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JamesG · 09-01-2010, 07:11 AM

10 Beloved Movies That Started as Box-Office Disappointments
August 31, 2010 | By: Alonso Duralde

Poor Scott Pilgrim vs. the World:

Critics and audiences have loved the unique way that it grafts comic-book and video-game storytelling onto moviemaking, and it's the kind of movie that's destined to garner great word of mouth (and sell lots of DVDs) in the years to come.

Right now, unfortunately, there aren't enough enthusiastic audiences out there to rescue the movie from being one of the big money-losers of the summer of 2010.

But buck up, Mr. Pilgrim -- the history of movies is dotted with films that died in theaters but eventually become popular classics anyway.

With any luck, you'll join this list:

1. Fight Club (1999)

Nowadays, people quote this movie constantly, and other films and TV shows make references to it, and we all know the shocking plot twist.

(There were even real-life fight clubs inspired by the film.)

Alas, in its original 1999 release, all those pictures of a shirtless, scruffy Brad Pitt couldn't get moviegoers interested to find out "Who Is Tyler Durden?"

David Fincher's adaptation of the Chuck Palahniuk novel did big biz overseas, but in the U.S., Fight Club rustled up a mere $37 million, meaning it got out-earned by movies with much less staying power.

(When's the last time you popped Blue Streak or Bicentennial Man into your DVD player?)

2. Donnie Darko (2001)

It's the movie that launched Jake Gyllenhaal's career, made writer-director Richard Kelly a cult-film icon and embedded "Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion" into the popular vocabulary.

And audiences certainly snapped up this quirky teen-angst/time-travel tale on DVD, making it popular enough to spawn a Director's Cut reissue.

Impossible as it may seem now, however, Donnie Darko was merely a blip on the landscape during its theatrical run, raking in only $517,735.

(The extended reissue didn't do much better, with a total of $753,147.)

It was an offbeat movie aimed at teens that played with cinematic language and rewarded multiple viewings -- that sound familiar, Scott Pilgrim fans?

3. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Oh yes, your Christmas wouldn't be complete without an annual visit to Bedford Falls and the redemption of hard-working, kind-hearted George Bailey (James Stewart), the assistance of guardian angel Clarence (Henry Travers), Zuzu's petals and 'Buffalo Gals' and everything else.

But the holiday story that doesn't often get told is that Wonderful was anything but at the box office, laying an egg so huge that it pretty much single-handedly destroyed director Frank Capra's fledgling production company Liberty Films.

It wasn't until the film lapsed into the public domain in the 1970s and started wallpapering TV during the month of December that audiences discovered what a gem it was --

which, in a weird way, affirms the movie's good-karma message.

4. Office Space (1999)

It's the movie that taught us all what "flair" is -- and it inspired Swingline to introduce a red stapler --

but even though this satirical workplace comedy from animator Mike Judge went on to garner a huge following on DVD, a crappy marketing campaign sank the film's theatrical chances, winding up with a mere $10.8 million.

(Even a FOX studio head later admitted the ads were all wrong.)

The weird postscript to all this is that Judge made another sharp, satirical comedy for the same studio -- which made even less money, because FOX basically buried Idiocracy in a handful of cities with no promotion whatsoever before shuttling it off to DVD.

(That movie, too, found its following on home video.)

5. Xanadu (1980)

This roller-disco musical wasn't just a box-office disappointment; hitting theaters around the time that "Disco Sucks" bumper stickers were popping up everywhere...

this silly, entertaining fantasy film almost instantly became the butt of jokes in every corner of pop culture.

But Xanadu got the last laugh -- the soundtrack of Olivia Newton-John and ELO hits turned into a perennial, the movie became the basis for a popular and critically acclaimed Broadway musical and the film itself is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary with big-screen revival presentations around the country.

So put THAT in your legwarmers, hater.

6. Showgirls (1995)

Another film that found itself roundly mocked upon its original release was Paul Verhoeven's melodramatic tale of Las Vegas topless dancers and their ruthless climb to the top.

But while the film temporarily hobbled Elizabeth Berkley's post-"Saved by the Bell" career -- and pretty much put the kibosh on the commercial viability of the NC-17 rating -- this campy and purple-prose-packed hoot became catnip for drag queens and other gay fans of overdone cinema.

While the original take was just $20 million (on an alleged budget of $45 million), years and years of midnight screenings and DVD special editions have transformed this ugly duckling into a swan that lays golden eggs.

7. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Speaking of midnight movies, perhaps no other film in the history of the medium owes its success to the late-late show as much as this polymorphously perverse musical.

Originally released in the fall of 1975, the movie flopped in eight cities and then in a reissued double bill with Phantom of the Paradise.

The Rocky phenomenon didn't really take off until the following spring, when it began running at midnight in New York City.

In no time, the film became a nationwide sensation, with audience members dressing like the characters, yelling back at the screen, tossing rice and toast at each other and, of course, doing 'The Time Warp' in the aisles.

Still technically considered to be in limited release after 35 years, Rocky Horror remains the cult sensation by which all others are measured.

8. Tron (1982)

1982 was a big summer for sci-fi/fantasy -- if your movie's title was E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.

That year also saw the release of Disney's ambitious tale of a video-game creator (Jeff Bridges) who winds up trapped in a world of his own design.

But while the computer effects were state-of-the-art, the story didn't grab audiences ... at first, anyway. '

Tron went from punchline to touchstone, as subsequent generations of nerds were entranced and excited by the film's life-inside-the-computer premise.

And now this one-time embarrassment has become the launchpad for one of 2010's most anticipated releases, the reboot/sequel TRON: Legacy, which the studio has been marketing to hard-core fanboys for more than a year now.

9. The Stunt Man (1980)

Despite acclaim at film festivals and rapturous reviews (including one from the notoriously tough-to-please Pauline Kael), The Stunt Man never got the backing it needed from 20th Century FOX, which chucked the movie into a few cities and basically ignored it.

(As Peter O'Toole later observed on the DVD, "The film wasn't released -- it escaped.")

Nonetheless, the film went on to snag a well-deserved Oscar nomination for O'Toole (who plays a dictatorial filmmaker who helps a fugitive hide out by hiring him as a stuntman), and the 1980 film has gone on to be considered an American classic...

and one of the best films ever made about moviemaking (and the blurry line between cinema and reality).

10. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Here's a movie that became a classic around the time the film's original audience (anyone aged 4-8 in 1971) went to college, but the film's dark and twisted sense of humor made audiences of the time feel skittish about touring Wonka's factory.

The failure of Wonka was something of a double-whammy -- not only did the movie do disappointing numbers, but Quaker Oats (who financed the movie) lost its shirt on an equally unsuccessful line of candy tie-ins.

But there's a sweet ending: The movie is now considered to be one of the great kid films of all time, and there's a new line of Wonka brand deluxe chocolate bars (that was launched, appropriately enough, with a "golden ticket" giveaway).

http://insidemovies.moviefone.com/20...-office-bombs/

Cactus Jack · 09-01-2010, 10:08 AM

Interesting....

oh and Bicentennial Man? Worst movie ever

Good list though!

Torgo · 09-01-2010, 11:56 AM

A Christmas Story should be on there/

JamesG · 09-01-2010, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

Interesting....

oh and Bicentennial Man? Worst movie ever

Good list though!

Haven't seen that one in a while, but I remember not liking it.

Torgo · 09-01-2010, 03:20 PM

The Stunt Man is a fantastic movie.

JamesG · 09-02-2010, 01:13 AM

Blade Runner should also be here.

It initially flopped at its original release but has since become regarded as one of the best science-fiction movies ever made.

Marvo301 · 09-02-2010, 01:18 AM

The Wizard of Oz and Casablanca could also be added to this list.

JamesG · 09-02-2010, 01:41 AM

One of my favorite movies of all time, Donnie Darko, is on the list and it's interesting as to what went on that led to its theatrical failure.

The main thing is that the movie's main release was around the Sept. 11th attacks so any movie released during this time was going to hurt.

Another thing was that the movie's marketing didn't know exactly what to do with how to promote it. You can't lure in an audience over something that you aren't sure about on how to promote.

As you can see above the original DVD cover resembles a stereotypical slasher movie-type thing which is not at all what the movie is.

The cover of the Director's Cut edition and Blu-ray edition, released a few years later, feature much different cover art compared to the original "slasher movie":

browneyes106 · 09-02-2010, 10:42 AM

Very good list. I don't think Bicentinnial Man was that great.

catlover79 · 09-02-2010, 01:36 PM

Great article!!

Torgo · 09-02-2010, 01:42 PM

Both Buckaroo Banzai, and Big Trouble In Little China. Both have huge cult followings but did poorly at the box office.

JamesG · 09-02-2010, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

Both Buckaroo Banzai, and Big Trouble In Little China. Both have huge cult followings but did poorly at the box office.

One more is John Carpenter's The Thing.

Another sci-fi flop released around the time of E.T. and Tron but has found its audience through the home video market.

Torgo · 09-02-2010, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

One more is John Carpenter's The Thing.

Another sci-fi flop released around the time of E.T. and Tron but has found its audience through the home video market.

If I remember correctly, on the DVD commentary for Big Trouble In Little China Kurt Russell said the home video market saved his career.

JamesG · 09-02-2010, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

If I remember correctly, on the DVD commentary for Big Trouble In Little China Kurt Russell said the home video market saved his career.

The home market is how a good chunk of box-office under-performers get noticed.

Sometimes it calls for a re-release if it gets a lot of attention.

browneyes106 · 09-03-2010, 04:14 PM

One movie that I think would sort of fit on this list is Drop Dead Gorgeous. It gained a bigger following when it hit cable and DVD.

09-01-2010, 07:11 AM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,136	Moviefone: "10 Beloved Movies That Started as Box-Office Disappointments" 10 Beloved Movies That Started as Box-Office Disappointments August 31, 2010 \| By: Alonso Duralde Poor Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: Critics and audiences have loved the unique way that it grafts comic-book and video-game storytelling onto moviemaking, and it's the kind of movie that's destined to garner great word of mouth (and sell lots of DVDs) in the years to come. Right now, unfortunately, there aren't enough enthusiastic audiences out there to rescue the movie from being one of the big money-losers of the summer of 2010. But buck up, Mr. Pilgrim -- the history of movies is dotted with films that died in theaters but eventually become popular classics anyway. With any luck, you'll join this list: *1. Fight Club* (1999)** Nowadays, people quote this movie constantly, and other films and TV shows make references to it, and we all know the shocking plot twist. (There were even real-life fight clubs inspired by the film.) Alas, in its original 1999 release, all those pictures of a shirtless, scruffy Brad Pitt couldn't get moviegoers interested to find out "Who Is Tyler Durden?" David Fincher's adaptation of the Chuck Palahniuk novel did big biz overseas, but in the U.S., Fight Club rustled up a mere $37 million, meaning it got out-earned by movies with much less staying power. (When's the last time you popped Blue Streak or Bicentennial Man into your DVD player?) *2. Donnie Darko* (2001)** It's the movie that launched Jake Gyllenhaal's career, made writer-director Richard Kelly a cult-film icon and embedded "Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion" into the popular vocabulary. And audiences certainly snapped up this quirky teen-angst/time-travel tale on DVD, making it popular enough to spawn a Director's Cut reissue. Impossible as it may seem now, however, Donnie Darko was merely a blip on the landscape during its theatrical run, raking in only $517,735. (The extended reissue didn't do much better, with a total of $753,147.) It was an offbeat movie aimed at teens that played with cinematic language and rewarded multiple viewings -- that sound familiar, Scott Pilgrim fans? *3. It's a Wonderful Life* (1946)** Oh yes, your Christmas wouldn't be complete without an annual visit to Bedford Falls and the redemption of hard-working, kind-hearted George Bailey (James Stewart), the assistance of guardian angel Clarence (Henry Travers), Zuzu's petals and 'Buffalo Gals' and everything else. But the holiday story that doesn't often get told is that Wonderful was anything but at the box office, laying an egg so huge that it pretty much single-handedly destroyed director Frank Capra's fledgling production company Liberty Films. It wasn't until the film lapsed into the public domain in the 1970s and started wallpapering TV during the month of December that audiences discovered what a gem it was -- which, in a weird way, affirms the movie's good-karma message. *4. Office Space* (1999)** It's the movie that taught us all what "flair" is -- and it inspired Swingline to introduce a red stapler -- but even though this satirical workplace comedy from animator Mike Judge went on to garner a huge following on DVD, a crappy marketing campaign sank the film's theatrical chances, winding up with a mere $10.8 million. (Even a FOX studio head later admitted the ads were all wrong.) The weird postscript to all this is that Judge made another sharp, satirical comedy for the same studio -- which made even less money, because FOX basically buried Idiocracy in a handful of cities with no promotion whatsoever before shuttling it off to DVD. (That movie, too, found its following on home video.) *5. Xanadu* (1980)** This roller-disco musical wasn't just a box-office disappointment; hitting theaters around the time that "Disco Sucks" bumper stickers were popping up everywhere... this silly, entertaining fantasy film almost instantly became the butt of jokes in every corner of pop culture. But Xanadu got the last laugh -- the soundtrack of Olivia Newton-John and ELO hits turned into a perennial, the movie became the basis for a popular and critically acclaimed Broadway musical and the film itself is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary with big-screen revival presentations around the country. So put THAT in your legwarmers, hater. *6. Showgirls* (1995)** Another film that found itself roundly mocked upon its original release was Paul Verhoeven's melodramatic tale of Las Vegas topless dancers and their ruthless climb to the top. But while the film temporarily hobbled Elizabeth Berkley's post-"Saved by the Bell" career -- and pretty much put the kibosh on the commercial viability of the NC-17 rating -- this campy and purple-prose-packed hoot became catnip for drag queens and other gay fans of overdone cinema. While the original take was just $20 million (on an alleged budget of $45 million), years and years of midnight screenings and DVD special editions have transformed this ugly duckling into a swan that lays golden eggs. *7. The Rocky Horror Picture Show* (1975)** Speaking of midnight movies, perhaps no other film in the history of the medium owes its success to the late-late show as much as this polymorphously perverse musical. Originally released in the fall of 1975, the movie flopped in eight cities and then in a reissued double bill with Phantom of the Paradise. The Rocky phenomenon didn't really take off until the following spring, when it began running at midnight in New York City. In no time, the film became a nationwide sensation, with audience members dressing like the characters, yelling back at the screen, tossing rice and toast at each other and, of course, doing 'The Time Warp' in the aisles. Still technically considered to be in limited release after 35 years, Rocky Horror remains the cult sensation by which all others are measured. *8. Tron* (1982)** 1982 was a big summer for sci-fi/fantasy -- if your movie's title was E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial. That year also saw the release of Disney's ambitious tale of a video-game creator (Jeff Bridges) who winds up trapped in a world of his own design. But while the computer effects were state-of-the-art, the story didn't grab audiences ... at first, anyway. ' Tron went from punchline to touchstone, as subsequent generations of nerds were entranced and excited by the film's life-inside-the-computer premise. And now this one-time embarrassment has become the launchpad for one of 2010's most anticipated releases, the reboot/sequel TRON: Legacy, which the studio has been marketing to hard-core fanboys for more than a year now. *9. The Stunt Man* (1980)** Despite acclaim at film festivals and rapturous reviews (including one from the notoriously tough-to-please Pauline Kael), The Stunt Man never got the backing it needed from 20th Century FOX, which chucked the movie into a few cities and basically ignored it. (As Peter O'Toole later observed on the DVD, "The film wasn't released -- it escaped.") Nonetheless, the film went on to snag a well-deserved Oscar nomination for O'Toole (who plays a dictatorial filmmaker who helps a fugitive hide out by hiring him as a stuntman), and the 1980 film has gone on to be considered an American classic... and one of the best films ever made about moviemaking (and the blurry line between cinema and reality). *10. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory* (1971)** Here's a movie that became a classic around the time the film's original audience (anyone aged 4-8 in 1971) went to college, but the film's dark and twisted sense of humor made audiences of the time feel skittish about touring Wonka's factory. The failure of Wonka was something of a double-whammy -- not only did the movie do disappointing numbers, but Quaker Oats (who financed the movie) lost its shirt on an equally unsuccessful line of candy tie-ins. But there's a sweet ending: The movie is now considered to be one of the great kid films of all time, and there's a new line of Wonka brand deluxe chocolate bars (that was launched, appropriately enough, with a "golden ticket" giveaway). http://insidemovies.moviefone.com/20...-office-bombs/

09-01-2010, 10:08 AM	#2
Cactus Jack RonFingSwanson Forum Idol Join Date: Dec 09, 2001 Location: Santa Rosa Beach,FL Posts: 103,099	Interesting.... oh and Bicentennial Man? Worst movie ever Good list though!
	__________________ Id Love to help you Tracy, but I cant have sex with a black guy, Id lose my endorsement deal with NASCAR-Jenna Maroney,30 Rock April 17,2009 9:02 PM : 100,000th post!

09-01-2010, 11:56 AM	#3
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,036	A Christmas Story should be on there/
	__________________ "I'm going to go do something productive. I'm gonna go watch television." - Ray Peterson, The 'burbs "I am the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and Fries." - Stephen King "There's nothing wrong with G-rated movies, as long as there's lots of sex and violence." - Elvira

09-02-2010, 01:18 AM	#7
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	The Wizard of Oz and Casablanca could also be added to this list.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

09-02-2010, 01:41 AM	#8
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,136	One of my favorite movies of all time, Donnie Darko, is on the list and it's interesting as to what went on that led to its theatrical failure. The main thing is that the movie's main release was around the Sept. 11th attacks so any movie released during this time was going to hurt. Another thing was that the movie's marketing didn't know exactly what to do with how to promote it. You can't lure in an audience over something that you aren't sure about on how to promote. As you can see above the original DVD cover resembles a stereotypical slasher movie-type thing which is not at all what the movie is. The cover of the Director's Cut edition and Blu-ray edition, released a few years later, feature much different cover art compared to the original "slasher movie": Attached Images

09-01-2010, 03:20 PM	#5
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,036	The Stunt Man is a fantastic movie.

09-02-2010, 01:13 AM	#6
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,136	Blade Runner should also be here. It initially flopped at its original release but has since become regarded as one of the best science-fiction movies ever made.

09-02-2010, 10:42 AM	#9
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	Very good list. I don't think Bicentinnial Man was that great.

09-02-2010, 01:36 PM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Great article!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

09-02-2010, 01:42 PM	#11
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,036	Both Buckaroo Banzai, and Big Trouble In Little China. Both have huge cult followings but did poorly at the box office.

09-03-2010, 04:14 PM	#15
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	One movie that I think would sort of fit on this list is Drop Dead Gorgeous. It gained a bigger following when it hit cable and DVD.