Top 30 Box Office Bombs That Turned Into Cult Classics

- "Braindead" (1992)
- "Strange Days" (1995)
- "Jennifer's Body" (2009)
- "Phantom of the Paradise" (1974)
- "Highlander" (1986)
- "Idiocracy" (2006)
- "Dark City" (1998)
- "The King of Comedy" (1982)
- "Almost Famous" (2000)
- "Big Trouble in Little China" (1986)
- "Labyrinth" (1986)
- "Hocus Pocus" (1993)
- "Wet Hot American Summer" (2001)
- "Dredd" (2012)
- "Brazil" (1985)
- "Children of Men" (2006)
- "Clue" (1985)
- "Dazed and Confused" (1993)
- "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" (2010)
- "Heathers" (1989)
- "Donnie Darko" (2001)
- "Mulholland Drive" (2001)
- "The Iron Giant" (1999)
- "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994)
- "Office Space" (1999)
- "Fight Club" (1999)
- "The Thing" (1982)
- "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (1975)
- "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" (1971)
- "Blade Runner" (1982)
#30: “Braindead” (1992)
Before some of the most technically and financially groundbreaking triumphs in modern film, Peter Jackson was known in New Zealand for gory, microbudget dark comedies. Well, he wasn’t exactly widely known. Despite “Bad Taste” and “Meet the Feebles” not even making $100,000, Jackson made the action-packed zombie farce “Braindead” on $3 million. It grossed less than $250,000. “Gross” being the operative word, the film generated underground buzz for its bizarre humor, style and effects. The climactic zombie melee is resolutely one of the goriest scenes ever. As infamous as it is endearing, “Braindead” confirmed that Jackson had the creative vision to head more profitable spectacles. The film itself has risen from the financial grave to become a staple of splatter cinema.
#29: “Strange Days” (1995)
Kathryn Bigelow’s transition from straight action to more cerebral thrillers could be marked by a black market sensory interface dealer becoming embroiled in a high-stakes conspiracy. Thus, the James Cameron-produced and -written “Strange Days” had trouble defining an audience. It ultimately grossed $17 million against a budget of $42 million. The reception was also split by its neo-noir ambitions and brutality. But as viewers came around to Bigelow and Cameron’s perspective, many recognized the bold commentary behind the innovative filmmaking. It was indeed strange to imagine systemic discrimination, violence and corruption propelled by audiovisual technology. “Strange Days” was at least a hit at the 1996 Saturn Awards, and continues to captivate as its bleak sci-fi grows more real.
#28: “Jennifer’s Body” (2009)
By the late 2000s, Hollywood was talking too much about Megan Fox’s body. “Jennifer’s Body” was thus promoted as a trashy horror flick that played up the sex appeal in a possessed, flesh-eating high schooler. The supposed target audience were instead taken aback by the erratic tone of a biting satire on sexuality and gender politics. Mixed reviews led to a global box office take of $32 million on a $16 million budget, heavily inflated by the studio’s misguided marketing campaign. As mainstream feminism put such misogynistic methods under scrutiny, “Jennifer’s Body” gained a more favorable assessment for its creative storytelling and commentary. What was once perceived as quirky exploitation is now hailed as a gutsy feminist sensation.
#27: “Phantom of the Paradise” (1974)
Before Andrew Lloyd Webber, there was Brian De Palma’s “Phantom of the Paradise.” But critics and audiences struggled to get in tune with a rock musical about a masked musician wreaking havoc on a crooked music producer’s concert hall. Though the production budget was just over $1 million, conflicting box office reports never made it to $300,000. As the soundtrack earned considerable acclaim and accolades, however, the film itself became more embraced. Its subversive parody and production rode the later success of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” into an independent fandom. There’s even the occasional specialty screening before a massive crowd. Whether for camp or genuine spectacle, “Phantom of the Paradise” has become legend.
#26: “Highlander” (1986)
There can be only one, eh? That had to have been what the filmmakers thought after the disappointing release of the original “Highlander.” The saga of a 16th century Scottish warrior dueling fellow immortals throughout time was cut short of $13 million on a $19 million budget. The reviews were mixed, but audiences reacted more positively to the grandiose tone and a soundtrack which featured Queen’s “Who Wants to Live Forever.” The film was so much more successful on home video that it spawned a slew of hit sequels, TV shows, video games and more. There may no longer be one “Highlander,” but there is only one true underdog in the immortal franchise.
#25: “Idiocracy” (2006)
Mike Judge can really spoof the stupidity of modern society, but took a big chance on anticipating the idiocy of future society. “Idiocracy” follows a slacker cryosleep volunteer who wakes up to find he’s the smartest man in a dumbed-down world. The absurd satire of consumerism and anti-intellectualism won strong reviews, but ironically didn’t have enough commercial appeal for a wide release. Grossing just under $500,000 on a $2.4 million budget, the film gained more attention on home video and TV. Never mind the popular opinion that society has indeed been getting dumber. While many may be depressed by the prophesy of “Idiocracy,” many others are glad to get some laughs out of humanity’s ridiculous dystopia.
#24: “Dark City” (1998)
After the success of “The Crow,” Alex Proyas took his pulpy neo-noir deeper with the fittingly titled “Dark City.” Perhaps he went beyond the pale with an amnesiac murder suspect in a city devoid of sunlight and run by telekinetic totalitarians. With its dreary aesthetic and complicated plot, the film could only meet its initial production budget of $27 million. But those qualities also won rave reviews and a number of awards. Even after “The Matrix” blew up a year later, followers continue to plunge the depths of this twistedly sophisticated thriller. Filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan even cite it as a major influence. However selectively, “Dark City” now commands the spotlight as a modern sci-fi favorite.
#23: “The King of Comedy” (1982)
Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro had just finished a trilogy of dramatic masterpieces when they decided the audience needed some laughs. $2.5 million against a $19 million budget suggests that they just weren’t in the mood for awkward laughs. “The King of Comedy” chronicles the downward spiral of an aspiring comedian after a chance encounter with his idol. Besides sounding too much like “Taxi Driver,” the film alienated general audiences with its morbid social satire and absurd tone. Critics, on the other hand, were roaring about the subversive writing and ingenious delivery. And as the world has regained its cynicism, “The King of Comedy” now reigns over the black comedy genre as another influential Scorsese-De Niro masterpiece.
#22: “Almost Famous” (2000)
After a number of iconic dramedies in the ‘80s and ‘90s, writer-director Cameron Crowe rang in the new millennium by looking back. The semi-autobiographical “Almost Famous” hits the road with a teenage music journalist and a rising rock band during the 1970s. Unfortunately, audiences weren’t really digging the scene in the wake of ‘90s rock revival, and were likely put off by the wholesome nostalgia for R-rated subject matter. Despite the $47 million turnout on a $60 million budget, the attendees were blown away by the soundtrack, writing and heart. Film and music snobs alike raised the memorable gem from an underground sensation to a mainstream hit. Never mind famous; “Almost Famous” is now considered legendary.
#21: “Big Trouble in Little China” (1986)
“Master of Horror” John Carpenter’s action fare was also lucrative. Ironically, the fan favorite “Big Trouble in Little China” broke that streak. Kurt Russell plays a tough but lovable trucker who uncovers an ancient, mystical conspiracy during a rescue mission in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Despite that much splendor on a budget of around $20 million, the challenge in selling the genre-bender led to a $11.1 million take. Fox’s rush for a release before Paramount’s similarly themed “The Golden Child” didn't help. The ordeal prompted Carpenter to abandon major studios, though the film itself was praised as incomparable entertainment. With revived interest on home video and in pop culture, “Big Trouble” became a cult phenomenon for the ages.
#20: “Labyrinth” (1986)
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.
#19: “Hocus Pocus” (1993)
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.
#18: “Wet Hot American Summer” (2001)
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.
#17: “Dredd” (2012)
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.
#16: “Brazil” (1985)
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.”
#15: “Children of Men” (2006)
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.
#14: “Clue” (1985)
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.
#13: “Dazed and Confused” (1993)
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.
#12: “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” (2010)
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.
#11: “Heathers” (1989)
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
#10: “Donnie Darko” (2001)
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.
#9: “Mulholland Drive” (2001)
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.
#8: “The Iron Giant” (1999)
“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.
#7: “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994)
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.
#6: “Office Space” (1999)
“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.
#5: “Fight Club” (1999)
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.
#4: “The Thing” (1982)
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.
#3: “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975)
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.
#2: “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” (1971)
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.
#1: “Blade Runner” (1982)
“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.
What are your favorite films that didn’t find much of an audience at first? Give your recommendations in the comments.