10 Incredible Films That Bombed At The Box Office
These movies deserved much better.
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00:00 There is a tendency to believe that low-grossing films must be boring, unrelatable or poorly
00:05 made.
00:06 The revenue a movie generates is often a good indicator of its quality, but there are always
00:10 exceptions to the rule.
00:12 Remarkable films sometimes struggle to draw a crowd during their theatrical run, and there
00:16 are plenty of reasons for why this can occur.
00:19 Sometimes marketing campaigns are simply uninteresting, or bad press can arise due to controversy.
00:24 Any number of issues could all contribute to poor turnout.
00:27 Regardless of the cause, failure to gather a large audience often comes as a bit of a
00:32 shock.
00:33 After all, producers only pour money into projects that they have reason to believe
00:37 will generate high returns.
00:38 Low box office numbers are disappointing, but they do not determine whether a movie
00:43 is poor or great.
00:44 Some of the most well-respected motion pictures in history didn't receive recognition until
00:49 well after they exited theatres.
00:51 Normally, it's a good thing for a movie to be ahead of its time, but once in a while
00:55 a film is too far ahead for it to resonate with audiences.
00:59 Even though well-crafted features sometimes underperform financially, they prove their
01:04 greatness when cinema lovers continue engaging with them years later.
01:08 And so, with that in mind, I'm Ellie with What Culture Here, with 10 incredible films
01:12 that bombed at the box office.
01:14 10.
01:15 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
01:19 Production budget was $30 million, but the box office earnings were $15 million.
01:25 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is an excellent western film.
01:30 It follows the uneasy connection between Jesse James, the famed outlaw, and Robert Ford,
01:34 a man who idolises him and is desperate to join his gang.
01:38 As the story progresses, things don't happen as Ford imagined they would.
01:41 He grows resentful of James, leading to increasingly tense moments throughout the movie.
01:45 It presents a fascinating look inside late 19th century gang life.
01:49 The substance of a film is important, but marketability is key when it comes to drawing
01:55 a large audience.
01:56 Among the biggest problems for this motion picture was its long runtime and difficult
02:00 title.
02:01 The movie clocks in at roughly 160 minutes, which demands a lot of attention from viewers.
02:06 Its title is unique and attention-grabbing, but for all the wrong reasons.
02:10 Moviegoers are typically attracted to short, snappy titles that generate intrigue.
02:15 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is neither short nor intriguing,
02:20 but instead spells out exactly what will happen between the two titular characters.
02:24 Despite the overly long title and runtime, this feature contains tremendous performances
02:28 from Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck.
02:30 Also noteworthy is the picturesque and imaginative cinematography.
02:34 The director of photography, Roger Deakins, adjusted antique lenses to create a unique
02:39 look reminiscent of photographs taken during the late 1890s.
02:43 These aspects have all been deeply appreciated in the years since the movie's release, and
02:47 rightfully so.
02:48 9.
02:49 The Road
02:50 The movie's budget was $25 million, the box office earnings were $28 million.
02:57 Audiences love going to movies to escape reality.
02:59 It is what many motion pictures offer people the chance to do, but The Road doesn't provide
03:04 that option.
03:05 Instead, it paints a picture of a potential future reality that is bleak and depressing.
03:09 Adapted from Cormac McCarthy's best-selling novel, The Story explores the relationship
03:13 between a father and son as they navigate a dangerous post-apocalyptic world.
03:18 It is full of both tender moments and frightening sequences.
03:21 Viggo Mortensen is deeply compelling as a tired yet dutiful father in a hopeless world.
03:26 The atmosphere throughout the film is dramatic and captivating, particularly in terms of
03:30 visuals.
03:31 The colour tones are dull, but that adds to the haunting beauty of the cinematography.
03:36 Despite everything the movie had going for it, audiences weren't too keen to see it
03:40 in theatres.
03:41 The lack of feel-good vibes or traditional action is often blamed for the poor turnout
03:45 in cinemas.
03:46 That's too bad, because this film has a lot to offer.
03:49 8.
03:50 Zodiac
03:51 The production budget was $65 million, and the box office earnings were $84.7 million.
03:57 The longer a movie is, the more difficult it becomes to convince viewers to sit through
04:01 it.
04:02 Zodiac is over two and a half hours long, and is deadly serious all throughout.
04:07 The story is centred on the amateur detective work of Robert Graysmith, a newspaper cartoonist
04:11 who is obsessed with finding the Zodiac killer.
04:14 It is a mentally taxing movie to watch, but it pays off for those who sit through all
04:18 of it.
04:19 Unfortunately, not enough people were willing to make that bargain during its theatrical
04:23 run.
04:24 Apart from the long runtime, the lack of action sequences dulled interest in the picture.
04:28 Despite disappointing financial returns, Zodiac remains a fantastic slow-burn crime drama.
04:33 Jake Gyllenhaal leads the film alongside Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr.
04:37 The performances by Gyllenhaal and Ruffalo are exceptional.
04:40 Both actors disappear into their roles entirely, making it easy for viewers to get sucked into
04:45 the story.
04:46 The eerie and mysterious tone of the movie is deeply captivating, and it further solidified
04:50 David Fincher's standing as a visionary director with nuanced storytelling capabilities.
04:56 7.
04:57 Blade Runner 2049 The production budget was $150 million, with
05:02 a box office earnings of $259 million.
05:05 Blade Runner 2049 is an extraordinary motion picture, and one of the greatest sequels ever
05:11 produced.
05:12 It tells the story of K, a replicant Blade Runner who discovers a life-changing secret
05:16 during one of his assignments.
05:18 What follows is a search for answers that could change the fabric of society.
05:22 It may not seem like Blade Runner 2049 flopped at the box office based on the numbers we
05:27 just mentioned, but producers said the movie needed to make about $400 million to break
05:32 even.
05:33 We're well shy of that, mostly due to slow pacing, a complex theme, and long runtime.
05:38 Ridley Scott stated that he would have cut half an hour of the film.
05:42 That may have increased Blade Runner 2049's earnings, but it would have damaged its reputation
05:46 in the long run because it's near perfect as it is.
05:49 It's disappointing that A-listers Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford were not a big enough draw
05:53 for general moviegoers.
05:55 They display some remarkable acting, as do all members of the supporting cast.
05:59 Denis Villeneuve's expert direction received plenty of critical approval, but the same
06:04 cannot be said commercially.
06:06 Despite its relatively low gross, Blade Runner 2049 features stunning cinematography, incredible
06:11 visual effects, and a compelling story.
06:13 The box office performance was forgettable, but the film itself is anything but.
06:18 6.
06:19 Children of Men
06:20 The production budget was $76 million, but the box office earnings were only $70.5 million.
06:27 The premise of Children of Men is both horrifying and fascinating.
06:31 Humanity has somehow lost the ability to reproduce.
06:34 The world devolves into chaos, and there doesn't seem to be much hope.
06:37 However, there is a group that is determined to cure human infertility, but their mission
06:41 has little chance of success.
06:44 Children of Men is a heavy film that is difficult to watch, but it is undeniably powerful due
06:48 to the high stakes.
06:49 Beyond that, the cinematography is often handheld and puts viewers right alongside the characters,
06:55 making it feel that much more real.
06:57 Clive Owen stars in the movie and does a stellar job.
07:00 He is supported by Julianne Moore and Michael Caine, who also give strong performances.
07:05 Director Alfonso Cuaron puts his talents on full display, masterfully riding the line
07:09 between hope and despair all throughout the picture.
07:12 Sadly, these contributions went largely unnoticed, as the difficult subject matter didn't invite
07:17 casual moviegoers to make the trip to the cinema.
07:20 Even though the box office numbers were less than impressive, that hasn't stopped this
07:24 feature from being recognised as a remarkable achievement.
07:27 5.
07:28 Citizen Kane
07:29 The production budget was $840,000, and the box office earnings were $1.6 million.
07:36 Citizen Kane is widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time.
07:41 It tells the story of a reporter who searches for the meaning of the final word uttered
07:45 by Charles Foster Kane, a wealthy newspaper publisher.
07:48 The movie was entirely unique at the time it was released.
07:51 The filmmakers used new methods of lighting and employed camera techniques that had not
07:55 been seen before.
07:57 Even the story structure was vastly different from other motion pictures of its day.
08:01 The very landscape and language of cinema was changed after its release.
08:05 Orson Welles both directed and starred in the film.
08:08 He was outstanding in both positions.
08:10 Critics loved the picture, but average cinema goers hadn't quite developed a taste for
08:15 Welles' style while it was playing in the theatres.
08:17 It may have been a financial failure, but its lasting impact on the entertainment industry
08:21 cannot be denied.
08:23 The way in which the story was told, from script to cinematography to acting methods,
08:27 have been replicated and built upon ever since Citizen Kane was put out into the world.
08:32 It's a timeless classic, and the box office means nothing to it now.
08:36 4.
08:37 The Shawshank Redemption
08:38 The production budget was $25 million, but the box office earnings were only $16 million.
08:45 The Shawshank Redemption follows the life of Andy Dufresne, a banker convicted for the
08:49 crime of murdering his wife.
08:51 He spends years in prison and during that time forms some friendships and also makes
08:55 a few enemies.
08:56 The film is considered a classic and is loved by many, but it wasn't appreciated by the
09:01 masses at first.
09:02 It failed to earn back its production budget during its initial theatrical run.
09:06 Re-releases brought in a lot more money, but that did little to dull the sting of the original
09:11 lack of returns.
09:12 Tim Robbins is an amazing actor, but he has never been the biggest of stars.
09:16 His name didn't do much to encourage cinema fans to head to theatres.
09:20 Morgan Freeman was more marketable, but the bleak tone of the advertising campaign and
09:25 long runtime turned many people away.
09:27 The studio also elected to make no mention of Stephen King, the writer of the novella
09:32 the movie is based on.
09:33 Things may have gone differently if they had.
09:35 In the years since the picture was first released, it has been admired for its stunning visuals,
09:40 engaging dialogue, strong performances, and powerful soundtrack.
09:44 3.
09:45 Phantom Thread
09:46 The film's initial production budget was $35 million, and the box office earnings were
09:50 $48 million.
09:51 Daniel Day-Lewis had a magnificent acting career.
09:54 He was known to put everything he had into his performances.
09:57 However, the decision to have his final film be about a dressmaker didn't enthuse many
10:02 people, even though it was directed by the highly respected Paul Thomas Anderson.
10:07 Phantom Thread is a romance film that also delves deeply into the topic of obsession.
10:12 It is focused more on characters than it is on story, which made it difficult for many
10:16 people to engage with.
10:17 The movie is not nearly as dull as it sounds, though.
10:20 Lewis is brilliant, as always, and Vicky Creeps matches his intensity in her role as Reynolds
10:25 Woodcock's love interest.
10:27 Leslie Manville is also remarkable as Reynolds' sister and business partner.
10:31 The cinematography and the tone of the story are both beautiful and elegant.
10:35 Phantom Thread is a wonderfully emotional motion picture that many people sadly miss
10:39 during its time in theatres, but that doesn't mean its impact can't stretch into the future.
10:44 2.
10:45 Jarhead
10:46 The production budget was $72 million, and the box office earnings were $97 million.
10:53 Americans do not like to have their military criticized in any respect, but Jarhead is
10:57 quite merciless in its depiction of the sometimes futile work of the US military.
11:02 The movie centers on a young Marine who struggles to find purpose in his service.
11:06 He goes through much of his training and duty with the realization that it was a waste of
11:10 time and wasn't what he thought it would be.
11:12 The decision to release this film just a few short years after the September 11 attacks
11:17 was a bold one.
11:18 Despite the controversy, Sam Mendes did an impressive job of directing.
11:22 He excellently conveys the boredom of the Marines without making things dull for the
11:25 audience.
11:27 Acting is another highlight of this motion picture.
11:29 The performances from Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Jamie Foxx, and others are incredibly
11:34 powerful and authentic.
11:36 Jarhead is a visual masterpiece as well.
11:38 The cinematography is gorgeous in each and every scene.
11:41 Film fans have warmed up to this feature over the years, but it may have been released too
11:45 soon to make a real impact in theatres.
11:48 Silence
11:49 The production budget was $46 million, but the box office earnings were only $24 million.
11:56 Martin Scorsese is one of the greatest directors to ever live, but even he is not immune to
12:01 a box office flop.
12:02 Silence was a passion project of his, one he had wanted to make for many years.
12:06 Unfortunately, not a lot of people were as eager about the movie as he was.
12:10 The story centres on two Jesuit priests in 17th century Japan.
12:14 Both of them struggle to lead newly converted Christians in their faith, which has been
12:18 made illegal.
12:19 The setting is rather depressing, which made it less inviting for casual moviegoers to
12:23 engage with.
12:24 The long run time didn't help matters either.
12:26 Few people elected to make the trip to see this motion picture in the cinema, which is
12:30 a shame because it is full of breathtaking cinematography and heartbreaking performances.
12:35 Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver and Liam Neeson are all tremendous in their roles.
12:39 They clearly convey the spiritual anguish of the priests they play.
12:43 Even though the film didn't build much traction during its theatrical run, it has only gained
12:47 recognition and praise since then.
12:49 And that concludes our list.
12:50 If you think we missed any, then do let us know in the comments below and while you're
12:53 there, don't forget to like and subscribe and tap that notification bell.
12:57 Also head over to Twitter and follow us there and I can be found across various social medias
13:00 just by searching Ellie Littlechild.
13:02 I've been Ellie with What Culture, I hope you have a magical day and I'll see you real