-stakes takeover of Paramount by Skydance. While a new animated crossover between the two Hasbro properties is reportedly in development, concrete updates on a big-screen live-action team-up are scarce. The new ownership will shape the strategic direction for both valuable IPs. Until then, fans and curious viewers can dive into G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and G.I. Joe: Retaliation, available to stream on Paramount+ starting November 1.