Top 20 Box Office Bombs That Gained a Cult Following

Fantasy musicals aren’t an easy sell. This one also featured puppets. “Labyrinth” underperformed at the domestic box office, opening at number eight and grossing $35 million worldwide. With a budget of $25 million, it wasn’t an outright bomb, but it was considered a major disappointment. In fact, the movie’s lukewarm reception sent director Jim Henson into a depression, and it would be the last theatrical movie he ever directed. However, the film is now considered a cult classic, famous for its visual design, wonderful puppetry, and gloriously hammy performance from David Bowie.

For many, “Hocus Pocus” is an annual Halloween tradition. Every year we watch Winifred, Sarah, and Mary get up to comedic shenanigans in Salem, and we find something to enjoy every single time. But audiences were not having it in 1993. Despite being one of the Halloween-est of Halloween movies, “Hocus Pocus” opened smack in the middle of July. So people weren’t really in the mood for an autumn movie. Combined with a tepid critical reception, “Hocus Pocus” could not produce any magic at the box office, losing Disney an estimated $16.5 million. But thanks to repeat television airings at Halloween, “Hocus Pocus” was resurrected from the dead.

Until 2015, few people had ever heard of 2001’s “Wet Hot American Summer”. But then Netflix released the prequel series “First Day of Camp”, creating new interest in the original movie. Back then, stars Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Banks, and Bradley Cooper didn’t have the same name recognition they do now. The film’s script was also widely criticized, with many arguing that it was a poor parody of ‘80s sex comedies. As a result, the movie performed abysmally. Its widest opening was over the Labor Day weekend, when it was played in a whole 12 theaters. It ended up grossing just $295,000, well below its meager $1.8 million budget.

It’s hard to say why “Dredd” bombed, but the awful Sylvester Stallone movie from 1995 might have something to do with it. That movie also performed quite poorly, grossing $113 million on a $90 million budget. But the 2012 version was actually a good movie, featuring a fantastic Karl Urban in the titular role, spectacular action, and a smart script from Alex Garland. Regardless, it still only grossed $41.5 million on a $45 million budget, dashing Garland’s hopes of producing a trilogy. For whatever reason, mainstream audiences just don’t connect with the Judge. But those who give him the time of day end up loving him.

Terry Gilliam of “Monty Python” fame directed this surreal dystopian black comedy that explores individualism, bureaucracy, and governmental overreach. Admittedly, that isn’t exactly a recipe for a crowd-pleasing blockbuster. “Brazil” is an excellent movie though, featuring stellar art direction and a wickedly intelligent script reminiscent of George Orwell. While it found some success in Europe, “Brazil” failed to connect with North American audiences and grossed just $10 million on a $15 million budget. Today however, it’s considered a cult classic. Gilliam would again find surreal cult classic status with 1998’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.”

We return to the dystopia well with “Children of Men,” a bleak action thriller from Alfonso Cuarón. The story takes place in 2027, when an infertility crisis has threatened humanity with extinction and turned the world into a violent hellhole. It’s an exceptionally well-made film, drawing Oscar nominations for its writing, editing, and cinematography. The latter two combine to create the film’s lauded single-shot action sequences. But maybe the movie was just too dark for mainstream audiences, as it grossed just $70.5 million on a $76 million budget.

If they had to pick a board game to adapt into a movie, “Clue” was probably the right choice. The game is tailor-made for a good story, featuring colorful characters, a murder mystery, and a fun setting. And “Clue” pulled it off remarkably well. While some argue that the movie is a bit gimmicky (like its inclusion of three different endings), the excellent cast make it all worthwhile. Big names like Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, and Martin Mull help keep things interesting, and Tim Curry brings exceptional energy and comedic wit as Wadsworth. But “Clue” was found dead in the ballroom, grossing just under its budget of $15 million.

Like “Wet Hot American Summer”, this teen comedy features actors who would later become major names in Hollywood - including Milla Jovovich, Ben Affleck, and Matthew McConaughey. And almost no one went to see it. Sure, it did a heck of a lot better than that movie’s $295,000, grossing $8 million. But with a budget of $7 million, “Dazed and Confused” left the studio in a similar state. Regardless, the film is now an iconic piece of pop culture, with McConaughey’s David Wooderson giving us plenty of memorable lines and memes.

This movie is certainly an acquired taste. The story follows Michael Cera’s Scott as he battles his current girlfriend’s exes. The movie is shot in a very cartoonish and stylized manner, and it comes across as more of a visual comic book than a conventional film. However, mainstream audiences couldn’t quite handle the unique content, and “Scott Pilgrim” only opened fifth at the box office. It quickly dropped out of the top ten and grossed only $47 million worldwide. The movie was considered a huge financial disappointment, but its devoted fanbase has ensured that it isn’t forgotten. At least, not in movie fan circles. The general public forgot about it long ago.

Winona Ryder was just coming onto the scene in 1989, having starred in “Beetlejuice” the year prior. So while she wasn’t unknown, she wasn’t yet the box office draw she would become in the ‘90s. It’s also likely that the storyline of “Heathers” threw people off, as the protagonist is a misanthrope who wants to blow up a high school. It failed to meet its relatively small budget of $3 million, opening with just $177,000 and finishing with a gross of $1 million. However, while it didn’t find an audience back in 89, the cynical satire, dark story, and clever subversion of coming-of-age teen films eventually made “Heathers” a cult classic

It may surprise you to find that “Donnie Darko” was initially met with a very lukewarm reception. While the movie is now considered a classic that can spawn hours upon hours of discussion, audiences originally thought it to be a confusing, pretentious mess. That said, “Donnie Darko” was never meant to light the box office on fire, and it was released to a very small number of screens. It ended up grossing a measly $517,000 in the domestic market and $7 million worldwide, and while the movie recouped its budget, it failed to generate a profit. However, it enjoyed very strong DVD sales and word-of-mouth, eventually leading to its classification as a cult classic.

David Lynch is a director with a legion of fans but who rarely finds success at the box office. That largely has to do with the surreal and often nonsensical nature of his films, including “Mulholland Drive.” The movie failed to make much of an impression at the box office; its widest release was in 247 theaters, and it grossed just $20 million. With a budget of $15 million, the film could be considered a major financial disappointment. But Lynch has always been more concerned with artistic integrity than mainstream popularity, and “Mulholland Drive” is arguably his masterpiece. It’s now considered one of the greatest movies ever made, even landing in eighth place on the 2022 Sight & Sound poll.

“The Iron Giant” is another classic that initially failed to make waves. The movie received stellar reviews, with some critics even calling it one of the best animated movies of all time. And while it received a wide release, it generated about $5 million during its opening weekend, leading to a hugely disappointing ninth place finish. Theaters quickly got rid of the movie, and it ended up grossing $31 million on a $70 million budget, leading the president of Warner Bros. to admit that they got “slaughtered.” Luckily, the movie enjoyed success on home video and television syndication, and it’s now regarded by some as an underappreciated masterpiece.

Like most critically acclaimed Best Picture nominees, “The Shawshank Redemption” was adored by critics but found little praise or attention from the general movie going public. It was made on a $25 million budget and received a wide release in September of 1994, but it ended up grossing only $16 million. Many theories were posited regarding its failure, including competition from the equally acclaimed “Pulp Fiction” and “Forrest Gump” and general audiences’ lack of interest in prestigious prison drama. However, it escaped from its box office prison and saw great success on home video, where it was quickly labelled a classic.

“Office Space” is often touted as the quintessential movie for white-collar office drones. Unfortunately, it seems as if general audiences either couldn’t relate or simply didn’t care. While the film generated good reviews due to its accurate depiction of white-collar life, it grossed only $12 million on a $10 million budget. The movie eventually sold millions of DVDs and saw success on TV when Comedy Central began airing the movie in the early 2000s. It is now known as one of the funniest and most relatable comedies of the 90s, and it was even referenced in a Ted Cruz campaign ad, signifying its continued relevance.

Man, 1999 was loaded with great movies that bombed at the box office! “Fight Club,” as we’re sure you know by now, is a great movie about consumerism, anarchism, and mental illness. What it’s not, despite its title, is an action movie. However, Fox ended up highlighting the fighting aspect in the marketing, leading many to believe that this was a brainless action movie about fight clubs. The movie drew a young, male demographic, and despite earning $100 million, it was considered a financial disappointment due to its $63 million budget as its domestic box office take was only $37 million. The movie was re-evaluated on home video, and many people now consider it to be one of finest movies of the ‘90s.

John Carpenter’s 1982 classic is often thought to be one of the greatest horror movies of all time. It’s renowned for its intelligence and atmosphere, and its prosthetic effects are often considered to be some of the finest in cinema history. However, “The Thing” was regarded as absolute trash upon release. It received scathing reviews for its revolting violence and relentless bleakness, and it significantly underperformed at the box office. Film fans have continuously argued about its failure, with many pointing to its depressing tone, its ill-timed release near “E.T.,” and the oversaturation of science fiction films at the time.

If there’s one movie that defines the cult classic, it’s “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” This unique musical science fiction horror comedy blend was initially met with a very lukewarm reception, and it was quickly pulled from theaters due to a lack of interest. A Fox executive eventually talked distributors into releasing the movie on the midnight circuit, and it was here that “Rocky Horror” became a smash hit. Its theater showings became world-renowned for their weirdness and fan interactivity, and it has remained in limited theaters for over forty years, making it the longest-running film in history.

While “Willy Wonka” may be a classic today, it was all-but ignored upon its initial release in 1971. While it received good reviews (Roger Ebert even compared it to “The Wizard of Oz”), it did poorly at the box office, earning just $2 million during its opening weekend and quickly dropping out of existence. It seemed like just another forgotten children’s movie until the mid-80s, when it found success on home video and TV. It has enjoyed continued success ever since, ensuring that the Oompa Loompas didn’t have to sing “Willy Wonka” a creepy exit song.

“Blade Runner” has certainly had a storied history. It initially received a polarized response, with some praising its intricate themes and visuals while others criticized its unusual narrative. It also underperformed at the box office. The reasons for this are many – audiences were expecting a conventional action/sci-fi thrill ride, its slow pace and complex ideas threw off mainstream audiences, and it was released too close to similar blockbusters like “E.T.” and “Star Trek II.” It saw greater success on home video, and its numerous re-edits have garnered greater critical appreciation from both critics and audiences. It’s now considered to be one of the greatest science fiction movies of all time. The movie’s sequel would suffer a similar fate 35 years later, drawing acclaim for its story and cinematography, but losing the studio about $80 million.