Top 10 Movies That Became Popular Years Later
#10: “Dazed and Confused” (1993)
This movie’s initial lack of popularity certainly leaves us feeling dazed and confused. Released in the fall of 1993, “Dazed and Confused” made just $7.9 million, and while it received good reviews, it failed to generate awards buzz. By all accounts, this was just a good teen movie that fell by the mainstream wayside. However, the film saw success through TV and home video. It started to generate some significant critical acclaim in the early 2000s, being named one of the Top 50 Cult Films by Entertainment Weekly and one of the ten greatest movies ever by Quentin Tarantino. It also helped that many of its then-unknown actors became massive movie stars throughout the ‘90s and 2000s, including Ben Affleck, Milla Jovovich, and Matthew McConaughey.
#9: “Hocus Pocus” (1993)
Disney had faith in “Hocus Pocus,” putting nearly $30 million into its production and releasing it in the midst of the summer season (despite the Halloween theme). Unfortunately, the movie proved a massive disappointment, opening at #4 and spending just two weeks in the top ten. It also earned middling reviews from critics, and by Halloween of 1993, “Hocus Pocus” was largely forgotten. However, the movie slowly gained a cult following after repeated television airings around the Halloween season, and it quickly became one of the holiday’s go-to films. It has also resulted in increased tourism to Salem, Massachusetts, as fans flock to the city to visit the movie’s filming locations.
#8: “Treasure Planet” (2002)
While we’re on the subject of Disney movies that bombed, “Treasure Planet” is oft-remembered as one of the company’s biggest failures. Serving as a sci-fi iteration of “Treasure Island,” “Treasure Planet” was released in the midst of Disney’s early 2000s dark age. It’s the most expensive traditionally-animated film of all time, with a budget of $140 million, yet it grossed a horrible $110 million. Luckily, the movie has since developed a very devout cult following. An Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature helped legitimize its quality, and the DVD sold exceptionally well, grossing over $60 million in its first three months of release. It’s now regarded as one of Disney’s strongest and most visually inventive outputs of the 21st century.
#7: “Tron” (1982)
Serving as one of the most influential science fiction films ever made, “Tron” made enormous leaps in terms of visual effects, combining elements of live-action, computer animation, and traditional backlit animation. “Tron” was released in the summer of 1982 to middling success, grossing a disappointing $50 million and earning praise for its groundbreaking visuals but criticism for its storyline. “Tron” became more popular through TV and home video, having grossed nearly $20 million in rentals by 1993. It was also highly spoken of throughout the 1990s, with Pixar head John Lasseter calling it a major influence on “Toy Story” and helped earn Ken Perlin an Academy Award for Technical Achievement in 1997. A sequel, “Tron: Legacy,” was released in 2010.
#6: “Brazil” (1985)
Directed by Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame, “Brazil” is a brilliant satire on bureaucracy and corporatism that takes place in a dystopian future. Many critics have drawn parallels between “Brazil” and George Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four”, and some have even called it one of the greatest British movies ever made. “Brazil” has also influenced many popular films, including Tim Burton’s “Batman” and “The Descent.” And while the movie was critically well received at the time (earning two Oscar nominations), it was certainly not a popular film, grossing just $10 million at the North American box office. It also received some poor word-of-mouth from prominent American movie critics, including Roger Ebert.
#5: “Heathers” (1989)
This dark comedy was released at the height of the John Hughes era, with the popular writer/director having recently released “The Breakfast Club,” “Pretty in Pink,” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” All cute movies, all starring likable characters. And then “Heathers” came around to flip the teen genre on its head. While the movie received acclaim from critics, it proved a little too dark for the movie-going public, who were perhaps expecting another Hughes-esque comedy. It grossed a paltry $1 million, proving a bomb against its $3 million budget. However, “Heathers” found success on home video, and perhaps more importantly, gave rise to many common phrases. The Oxford English Dictionary credits “Heathers” with 11 entries, including “righteous” and “hang” (as in “hang out”).
#4: “Blade Runner” (1982)
Today, “Blade Runner” is regarded as one of the greatest sci-fi films ever made. Unfortunately, its initial release was bungled by Warner Bros., resulting in a less-than-stellar reception. Critics noted its slow pace and lack of action, and it grossed just $27 million domestically. Unfortunately, its financial success was severely hampered by the more family-friendly “E.T.”, which had been released just two weeks earlier. Fortunately, the reception of “Blade Runner” began to change throughout the ‘90s. The Director’s Cut was released in 1992, and it was preserved by the National Film Registry the following year. It was also around this time that academics began studying and publishing discourse on “Blade Runner,” further cementing its status as a legitimately great piece of art.
#3: “The Wizard of Oz” (1939)
According to the Library of Congress, “The Wizard of Oz” is the most-seen film in history. It’s not hard to see why. For one thing, it’s over 80 years old. For another, it remains incredibly popular to this day, and children are continuously introduced to its cinematic wonders. However, it was considered a financial disappointment in 1939, grossing just $3 million and losing MGM some significant cash. The movie faded from the public memory, and it wasn’t until 1956 that it became the icon it is today. It was then that “The Wizard of Oz” aired its first television broadcast, and it received significant viewership. The movie earned popularity through subsequent airings, and it soon became a national phenomenon.
#2: “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946)
This is another classic that owes its popularity to TV. The movie was a financial disaster for RKO, grossing just over $3 million throughout 1947. Unfortunately, the break-even point was placed at $6 million, making “It’s a Wonderful Life” a certified bomb. And while the movie earned five Oscar nominations, it was quickly forgotten by the general public. That is, until a clerical error placed the movie’s images in the public domain in 1974. TV stations snagged the movie owing to its lapsed copyright, and it became an annual Christmas favorite throughout the late ‘70s and ‘80s. The movie’s viewing remains an annual tradition for many, and it is now regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Matilda” (1996) Grossed Just $33.5 Million on a $36 Million Budget “Clue” (1985) Performed Poorly, But Later Found Success Through Home Video & TV “Children of Men” (2006) Box Office Bomb That Later Found Respect for Its Inventive Filmmaking “Starship Troopers” (1997) Initially Received Poor Reviews, But Has Undergone a Critical Re-Evaluation “The Iron Giant” (1999) Horrible Box Office Bomb, Grossing Just $31 Million on a $50 Million Budget
#1: “Citizen Kane” (1941)
Arguably the most influential film ever made, “Citizen Kane” has been widely praised for its epic story and inventive filmmaking techniques. Credited to Orson Welles, who was given full creative control by RKO, “Citizen Kane” received nine Oscar nominations but proved a disappointment at the box office, losing RKO upwards of $160,000. Welles’s reputation was tarnished, and “Citizen Kane” quickly faded from the public’s memory. However, its status began to change in the mid-’50s owing to repeated television airings, a theatrical re-release, and a particularly influential essay from film critic Andrew Sarris, who single-handedly altered the film’s artistic reputation. He famously called it “the Great American film,” and it has been regarded as such ever since.