Top 10 Horror Movie Bombs That Are LOVED Now

#10: Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

They took an enormous gamble on Halloween III, but unfortunately, it didnt pay off. Michael Myers was one of the hottest names in horror by 1982, but he wasnt in this movie, which was a huge turn off for fans of the first two. Not only that, the film departed from the slasher genre to tell a weird fantasy story about face-melting pumpkins, magic rocks, and Celtic rituals. The pivot to a standalone story would have been far better received if it had a different title altogether. But luckily, time has been kind to the film. Far removed from the hype and initial marketing baggage, viewers could appreciate the movie on its own weird terms and came to love its dystopian vibe and absurd story.

#9: Possession (1981)

Weird movies often struggle commercially, and Possession is a very weird movie. The film contains disturbing imagery, grotesque body horror, and a highly graphic sex-and-death metaphor, which put off a good segment of the population. It was also way too strange and unclassifiable for general audiences, and many simply didnt know what to make of it. And to make matters worse, Possession was butchered for its American release. About one-third of the entire movie was cut, making the already-bizarre story borderline incoherent. But the full, uncut version became available with the rise of home video and streaming, and it slowly came to be appreciated - especially amongst those who like a little ambiguity with their horror. Possession was truly ahead of its time.

#8: Slither (2006)

Sometimes a movie is widely considered excellent but still underperforms. Thats life. James Gunn made his directorial debut with Slither, a fun and extremely gross slice of horror-comedy that serves as an homage to 50s B-movies. Despite enthusiastic reviews, the mix of tones confused general audiences, with horror fans finding it too silly and comedy fans finding it too scary and gory. Universal also struggled to market the film effectively, with limited star power and trailers leaning too heavily into the gross-out horror without highlighting the wit or sense of fun. But it quickly became a favorite for horror nerds and midnight movie crowds and later gained popularity on DVD, with die-hard fans highlighting its remarkable creature effects and endlessly quotable lines.

#7: Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)

There are a slew of reasons why Fire Walk with Me didnt work on the heels of the mega-popular Twin Peaks. The show had a disappointing second season, which soured interest for more. The film failed to address its many lingering questions, serving instead as a prequel focused on the final days of Laura Palmer. Many beloved characters were completely absent. It was way too dark for some, especially compared to the shows wackier tone. And for others, it was way too weird, more David Lynch than Twin Peaks. But now, those are exactly why people love it. Fire Walk with Me came to be appreciated as a bold, artistic risk that didnt heed to expectations, and its now considered one of Lynchs defining works.

#6: Annihilation (2018)

By its very nature, this film probably wasnt going to do well. Its a challenging and abstract movie, leaning heavily into ambiguity and psychological horror rather than the conventional sci-fi action that gets butts in seats. It was also plagued by poor marketing and internal strife, with financier David Ellison fearing that it was too intellectual for general audiences and asking that changes be made. But producer Scott Rudin had final cut privilege, and he kept it as is. As a result, Paramount sold the movies international distribution rights to Netflix, greatly undercutting its potential at the global box office. Annihilation would underperform, but that didnt stop its many ardent fans from adoring its unabashed weirdness.

#5: Near Dark (1987)

You know, they need to make more Western horror movies. Near Dark is a fun blending of the genres, with memorable performances from a stacked cast, a fresh and subversive take on vampires, and innovative direction from Kathryn Bigelow. She brought something new to the genre with an atmospheric mood, brilliant use of lighting, and a dust-swept Americana aesthetic. But people didnt see that at the time. Literally, they didnt see it. The genre-bending confused audiences and marketing teams alike, and the movie received almost no promotional push. It was also released soon after The Lost Boys, which greatly overshadowed Near Dark with its popular stars and glam-punk aesthetic that appealed to the MTV generation.

#4: Grindhouse (2007)

Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez got together and took us back to the 70s with Grindhouse. This was an homage to the gritty and goofy exploitation era, a double bill that combined Rodriguezs Planet Terror with Tarantinos Death Proof and featured a number of fake trailers. Unfortunately, general audiences had no idea what to make of this - not the weird tone of the movies, not the intentionally crappy filmmaking, and probably not the 190 minute runtime. Luckily, home video did wonders for Grindhouse. Planet Terror and Death Proof were split up and given their own separate releases, which helped word of mouth, and many of the fake trailers have since been made into real movies, including Machete and Thanksgiving.

#3: The Blob (1988)

Its not often that a remake surpasses the original. The Blob is a rare exception. But the film was marketed like a typical monster movie, with little effort made to highlight its inventive effects, edgy tone, and modern updates to the original story. To many people, this just looked like a campy and dated creature feature from a bygone era. It also faced some serious competition at the box office, including Die Hard and Who Framed Roger Rabbit, both of which were enormous hits. But horror lovers eventually came to appreciate the movies subversive storytelling and incredible practical effects, with some of the kill scenes becoming legendary among horror enthusiasts.

#2: Event Horizon (1997)

This is one of those instances where critics and general audiences do not see eye to eye. Event Horizon was lambasted upon release, with many critics hating the film and giving it negative reviews. That certainly didnt help its box office prospects. Neither did the poor marketing or stiff competition from the likes of Air Force One and Men in Black. While some people enjoyed it, word of mouth wasnt nearly strong enough to overcome the initial negativity. But the film found new life on DVD and late night cable, with horror lovers warming to its unique genre-blending, Lovecraftian elements, and striking visuals. The production design on this movie is just second to none.

#1: The Thing (1982)

There is no greater example of a horror movie flop turning into a classic. The Thing is widely regarded as one of the best horror movies ever, with its unique setting, fun story, incredible cast, and some of the best practical effects ever put to screen. And in 1982, people hated it. They hated its nihilistic tone, its downbeat ending, its so-called underdeveloped characters, and especially its gore. Word of mouth was, shall we say, not the greatest. But worst of all, The Thing suffered what is probably the worst theatrical timing of all time, coming out just two weeks after E.T. That alone crushed any and all hopes of The Thing performing well at the box office.

Do you enjoy these films, or do you think they were right to bomb? Let us know in the comments below!