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Here's wikipedia's list of the biggest box office bombs ever.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_biggest_box_office_bombs

So, how many of these have you seen and which ones did you like?

I've seen the 13th Warrior and liked it.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, liked it.
The Postman, didn't care for it
The Astronaut's Wife, didn't care for it
Hudson Hawk, really great movie
Gigli, really bland movie.  To say I hated it would imply that it was capable of inciting strong feelings in me at all.  (Also, I still don't know how to pronounce it.)
Adventures of Baron Munchausen, this is a GREAT movie.  With a capital GREAT.
The Avengers, fun movie, but nothing spectacular
The Relic, incredibly formulaic.  Didn't care for it at all. 
Mary Reilly, I thought it was good, but I can see how others wouldn't.
Money Train, didn't care for it
Nothing But Trouble, definitely a cult movie, not a bad one either.   

Hah. Nice thread. Let's see, I saw:

The Alamo (2004): but didn't quite make it all the way, fell asleep, but enough of it to say I saw it
The Adventure of Pluto Nash (2002): well, that was just a crappy movie. Also I didn't like it.
The 13th Warrior (1999): I didn't think it was all that bad. I like it okay, but I'm not in a hurry to watch it again.
Red Planet (2000): did not like it.
Osmosis Jones (2001): not a good movie, but I like it a little.
Soldier (1998): Wow was that movie a piece of crap. Even the presence of Gary Busey couldn't save it, and that's  saying a lot.
The Astronaut's Wife (1999): Boooooorrrring.
Ishtar (1987): I actually like this movie. It is so bad on levels that I can't comprehend, and therefore impressive.
City of Ember (2008): I liked it. It wasn't great, had a number of flaws, but I liked the look and feel of it overall.
The Avengers (1998): Complete crap. Hated it.
Mary Reilly (1996): I was pretty indifferent to this one. Kind of boring but I wouldn't call it terrible.
Man on the Moon (1999): So-so. I appreciated the goal of the movie, and at times it worked.
Money Train (1995): A gnat's eyelash better than The Avengers. Hated it.

Hmmm...

Treasure Planet: Seen it and loved it.  Shame it didn't make back its budget.
Son of the Mask: So didn't even deserve to make as much as it did.
Around the World in 80 Days: Alright film I suppose, not surprised that it didn't make its money back when I think about it.
Osmosis Jones: It was pretty good, but then again, it didn't seem like the kind of film that was going to do will since it seem it was for kids or adults due to its content.

That's pretty much it.  Looking at the worst, Delgo, that's a rather impressive failure if I do say so myself.  Didn't even make back 2% of its budget?  As one person put it, that was the kind of failure that could make people jump off roofs.

I haven't seen any of them. I guess thats why they bombed!

Hudson Hawk - I didn't think it was all that bad either.

Adventures Of Baron Muchausen - parts anyways, can't recall much of it.

The Relic - Aw c'mon that movie friggin' rocked!  I saw it twice in the theater. 

Mary Reilly  - not a bad concept, execution wise was fair.

Red Planet - I liked it.
The Postman - a bit overlong but I liked it.
Soldier - yep, liked this too.
Ballistic: Ecks vs.. Sever- kinda boring but I liked some of it.
Adventures of Baron Munchausen - awesome movie!
The Avengers - nothing like the TV series at all, very disappointing on that level..thought it was just O.K., nothing special.
The Relic- liked it.
Man on the Moon- loved it!!
K-19: The Widowmaker - great film

A couple of friends of mine, Justin Dray & Beau Marie, were in Gods And Generals.

Haven't seen the whole movie, just select clips, but Justin really shined out as George Jenkins. Beau was an extra who shouts "They're close enough for me!", but accidentally said it in a cartoon voice on the first take.

IMHO, Beau's best work was the short film God Given Talent.

They're both in Hollywood now, & I, as well as many other Richmonders sincerely hope their talent don't go unrecognized.

Seen:

The 13th Warrior - Not great but had its moments.
A Sound of Thunder - Kind of dull and boring but still mildly entertaining.
Red Planet - Average sci-fi. Not the spectacle it was made out to be.
The Astronaut's Wife - Had no issues with that one. Fun take on The Omen/Rosemary's Baby.
Eye See You - Predictable but still a fun slasher. Enjoyed the snow bound setting.
Hudson Hawk - Silly without being funny = typical flop. Didn't care much for it.
Ishtar - Seen it once, don't remember anything about it. Forgettable.
The Scarlet Letter - Seen it once, don't remember much about it. Forgettable.
Adventures of Baron Munchausen - This was OK as I recall.
The Relic - Pretty good and underrated.
Mary Reilly - Not very exciting.
Man on the Moon - Pretty good movie.
Money Train - Seen it, don't remember much about it. Forgettable.
Nothing but Trouble - Awful, unappealing anti-comedy. Only seen it once though.

The Alamo - in 2004?  I never even knew this existed   :bouncegiggle:
Speed Racer - I made it about 2 minutes into this
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within  - I've got this on DVD lol.  I like it.
Red Planet - I thought this was pretty good. 
Soldier - liked this one too.
Rollerball (2002) - made it about 5 minutes into this.  Turned my stomach.
Hudson Hawk - I got a kick out of this.
Battlefield Earth - lol, I didn't think it was THAT bad.
The Avengers - turned it off when I saw teddy bears.
The Relic - not a favorite of mine, but it was okay.  Watched it twice I think.

I'd say most of the ones I've seen are maybe a bit dull but overall pretty harmless.  "Take it or leave it" kind of stuff.  One thing I will say is I thought THE AVENGERS was downright confusing.  I bought the DVD, watched it several times, and couldn't understand what was going on at certain times.  Then I got my hands on the screenplay and discovered they cut scenes out of the movie that probably would have made it more coherent.

 

I had no idea Money Train was such a failure at the BO, I loved that movie. I'm surprised 'Last Action Hero' didn't make that list. Appropriately it was hyped up like crazy in 93, and when it was released it was heavily panned by critics for two reasons.

1. The audience of the time didn't quite understand it, so in other words it was too far ahead of its time.

2. It had to compete with Jurassic Park which was the wrong road to take as it turned out.     

Shouldn't Howard the Duck be on the list?

Production Budget: $37 million
Worldwide grosses: $37,962,774    

Wow. MARS NEEDS MOMS is already the third biggest loser in movie history. Hasn't it only been out for a couple of weeks?

Funny thing is: I bet Berkley Breathed pocketed more money for this than he did for his Bloom County, Outland, and Opus strips combined.

Final Fantasy: I'm a HUGE fan of the games and I've seen Advent Children. I've never seen Spirits Within.

Treasure Planet: Loved it as a child. I'm surprised it made so little.

Around the World in 80 Days: An alright movie. Somewhat forgettable mind you.

Osmosis Jones: Loved it a kid. I don't know why it's a bomb.

Catwoman: Not surprised at all.

Hudson Hawk: This movie gets too much crap. I liked it. You just have to avoid taking the film seriously.

Battlefield Earth: That movie left a bad taste in my mouth. Not surprised.

Son of the Mask: I liked it as a kid but I barely remember it today.

Johna Hex: I wasn't a fan of the comic so I didn't really complain.

No. While it probably lost money, after you add up the post-production expenses, it actually earned back the cost it took to make it, which surprised me. Which is more than the films on this list did.

As for the films on this list, I actually enjoyed most of 'em, or if I did not enjoy 'em, at least I found 'em at worst mediocre films.

There are some high grossing films that I actually hate worst than any of the films on this list. "Titanic" (1997) being one of 'em.

The problem with a film losing alot of money, is that it affects not only that film, but often every film that follows after. "Cutthroat Island," for example, almost put an end to "Pirates of the Caribbean," even before it was made. Because every time the idea for "Pirates of the Caribbean" came up, someone would say: "Remember Cutthroat Island." And follow that with "Films about pirates don't make money at the boxoffice."

Wasn't there a movie that played in one theater and only made like 20 bucks?

It was Zyzzyx road.



I saw:
Treasure Planet- I even own it!
Hudson Hawk- A good movie to watch on a Saturday night.
Battle Field Earth- Funny thing, with all of those dutch angles, I got dizzy and puked. never finished it. :tongueout:

what a minute here, Nothing but Trouble is on the list?

Personally, I liked Nothing but Trouble.  I enjoy watching it for Chevy Chase and Dan Ackroyd. not much else.

I can understand why Saraha is on the list.  I enjoy reading Clive Cussler novels. I saw Saraha once, and I cannot express in words the disapointment I had reading the book and then watching the movie.  Brother Jim Beam could not help me through this one.

You can sort of understand huge action/sci fi movies costing 120-150 million dollars but there is absolutely no excuse for a plain little romantic comedy like TOWN AND COUNTRY or HOW DO YOU KNOW to be costing that much to make. Paying a group of over-the-hill actors 20 - 30 million dollars a head to phone in a performance is pure insanity and the studios get exactly what they deserved.

Wow. I completely missed that The Adventures of Baron Munchausen was on the list. I love that movie. I will proudly say that I think that is the best movie on the entire list.

I almost enjoyed 'Last Action Hero' but the kid kept talking and talking and it got so annoying! It also seemed like a rip-off to Purple Rose of Cairo and that was also annoying because I dont like Woody Allen films.

Hudson Hawk is a joy... I believe the problem with the movie it was rated R (for almost nothing ~ for language ~ which is very mild considering the amout of language/violence in the Die Hard films)... The movie should of been rated PG-13.... Although this is a little before Hollywood decided to make PG-13 soft R, and I believe Hollywood felt funny giving Bruce Wills a PG-13 rated film...

Was Red Planet the Mars flick with Val Kilmer, or the one with Gary Sinise?

I've seen more of these than I would've expected
SPEED RACER - that flick was a mess; an interesting mess, but a mess
CUTTHROAT ISLAND - I liked it as a kid, doubt it would hold up on repeat viewing though
13TH WARRIOR - liked it
TREAURE PLANET - liked it
OSMOSIS JONES - kind of bizarre but I've seen worse
ASTRONAUT'S WIFE - hated it
CATWOMAN - why? why did they have to do that to Catwoman?!?
ROLLERBALL - ok I only actually saw about the first 10 minutes, then I gave up
BALLISTIC: ECKS VS SEVER - there was so much nothing in that movie
THE AVENGERS - Like Speed Racer, I wasn't bored but it was a big old mess
TIMELINE - eh, it was ok
THE SCARLET LETTER - HATED IT!! Everyone involved should be ashamed!  (And I usually like Gary Oldman too)

I really need to get Hudson Hawk , Heaven's Gate, & Munchausen watched.  They're all on my list  :smile:

The 2004 version of THE ALAMO is an amazing film, highly historically accurate, brilliantly cast, and visually stunning.  I STILL don't understand why it flopped so hard. I show it to my 7th grade Texas History class every year.

1. Sahara - I don't care what the critics say, I really liked this movie.  My favorite scene is when they're "surfing" in the desert to "Sweet Home Alabama"

2. The Adventures of Pluto Nash - Oh, God, this was painful.  My friend INSISTED we watch this.  I don't get him sometimes.  He thought this film was funny, but didn't like Serenity.  WTF?

3. Cutthroat Island - Just kind "meh" to me.  I didn't Geena Davis' acting was that great, but it did have one or two good action scenes.

4. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within - More holes in the plot than swiss cheese.  Although the graphics are very pretty, there wasn't much else in this film, other than a good performance by Donald Sutherland, but that wasn't enough to save it.

5. Around the World in 80 Days - Had a funny bit or two, but didn't I already see this film before?  Let's see.. Jackie Chan teaming up with some other actor for wacky adventures.. wasn't that Rush Hour?  Or Shanghai Noon?  Or...

6. Hart's War - Nothing really special, plot kind of stretched credulity that the camp warden would put up with this whole "trial" nonsense.
   
7. Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever - Dear God, I felt brain cells dying as I watched this film!  It was like millions of people crying out in agony and then were suddenly heard no more!

8.  Outlander - If this is the same Outlander I'm thinking of, this was a GOOD freaking movie!  And it should have done better!  I recommend everyone here see it!

9. Hudson Hawk - Not nearly bad as the critics were b***hing about.

I have not seen it but I'll assume it has a depressing ending.

Out of those I'v seen:

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within - Ignoring the Final Fantasy moniker, I think it's a very cool sci-fi film.

Treasure Planet - This one's sadly overlooked but it's one of the better latter-day non-music Disney flicks.

A Sound of Thunder - Not good but kind of charming.  The 30-minute Ray Bradbury Theater episode of the same story's better!

Soldier - I like Kurt Russell but this wasn't anything special.  Didn't Kurt break his ankle during production or something?

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen - What a wonderful film!  Everyone knows about its production woes, but Columbia freakin' killed it.  They made only 117 prints for US release!  I'd say its box office gross isn't too bad considering...

The Relic - Don't remember it well other than I think I enjoyed it.

Man on the Moon - Worth checking out.

An awful lot of these don't surprise me. I mean, Catwoman and Son Of The Mask are some of the most appalling pieces of cinema ever made, although I absolutely loved Bonfire Of The Vanities and Nothing But Trouble. Have to go against the grain here and say that I really don't like Hudson Hawk at all...

I'd say there's a couple of films on that list that are again, better than some very successful films released recently IMO. I think we all know that money doesn't really count at all when it comes to making something entertaining. There's stuff that makes millions the world over that is usually total garbage, fuelled by hype and eat up by teenagers that don't have any brain power.

Didn't they do that deliberately though? Something about not being able to sell it internationally without a domestic release?

Isn't Heaven's Gate (1980) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080855/) kind of the ultimate example?

It's my understanding it wasn't really a bad movie, just overlong and severely oversold.

I heard somewhere once that it was one of those kinds of movies that managed to make a comeback after it hit home video.
Not sure if that counts...

No, it's a really, really bad movie.  Boring and confusing at the same time, and you can barely make out what's going on onscreen.  One of my most hated movies.

Haven't seen many of these.  HEAVEN'S GATE I already mentioned.

I agree with everyone else about BARON MUNCHAUSEN---it's a good movie, has to be the best one on the list.

ISHTAR wasn't as bad as I had hoped it would be, just sort of mediocre.

Hard to believe JONAH HEX cost 60 million, it doesn't show on screen,  A very bad movie but there are some laughs to be had at its expense.

Probably because it was boring. I tried to watch it, and depsite being interested in history myself, just couldn't get drawn in, for whatever reason. I'm not saying you are not correct in your assessments of the film, but it flopped for a reason.

I have to echo that same sentiment.  It was not a very fast paced movie.  Though in many ways more accurate, this is the problem you run into when making such movies.  It usually doesn't turn out well at captivating a large audience.  There is rarely mass appeal in such historical epics or more to the point mass ability to make the average movie goer say I want to see that movie. 

True, and I definately see it as unfortunate, because I wanted to like the film. It didn't do well commercially in part because of what you say, but I think it was more than that. It just didn't compel or feel right for some reason, and I'm not entirely sure I can pinpoint an exact reason for myself personally, because I tend not to need filmatic embellishment to enjoy an historical piece. It's just one of those unfortunate films that had lots of reasons to be very good, but for some reason was only good for a small audience.

But, you know, I may have to give The Alamo another go. I'm feeling like I may have missed something.

Flick, I can understand not being able to pinpoint.  I have a similar problem with Alexander.  I usually enjoy historical epics but can't find myself to watch the movie.  Have tried a few times before but can never make it through the entire film.  I find it boring but can't pinpoint where it goes wrong for me.  It feels as though the cast while good doesn't fit for me.  It feels as though the movie is oddly paced and not captivating.  It just doesn't work in someway and I can sit through most anything else. 

I must admit I did like Alamo.  On that note, I also liked Gods and Generals.  Hmmm, it seems my historical movies don't make much money 'tis very sad. 

I just thought that the three leads - Billy Bob Thornton, Jason Patric, and the young actor who played Travis - all did outstanding jobs.  And the supporting cast - especially Dennis Quaid as Sam Houston - was just excellent.  I like the fact that they played up the role of both the Tejanos who fought for Texas independence, and the officers who served under Santa Anna.  The depiction of General Castrillon's death at San Jacinto was quite accurate and rather touching.  His last words, according to one of Santa Anna's staffers - "I have been in 40 battles and never showed the enemy my back yet.  I am too old to do it now."

Give the movie another chance.

I will give it another go.

I own Rollerball on VHS, although I have yet to watch it. 

As many others have said, Baron Munchausen?  What a shame, that really is a great movie.  Didn't Terry Gilliam direct it?

Bonfire of the Vanities was a HUGE disappointment given how good the book was-and how applicable to the present day economy it is. 

I liked Man on the Moon.  I'm surprised that didn't do better. 

3000 Miles to Graceland was horrendous.  Just horrendous.