10 Incredible Films That Bombed At The Box Office
These movies deserved much better.
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00:00There is a tendency to believe that low-grossing films must be boring, unrelatable, or poorly
00:05made.
00:06The revenue a movie generates is often a good indicator of its quality, but there are always
00:10exceptions to the rule.
00:12Remarkable films sometimes struggle to draw a crowd during their theatrical run, and there
00:16are plenty of reasons for why this can occur.
00:19Sometimes marketing campaigns are simply uninteresting, or bad press can arise due to controversy.
00:24Any number of issues could all contribute to poor turnout.
00:28Regardless of the cause, failure to gather a large audience often comes as a bit of a
00:33shock.
00:34After all, producers only pour money into projects that they have reason to believe
00:37will generate high returns.
00:39Low box office numbers are disappointing, but they do not determine whether a movie
00:43is poor or great.
00:44Some of the most well-respected motion pictures in history didn't receive recognition until
00:49well after they exited theatres.
00:51Normally, it's a good thing for a movie to be ahead of its time, but once in a while,
00:55a film is too far ahead for it to resonate with audiences.
00:59Even though well-crafted features sometimes underperform financially, they prove their
01:04greatness when cinema lovers continue engaging with them years later.
01:08And so, with that in mind, I'm Ellie with What Culture Here, with 10 incredible films
01:12that bombed at the box office.
01:1510.
01:16The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
01:19Production budget was $30 million, but the box office earnings were $15 million.
01:26The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is an excellent western film.
01:30It follows the uneasy connection between Jesse James, the famed outlaw, and Robert Ford,
01:34a man who idolises him and is desperate to join his gang.
01:38As the story progresses, things don't happen as Ford imagined they would.
01:41He grows resentful of James, leading to increasingly tense moments throughout the movie.
01:46It presents a fascinating look inside late 19th century gang life.
01:50The substance of a film is important, but marketability is key when it comes to drawing
01:55a large audience.
01:56Among the biggest problems for this motion picture was its long runtime and difficult
02:00title.
02:01The movie clocks in at roughly 160 minutes, which demands a lot of attention from viewers.
02:06Its title is unique and attention-grabbing, but for all the wrong reasons.
02:11Moviegoers are typically attracted to short, snappy titles that generate intrigue.
02:15The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is neither short nor intriguing,
02:20but instead spells out exactly what will happen between the two titular characters.
02:24Despite the overly long title and runtime, this feature contains tremendous performances
02:28from Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck.
02:31Also noteworthy is the picturesque and imaginative cinematography.
02:34The director of photography, Roger Deakins, adjusted antique lenses to create a unique
02:39look reminiscent of photographs taken during the late 1890s.
02:43These aspects have all been deeply appreciated in the years since the movie's release, and
02:47rightfully so.
02:499.
02:50The Road
02:51The movie's budget was $25 million, the box office earnings were $28 million.
02:57Audiences love going to movies to escape reality.
02:59It is what many motion pictures offer people the chance to do, but The Road doesn't provide
03:04that option.
03:05Instead, it paints a picture of a potential future reality that is bleak and depressing.
03:10Adapted from Cormac McCarthy's best-selling novel, The Story explores the relationship
03:14between a father and son as they navigate a dangerous post-apocalyptic world.
03:18It is full of both tender moments and frightening sequences.
03:21Viggo Mortensen is deeply compelling as a tired yet dutiful father in a hopeless world.
03:26The atmosphere throughout the film is dramatic and captivating, particularly in terms of
03:31visuals.
03:32The colour tones are dull, but that adds to the haunting beauty of the cinematography.
03:36Despite everything the movie had going for it, audiences weren't too keen to see it
03:40in theatres.
03:41The lack of feel-good vibes or traditional action is often blamed for the poor turnout
03:45in cinemas.
03:46It's too bad, because this film has a lot to offer.
03:498.
03:50Zodiac
03:51The production budget was $65 million, and the box office earnings were $84.7 million.
03:57The longer a movie is, the more difficult it becomes to convince viewers to sit through
04:02it.
04:03Zodiac is over two and a half hours long, and is deadly serious all throughout.
04:07The story is centred on the amateur detective work of Robert Graysmith, a newspaper cartoonist
04:12who is obsessed with finding the Zodiac killer.
04:14It is a mentally taxing movie to watch, but it pays off for those who sit through all
04:18of it.
04:19Unfortunately, not enough people were willing to make that bargain during its theatrical
04:23run.
04:24Apart from the long runtime, the lack of action sequences dulled interest in the picture.
04:28Despite disappointing financial returns, Zodiac remains a fantastic slow-burn crime drama.
04:33Jake Gyllenhaal leads the film alongside Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr.
04:37The performances by Gyllenhaal and Ruffalo are exceptional.
04:40Both actors disappear into their roles entirely, making it easy for viewers to get sucked into
04:45the story.
04:46The eerie and mysterious tone of the movie is deeply captivating, and it further solidified
04:51David Fincher's standing as a visionary director with nuanced storytelling capabilities.
04:567.
04:57Blade Runner 2049 The production budget was $150 million, with
05:02a box office earnings of $259 million.
05:06Blade Runner 2049 is an extraordinary motion picture, and one of the greatest sequels ever
05:11produced.
05:12It tells the story of K, a replicant Blade Runner who discovers a life-changing secret
05:17during one of his assignments.
05:18What follows is a search for answers that could change the fabric of society.
05:22It may not seem like Blade Runner 2049 flopped at the box office based on the numbers we
05:27just mentioned, but producers said the movie needed to make about $400 million to break
05:32even.
05:33We're well shy of that, mostly due to slow pacing, a complex theme, and long run time.
05:38Ridley Scott stated that he would have cut half an hour of the film.
05:42That may have increased Blade Runner 2049's earnings, but it would have damaged its reputation
05:46in the long run because it's near perfect as it is.
05:49It is disappointing that A-listers Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford were not a big enough draw
05:54for general moviegoers.
05:55They display some remarkable acting, as do all members of the supporting cast.
05:59Denis Villeneuve's expert direction received plenty of critical approval, but the same
06:04cannot be said commercially.
06:06Despite its relatively low gross, Blade Runner 2049 features stunning cinematography, incredible
06:11visual effects, and a compelling story.
06:14The box office performance was forgettable, but the film itself is anything but.
06:186.
06:19Children of Men
06:20The production budget was $76 million, but the box office earnings were only $70.5 million.
06:27The premise of Children of Men is both horrifying and fascinating.
06:32Humanity has somehow lost the ability to reproduce.
06:34The world devolves into chaos, and there doesn't seem to be much hope.
06:38However, there is a group that is determined to cure human infertility, but their mission
06:42has little chance of success.
06:44Children of Men is a heavy film that is difficult to watch, but it is undeniably powerful due
06:49to the high stakes.
06:50Beyond that, the cinematography is often handheld and puts viewers right alongside the characters,
06:55making it feel that much more real.
06:57Clive Owen stars in the movie and does a stellar job.
07:00He is supported by Julianne Moore and Michael Caine, who also give strong performances.
07:05Director Alfonso Cuaron puts his talents on full display, masterfully riding the line
07:09between hope and despair all throughout the picture.
07:12Sadly, these contributions went largely unnoticed, as the difficult subject matter didn't invite
07:17casual moviegoers to make the trip to the cinema.
07:20Even though the box office numbers were less than impressive, that hasn't stopped this
07:24feature from being recognised as a remarkable achievement.
07:285.
07:29Citizen Kane
07:30The production budget was $840,000, and the box office earnings were $1.6 million.
07:37Citizen Kane is widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time.
07:41It tells the story of a reporter who searches for the meaning of the final word uttered
07:45by Charles Foster Kane, a wealthy newspaper publisher.
07:49The movie was entirely unique at the time it was released.
07:52The filmmakers used new methods of lighting and employed camera techniques that had not
07:56been seen before.
07:57Even the story structure was vastly different from other motion pictures of its day.
08:01The very landscape and language of cinema was changed after its release.
08:05Orson Welles both directed and starred in the film.
08:08He was outstanding in both positions.
08:10Critics loved the picture, but average cinema goers hadn't quite developed a taste for
08:15Welles' style while it was playing in the theatres.
08:17It may have been a financial failure, but its lasting impact on the entertainment industry
08:22cannot be denied.
08:23The way in which the story was told, from script to cinematography to acting methods,
08:28have been replicated and built upon ever since Citizen Kane was put out into the world.
08:32It's a timeless classic, and the box office means nothing to it now.
08:364.
08:37The Shawshank Redemption
08:39The production budget was $25 million, but the box office earnings were only $16 million.
08:45The Shawshank Redemption follows the life of Andy Dufresne, a banker convicted for the
08:50crime of murdering his wife.
08:51He spends years in prison, and during that time forms some friendships and also makes
08:55a few enemies.
08:56The film is considered a classic and is loved by many, but it wasn't appreciated by the
09:01masses at first.
09:02It failed to earn back its production budget during its initial theatrical run.
09:06Re-releases brought in a lot more money, but that did little to dull the sting of the original
09:11lack of returns.
09:12Tim Robbins is an amazing actor, but he has never been the biggest of stars.
09:17His name didn't do much to encourage cinema fans to head to theatres.
09:21Morgan Freeman was more marketable, but the bleak tone of the advertising campaign and
09:25long runtime turned many people away.
09:27The studio also elected to make no mention of Stephen King, the writer of the novella
09:32the movie is based on.
09:33Things may have gone differently if they had.
09:35In the years since the picture was first released, it has been admired for its stunning visuals,
09:40engaging dialogue, strong performances, and powerful soundtrack.
09:443.
09:45Phantom Thread
09:46Production budget was $35 million, and the box office earnings were $48 million.
09:52Daniel Day-Lewis had a magnificent acting career.
09:55He was known to put everything he had into his performances.
09:58However, the decision to have his final film be about a dressmaker didn't enthuse many
10:03people, even though it was directed by the highly respected Paul Thomas Anderson.
10:07Phantom Thread is a romance film that also delves deeply into the topic of obsession.
10:12It is focused more on characters than it is on story, which made it difficult for many
10:16people to engage with.
10:17The movie is not nearly as dull as it sounds, though.
10:20Lewis is brilliant, as always, and Vicky Creeps matches his intensity in her role as Reynolds
10:25Woodcock's love interest.
10:27Leslie Manville is also remarkable as Reynolds' sister and business partner.
10:32The cinematography and the tone of the story are both beautiful and elegant.
10:35Phantom Thread is a wonderfully emotional motion picture that many people sadly miss
10:40during its time in theatres, but that doesn't mean its impact can't stretch into the future.
10:452.
10:46Jarhead
10:47The production budget was $72 million, and the box office earnings were $97 million.
10:53Americans do not like to have their military criticized in any respect, but Jarhead is
10:58quite merciless in its depiction of the sometimes futile work of the US military.
11:03The movie centers on a young Marine who struggles to find purpose in his service.
11:07He goes through much of his training and duty with the realization that it was a waste
11:10of time and wasn't what he thought it would be.
11:13The decision to release this film just a few short years after the September 11 attacks
11:17was a bold one.
11:18Despite the controversy, Sam Mendes did an impressive job of directing.
11:22He excellently conveys the boredom of the Marines without making things dull for the
11:26audience.
11:27Acting is another highlight of this motion picture.
11:29The performances from Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Jamie Foxx, and others are incredibly
11:34powerful and authentic.
11:36Jarhead is a visual masterpiece as well.
11:38The cinematography is gorgeous in each and every scene.
11:41Film fans have warmed up to this feature over the years, but it may have been released too
11:45soon to make a real impact in theatres.
11:48Silence
11:49The production budget was $46 million, but the box office earnings were only $24 million.
11:56Martin Scorsese is one of the greatest directors to ever live, but even he is not immune to
12:01a box office flop.
12:02Silence was a passion project of his, one he had wanted to make for many years.
12:07Unfortunately, not a lot of people were as eager about the movie as he was.
12:10The story centres on two Jesuit priests in 17th century Japan.
12:14Both of them struggle to lead newly converted Christians in their faith, which has been
12:18made illegal.
12:19The setting is rather depressing, which made it less inviting for casual moviegoers to
12:23engage with.
12:24The long runtime didn't help matters either.
12:26Few people elected to make the trip to see this motion picture in the cinema, which is
12:30a shame because it is full of breathtaking cinematography and heartbreaking performances.
12:35Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver and Liam Neeson are all tremendous in their roles.
12:39They clearly convey the spiritual anguish of the priests they play.
12:43Even though the film didn't build much traction during its theatrical run, it has only gained
12:47recognition and praise since then.
12:49And that concludes our list.
12:50If you think we missed any, then do let us know in the comments below and while you're
12:54there, don't forget to like and subscribe and tap that notification bell.
12:57Also head over to Twitter and follow us there and I can be found across various social medias
13:01just by searching Ellie Littlechild.
13:03I've been Ellie with WhatCulture, I hope you have a magical day and I'll see you real soon.