Worst Box Office Disasters

[ulthar]

Wikipedia has a list of box office bombs.

On the list, one that I happened to enjoy was WINDTALKERS(2002), which cost 115 million and only made about 78 million at the box office.  No idea what it made on video, though, which is how I saw it.

Really, my opinion is that the box office is a false measure of a film's success these days.  We used to go to a TON of movies, but are FAR more selective nowadays about what we see at the theatre (for a host of reasons, such as the children, time constraints and general malaise of the release pool).  Pre-video?  Yep, the BO is a valid metric.  Now, with Netflix and Blockbuster?  No way.

I generally have to REALLY want to see a movie on the big screen to justify the expense and 'hassle' of seeing it and thus contributing the box office.  The exception is children's movies, which we go to often on Saturdays when we just want to.

[AndyC]

Really, my opinion is that the box office is a false measure of a film's success these days.  We used to go to a TON of movies, but are FAR more selective nowadays about what we see at the theatre (for a host of reasons, such as the children, time constraints and general malaise of the release pool).  Pre-video?  Yep, the BO is a valid metric.  Now, with Netflix and Blockbuster?  No way.

That list at least accounts for worldwide revenue. A lot of the time, you just hear about the domestic box office, because it makes a better story. Overseas ticket sales can save a picture's bottom line. I read a biography of Arnold Schwarzenegger a couple of years ago that explained how he'd never had an actual bomb, in spite of making a few disappointing movies, due to a more global view of self-promotion. The Last Action Hero, for example, earned a mere $50,000,000 at home, but took in another $87,000,000 overseas. And video certainly brought its earnings up even further.

But I suppose that's the way Hollywood (and the corporate world in general) thinks. It's not enough to turn a profit. Unless you make a s**tload of money right off the bat, it's a failure.

[Jim H]

The Last Action Hero, for example, earned a mere $50,000,000 at home, but took in another $87,000,000 overseas. And video certainly brought its earnings up even further.

Well, keep in mind the studios end up taking about 60% of the gross, and the film's $85 million budget.  But yeah, once you take TV licensing, VHS, DVD, LD, and rentals, I'm sure it earned money within just two or three years. 

Another actor who is similar in that regard is Steven Seagal, who is apparently still quite popular in a number of countries - evidently, many of his "direct to DVD" movies actually have gotten small theatrical releases overseas because of this.

Hudson Hawk is another gigantic disaster.  $65 million budget, pulled in about $17 million.  I like it though.  Pretty funny and silly at times.

[AndyC]

I also liked Hudson Hawk. I think a lot of people just didn't get it.

[Mofo Rising]

I also liked Hudson Hawk. I think a lot of people just didn't get it.

I got Hudson Hawk, but I don't like it in the slightest.

Alright, I like this exchange.

***A villain gets decapitated.***
Hudson Hawk: "I guess he won't be attending that hat convention in July!"

[peter johnson]

"Heaven's Gate" is the modern standard - Ruined the career of Michael Cimino, who is a talented and creative director -

The Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton "Cleopatara" is/was a known entity in this category - I don't have the monetary figures for either of these films, but they are both notorious in this regard.

peter johnson/denny "i always make a profit!" crane

[Chainsawmidget]

According to wiki...

Heaven's Gate cost $40-million and made $3,484,331  at he box office.

Cleoptra cost $44 million and made $26 million.  It's the only film ever to be the highest grossing film of the year yet to run at a loss.

[retrorussell]

The 1967 DR. DOLITTLE did little in box office returns compared to its estimated budget of 18 million, making only half of that.

[Trevor]

I also liked Hudson Hawk. I think a lot of people just didn't get it.

That's my next review for Andrew, btw. I loved the film and always watch it if I get seriously depressed ~ it's a very good film. 

[Jim H]

I also liked Hudson Hawk. I think a lot of people just didn't get it.

That's my next review for Andrew, btw. I loved the film and always watch it if I get seriously depressed ~ it's a very good film. 

"WANT ME TO RAPE 'EM!?"

[lester1/2jr]

I loathed Hudson Hawk. Bruce willis was just so tacky and awful.

I can't help but think of Freddy Got Fingered which was so bad Drew Barrymore left tom Green or that's how it happened in my mind

[ChaosTheory]

THE ROCKETEER tanked pretty bad, under $10 million its opening weekend, with a $40 million budget. 

Though it has cult status now, THE THING had a pretty dismal theatrical run as well (Something like $3 million opening on a $15 million budget).  Of course, it opened against E.T., so it was pretty much screwed from the getgo.

Not sure of the exact numbers, but I think THE BOONDOCK SAINTS was one of the very first movies where rental revenues exceeded box office take.

[Hammock Rider]

I also liked Hudson Hawk. I think a lot of people just didn't get it.

That's my next review for Andrew, btw. I loved the film and always watch it if I get seriously depressed ~ it's a very good film. 

Add me to the list of "Die Hard" Hudson Hawk fans!    I saw that movie when it came out and in all the years since then I've only met one other person who liked it.

  I  think John Wayne's version of the Alamo not only tanked but put him in serious financial trouble, since he put plenty of his own money into it.

[violntshags]

You cant forget the disaster that was Gigli. A budget of 74 million and made about 7 million back.

[Trevor]

I also liked Hudson Hawk. I think a lot of people just didn't get it.

That's my next review for Andrew, btw. I loved the film and always watch it if I get seriously depressed ~ it's a very good film. 

"WANT ME TO RAPE 'EM!?"

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