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If the history of cinema has taught us nothing else , it ’s that majuscule films are n’t always appreciated in their own prison term . You need only take a glance at the box office statistic for any given twelvemonth and you ’ll spot at least one critical darling or cult classic that tanked commercially .
honest , some of these flicks were always live to turn up a bit too niche to cater to a across-the-board consultation . But more than a few possess enough mainstream collection that it ’s downright amaze they were n’t able-bodied to generate high tag sales . Indeed , with good marketing campaigns , strong news - of - mouth , or even just a bit of salutary ol’ fashioned luck , the 10 box seat office bombs on this list could easily have reverse their chance .
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World – Edgar Wright ’s adaptation of the acclaimed vivid novels by Bryan Lee O’Malley – took San Diego Comic - Con by violent storm in 2010 … only to fizzle out when it was release in theatres afterward that twelvemonth . Although distributor Universal Theatres chalked this up to the activeness / comedy ’s far-out charms going over the chief of the average moviegoer , we ’re not so trusted we harmonize .
After all , Scott Pilgrimis practically tailor - made for mod 20- and 30 - something audiences : a hyper kinetic laugher starring relatable characters and jam - packed with pop cultivation references , all correct to a killer soundtrack . So candidly , we ’re not certain why this one flopped . Seriously : how does a icon about a guy confronting his girl ’s seven evil ex-wife - boyfriends in telecasting plot - barrack do fail ?
The Iron Giant
require any motion picture lover to name their top 10 renovate picture show over the past 20 years , and luck are thatThe Iron Giantwill lift up somewhere in the mix . Brad Bird ’s first sashay in the director ’s death chair is a big screen reimagining of Ted Hughes ’ 1968 children ’s bookThe Iron Man . This toon packs as much emotional and thematic free weight as any unrecorded - action megahit .
regrettably , it was jump by Warner Bros. ’ lackluster promotional efforts , which think of that – despite rave reviews and a pot of award win – almost nobody find out this affecting narration about a boy and his over - sized automaton friend . On the plus side , The Iron Gianthas since achieved greater success through its various home media releases , while Bird himself went on to nab Best Animated Feature Oscars forThe IncrediblesandRatatouille .
Fight Club
" The first rule of Fight Club is – you do not babble about Fight Club . " It ’s one of the most memorable lines of all clip … the only problem was that not enough mass were blab out about David Fincher ’s film in real living , either . What ’s more , those whodiddiscuss this Chuck Palahnuik version could n’t harmonize whether its arresting deconstruction of the ' 90s male person psyche justify its graphic themes and nihilistic tone .
So despite bombination bit by bit build around the knock - out performances by Edward Norton and Brad Pitt – not to mention its smartly handled plot of ground twist – Fight Clubwasn’t able to lure moviegoers wary of its visceral subject matter . Sure , it grossed $ 100.9 million off the back of a $ 63 million budget , but once you factor in selling toll , Fincher ’s gritty masterpiece did n’t even earn Warner Bros. its money back .
Children Of Men
We ’re going to be brutally good , here : the odds were always stacked againstChildren of Men . For newcomer , this dystopian thriller – free-base on P.D. James ’ novel about a world where global infertility imperil the hereafter of humanity – only open up in a minuscule number of theatres . Worse still , it ’s a decidedly grim affair , which made the decision to loose it in the United States around Christmas time a bit of a fountainhead - scratcher .
But easy the heavy hurdle between Alfonso Cuarón ’s motion picture and box office success was that it wassmart . Cuarón refuses to spoon - feed information to audience and instead demands that they fill in narrative gap themselves . This proved a spell - off for those used to more traditional , expository storytelling . In the end , Children of Mencouldn’t surmount the challenge arrayed against it , and one of the hunky-dory motion picture of 2006 did n’t even reimburse its budget .
The Shawshank Redemption
Surely a Best Picture Academy Award nomination should be enough to guarantee a monolithic box office haul , right ? Wrong ! Just ask Frank Darabont , who indite and directedThe Shawshank Redemption , which flopped during its initial theatrical run despite its obvious Oscar - bore quality .
Oh , and let ’s also not forget that the source cloth for Darabont ’s screenplay was a novella by mega - popular scribe Stephen King – seemingly yet another component for trusted - fire bankability . Nevertheless , The Shawshank Redemptiondidn’t rake in any hard cash until it was re - released to draw - in with its prize season run , although this affecting prison house drama is now considered one of the not bad picture show of all time .
The Lone Ranger
While most of the flick on this list finally turn a earnings or at least pull in all-embracing recognition , The Lone Rangerhas still yet to do either . Remarkably , minus pre - release industry chatter andsavage decisive write - upswere enough to derail Gore Verbinski ’s update of the classic 1930s westerly radio show , on the face of it forever .
candidly , we ’re hard - pressed to explicate whyThe Lone Rangerhasn’t been able to find an audience . Leads Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp share a appealing “ leftover twosome ” interpersonal chemistry , the old school action place pieces are suitably thrilling , and lionize auteur Quentin Tarantino even named it one of his preferent movie of 2013 ! Is it the bang-up movie of all fourth dimension ? Far from it – but much worse megahit films have performed far well .
This Is Spinal Tap
This Is Spinal Tapmay well be the definition of “ sleeper smash . ” Rob Reiner ’s improv - heavy music mockumentary did n’t exactly light the box office on fire when it shed back in 1984 . However , it did unanimous business when it was released on home medium later that year .
It ’s hard to pinpoint the exact grounds why audience did n’t immediately warm toSpinal Tap . If we had to estimate , though , we ’d blame the surprising level of verisimilitude achieved by Reiner and his mould and work party . No matter how ridiculous this satire of the overindulgence in tilt and scroll cultivation gets – let in the infamousamplifier that dials up to 11 ! – it ’s always grounded in just enough reality for its gags to fly over less astute viewers ’ heads .
Dredd
We ’re just going to go ahead and call it : Dreddis the cracking risible record movie reboot of all time and undeniablythe most command . Director Pete Travis rub out all memories of the widely - panned 1995 Sylvester Stallone fomite , serving up a taut sci - fi military action joint that finally did 2000AD ’s iconic law enforcer justice .
Karl Urban gets Judge Dredd ’s signature tune frown down pat , while the dull - motion visuals metamorphose the film ’s lifelike violence into something disarmingly beautiful . convulse in praiseworthily restrained production design and a lean game that utterly equilibrise brutal situated pieces with effective character beat , andDredd ’s tepid commercial-grade reception is categorical - out puzzling .
Donnie Darko
Equal part coming - of - age dramatic play and sci - fi psychological thriller , Donnie Darkoblew critic aside when it premiere in 2001 , but it transcend mainstream audiences by entirely . Perhaps the yarn Richard Kelly spun wastoo sheer , too esoteric , or square - up too weirdfor the public – whatever the reason , it floundered financially .
That said , Donnie Darkolined distributer Newmarket Films ’ pockets when it became available on home video , although debate still chafe over whether the more explanatory director ’s cut is superior to the theatrical edition . It was also implemental in launching the vocation of Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal , so it ’s fair to say its bequest is guarantee .
Citizen Kane
Fun fact : despite being on a regular basis cited asthe keen flick ever made , Citizen Kanedidn’t even fall enough cash to cover its output cost . Why ? Three little lyric : William Randolph Hearst . Orson Welles drew heavy from the details of Hearst ’s life to flesh out fabricated tycoon Charles Foster Kane ’s personality and backstory .
The newspaper magnate take criminal offense , exercise his considerable influence to deter cinemagoers from seeing the film , a ploy which clearly ante up off . But Hearst could n’t keepCitizen Kanefrom the masses forever , and before too long , both Welles and his magnum opus were shower with the praise they so richly merit .
NEXT : Men In Black : International Bombs At Box Office With $ 28 Million Weekend
