Tom Holland has an impressive filmography, but his 2021 box-office flop still leaves me mourning its potential. From his debut in 2012’s The Impossible, Holland has demonstrated undeniable acting prowess. As one of the standout young actors of the 2010s, he is best known for his role as Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Many fans, including myself, were initially anxious about his portrayal of the iconic character. However, Holland quickly dispelled our fears, making his version of Peter Parker one of my favorites.

This makes the failure of his 2021 film, Chaos Walking, all the more perplexing. Holland’s performance in this pandemic “dump” movie wasn’t bad, but the film had the potential to be so much more—especially as it was based on a critically acclaimed and award-winning book series known for its deep discussions of war, gender politics, and morality. Despite not being one of Tom Holland’s best movies, Chaos Walking is filled with missed opportunities that are frustrating in hindsight.

Patrick Ness’ Chaos Walking trilogy, beginning with The Knife of Never Letting Go, served as the basis for the film. Although the movie significantly altered the plot from its source material, it hinted at further developments in Todd and Viola’s story, raising questions about the Spackle, Haven, and new challenges. Yet, due to its overwhelming failure, this adaptation is unlikely to see continuation.

Chaos Walking marks the first attempt at bringing Patrick Ness’ book series to the screen, making its lack of success even more disheartening. Hollywood has seen numerous successful book-to-movie adaptations, with The Hunger Games and Harry Potter franchises navigating fantasy and science-fiction concepts effectively, proving that movies can sometimes match the quality of their source material. Unfortunately, Chaos Walking failed to capture the essence of Ness’ books. However, the complexity of Ness’ narrative always posed a challenge for adaptation.