Top 10 biggest movie flops of all time! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 08-13-2003, 07:25 PM

10. "Howard the Duck" (1986, Universal)
Budget: $37 million
U.S. Box Office: $16 million

The Plot: Based on Steve Gerber's '70s Marvel comic-book character and executive produced by George Lucas, this charmless, pun-filled fowl-fest centers on a smart-aleck quacker from another planet who's accidentally beamed into Cleveland, where he hooks up with punk rocker Lea Thompson, battles various villains using "quack-fu," and saves the planet.

9. "Hudson Hawk" (1991, Columbia TriStar)
Budget: $60 million-plus
U.S. Box Office: $17.2 million

The Plot: A reformed cat burglar (Bruce Willis, who also co-wrote) is blackmailed into stealing priceless Leonardo da Vinci artifacts. The heist flick features Willis and fellow thief Danny Aiello warbling ditties such as "Swingin' on the Star," which might explain this piece of dialogue: "I'll torture you so long, you'll think it's a career."

8. "Ishtar" (1987, Columbia)
Budget: $55 million
U.S. Box Office: $12.7 million

The Plot: Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman insult the memory of the Bob Hope-Bing Crosby "Road" movies in this Elaine May-directed desert-set tale of two supremely untalented singer-songwriters who land a Moroccan gig but make a pit stop in the fictional kingdom of Ishtar. Soon, they're embroiled in an extremely volatile Middle East political situation, which, if possible, is even less funny now than it was then.

7. "Inchon" (1981)/"Battlefield Earth" (2000, Warner Bros. Pictures)
Budget: $50 million/$73 million
U.S. Box Office: $1.9 million/$21.5 million

The Plot: A truly dire moment in the Laurence Olivier oeuvre, "Inchon" finds the famed thespian committing multiple dramatic atrocities as he channels Gen. Douglas MacArthur in this failed Korean War epic. In "Battlefield Earth," it's the year 3000 and humans are slaves. In the campiest performance this side of a Judy Garland imitator, John Travolta plays a dreadlocked, platform-shoed 7-foot alien baddie named Terl, who was "groomed from birth to conquer galaxies." Too bad he wasn't groomed to conquer the box office.

6. "Cleopatra" (1963, 20th Century Fox)
Budget: $44 million ($259 million today)
U.S. Box Office: $26 million ($153 million today)

The Plot: Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton begin an adulterous on-set affair that turns into a worldwide media sensation. Oh, the plot of the movie. Once billed as the most expensive film of all time (and might still be champion), this Joseph Mankiewicz-directed historical costume epic stars Taylor as Cleopatra and Burton as Marc Anthony. There are some truly amazing sets and a cast of thousands (literally).

5. "Heaven's Gate" (1980, United Artists)
Budget: $44 million
U.S. Box Office: $3 million

The Plot: If you can untangle the epic plot, give yourself a prize. This much we know: Michael Cimino directed this Western based on the 19th-century Johnson County wars. It stars Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, John Hurt, Sam Waterston and Isabelle Huppert. Beyond that, you're on your own.

4. "The Postman" (1997, Warner Bros.)
Budget: $80 million to $100 million
U.S. Box Office: $17.6 million

The Plot: In a post-apocalyptic future, a Shakespeare-quoting mail carrier (Costner, who also directed) leads mankind to rebel against its oppressors. A grateful nation repays the messiah-like postal worker by erecting a massive statue in his image. Is it any wonder audiences guffawed at the riotously earnest trailer, which contained such clunkers as, "I don't think we ever really understood what letters meant to us until they were gone."

3. "Town & Country" (2001, New Line)
Budget: $85 million to $90 million
U.S. Box Office: $6.7 million

The Plot: Peter Chelsom, who previously helmed the Sharon Stone dud "The Mighty," directs this middle-aged sex comedy starring Warren Beatty and Garry Shandling as very married men caught cheating on their wives (Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn).

2. "Cutthroat Island" (1995, MGM/Carolco)
Budget: $100 million-plus
U.S. Box Office: $9.9 million

The Plot: A swashbuckling Geena Davis hits the high seas opposite Matthew Modine in a pirate movie directed by Renny Harlin. 'Nuff said.

1. "The Adventures of Pluto Nash" (2002, Warner Bros.)
Budget: $90 million to $100 million
U.S. Box Office: $4.4 million

The Plot: Eddie Murphy is a suave nightclub owner tussling with the mob. Oh yeah, it's the year 2087, and his bar is on the moon.

Janice · 08-13-2003, 08:11 PM

I'm surprised that Waterworld and Giggly aren't on the list of box office bombs.

TJL · 08-13-2003, 08:14 PM

I don't care what anyone says.

"Postman" was a good movie!

Yeah, and I wonder why I'm alone.

Janice · 08-13-2003, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJL
I don't care what anyone says.

"Postman" was a good movie!

Yeah, and I wonder why I'm alone.

I don't know if you're kidding or not, but I really did like The Postman....very much actually.

Geez, Kevin Costner needs a hit badly. I hope his new western, Open Range, is a success.

TJL · 08-13-2003, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Janice
I don't know if you're kidding or not, but I really did like The Postman....very much actually.

I'm just kidding, but here's a true story:

A few years ago I was chatting up a very attractive co-worker of a friend, whe she mentions this great film she just rented called "The Postman." Of course I start singing the praise of this film, going on and on about how the public shouldn't have shunned Kevin Costner and his vision.

She was talking about the Italian film "Il Postino," A.K.A. The Postman.

Needless to say, I never saw her again.

On a side note, it looks like "Open Range" has gotten some favorable reviews. Maybe Kev will finally have a comeback.

Brian · 08-13-2003, 09:37 PM

I read that Heaven's Gate virtually bankrupted United Artists, which eventually resulted in their sale to MGM. Since then, director Michael Cimino has had difficulty getting further work in the film industry. And this film comes from a guy whose previous film, The Deer Hunter, won several Oscars.

*ShortCake* · 08-13-2003, 10:20 PM

Open range does look like a great movie!! I cannot wait to see it.. i hope it doesnt have alot of gory stuff in it! *has a weak stomach*. The Cast looks awesome too!

Brian Damage · 08-14-2003, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Janice
I'm surprised that Waterworld and Giggly aren't on the list of box office bombs.

Believe it or not, Waterworld actually broke even.

Sitcomwriter · 08-14-2003, 10:31 AM

"Ishtar" has actually been on TV recently but I haven't sat down to watch it.

DianeChambers87 · 08-14-2003, 01:01 PM

I thought Waterworld was the biggest flop of all time.....and next to titanic the most expensive movie of all time..

*ShortCake* · 08-14-2003, 01:35 PM

WaterWorld was awful!!! Bringing Up Baby was pretty bad too when it first came out.. but now its one of the funniest movies ever made.. ah i love this movie.

dlemond · 08-14-2003, 01:37 PM

The first 20 minutes or so of Ishtar is actually very funny stuff.

Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman are two idiots who try to be song writers, and the crap they come up with is priceless.
(Songs written by Paul Williams- bad on purpose).

Anyone who's seen it can't tell me that "Hot Fudge Love" and "(I'm Sending You Some) Love in My Will" aren't great bad songs.

And the scene of them working on their various songs is classic-
"Wardrobe of Love" being one:

"I said come look there's a wardrobe of love in my eyes/ Come on in, take a look and see if there's something your size"

Unfortunately, when they arrive in Ishtar, it becomes a bit of a drag.

BrandonS · 08-14-2003, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Love, Lucy
WaterWorld was awful!!! Bringing Up Baby was pretty bad too when it first came out.. but now its one of the funniest movies ever made.. ah i love this movie.

I found "Waterworld" kind of amusing. It was a "Road Warrior" type of movie, except on water. If it hadn't been built up in the news so much about how Kevin Costner spent $200 million on it, I think it would have been regarded as a decent film. (Hi, Ashley.)

webuster · 08-14-2003, 02:18 PM

I thought Waterworld was underrated, some of it was pretty good- and the premise for that story was great but made kinda wrong.

Am I also the only one to like 'Master of Disguise'- maybe it's cos Stacey from Spin City was in it.

I'm surprised Shock Treatment wasn't mentioned, then again it's so unknown by most people that they have probably forgotten. It was made by Fox for 2, almost 3 million dollars- and made only $100,000- it was kinda Fox's fault for delaying release and putting it in very few cinemas.

Also- as a kid I watched Howard the Duck alot- I was also a big fan of Duckula, Darkwing Duck- Scrooge McDuck and his nephews Huey,duey and louie. So when I came across Howard the Duck on tv- I thought he was a live action version of one of those.
Duckula was a good show, resembled Pennsylania Petshop.

Kay Scarpetta · 08-14-2003, 04:08 PM

WHERE is "Gigli"? I know the swiping at that movie is getting old (well not to TJL

) but come on now... it's hideous!

08-13-2003, 07:25 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Top 10 biggest movie flops of all time! 10. "Howard the Duck" (1986, Universal) Budget: $37 million U.S. Box Office: $16 million The Plot: Based on Steve Gerber's '70s Marvel comic-book character and executive produced by George Lucas, this charmless, pun-filled fowl-fest centers on a smart-aleck quacker from another planet who's accidentally beamed into Cleveland, where he hooks up with punk rocker Lea Thompson, battles various villains using "quack-fu," and saves the planet. 9. "Hudson Hawk" (1991, Columbia TriStar) Budget: $60 million-plus U.S. Box Office: $17.2 million The Plot: A reformed cat burglar (Bruce Willis, who also co-wrote) is blackmailed into stealing priceless Leonardo da Vinci artifacts. The heist flick features Willis and fellow thief Danny Aiello warbling ditties such as "Swingin' on the Star," which might explain this piece of dialogue: "I'll torture you so long, you'll think it's a career." 8. "Ishtar" (1987, Columbia) Budget: $55 million U.S. Box Office: $12.7 million The Plot: Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman insult the memory of the Bob Hope-Bing Crosby "Road" movies in this Elaine May-directed desert-set tale of two supremely untalented singer-songwriters who land a Moroccan gig but make a pit stop in the fictional kingdom of Ishtar. Soon, they're embroiled in an extremely volatile Middle East political situation, which, if possible, is even less funny now than it was then. 7. "Inchon" (1981)/"Battlefield Earth" (2000, Warner Bros. Pictures) Budget: $50 million/$73 million U.S. Box Office: $1.9 million/$21.5 million The Plot: A truly dire moment in the Laurence Olivier oeuvre, "Inchon" finds the famed thespian committing multiple dramatic atrocities as he channels Gen. Douglas MacArthur in this failed Korean War epic. In "Battlefield Earth," it's the year 3000 and humans are slaves. In the campiest performance this side of a Judy Garland imitator, John Travolta plays a dreadlocked, platform-shoed 7-foot alien baddie named Terl, who was "groomed from birth to conquer galaxies." Too bad he wasn't groomed to conquer the box office. 6. "Cleopatra" (1963, 20th Century Fox) Budget: $44 million ($259 million today) U.S. Box Office: $26 million ($153 million today) The Plot: Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton begin an adulterous on-set affair that turns into a worldwide media sensation. Oh, the plot of the movie. Once billed as the most expensive film of all time (and might still be champion), this Joseph Mankiewicz-directed historical costume epic stars Taylor as Cleopatra and Burton as Marc Anthony. There are some truly amazing sets and a cast of thousands (literally). 5. "Heaven's Gate" (1980, United Artists) Budget: $44 million U.S. Box Office: $3 million The Plot: If you can untangle the epic plot, give yourself a prize. This much we know: Michael Cimino directed this Western based on the 19th-century Johnson County wars. It stars Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, John Hurt, Sam Waterston and Isabelle Huppert. Beyond that, you're on your own. 4. "The Postman" (1997, Warner Bros.) Budget: $80 million to $100 million U.S. Box Office: $17.6 million The Plot: In a post-apocalyptic future, a Shakespeare-quoting mail carrier (Costner, who also directed) leads mankind to rebel against its oppressors. A grateful nation repays the messiah-like postal worker by erecting a massive statue in his image. Is it any wonder audiences guffawed at the riotously earnest trailer, which contained such clunkers as, "I don't think we ever really understood what letters meant to us until they were gone." 3. "Town & Country" (2001, New Line) Budget: $85 million to $90 million U.S. Box Office: $6.7 million The Plot: Peter Chelsom, who previously helmed the Sharon Stone dud "The Mighty," directs this middle-aged sex comedy starring Warren Beatty and Garry Shandling as very married men caught cheating on their wives (Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn). 2. "Cutthroat Island" (1995, MGM/Carolco) Budget: $100 million-plus U.S. Box Office: $9.9 million The Plot: A swashbuckling Geena Davis hits the high seas opposite Matthew Modine in a pirate movie directed by Renny Harlin. 'Nuff said. 1. "The Adventures of Pluto Nash" (2002, Warner Bros.) Budget: $90 million to $100 million U.S. Box Office: $4.4 million The Plot: Eddie Murphy is a suave nightclub owner tussling with the mob. Oh yeah, it's the year 2087, and his bar is on the moon.

08-13-2003, 08:14 PM	#3
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I don't care what anyone says. "Postman" was a good movie! Yeah, and I wonder why I'm alone.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

08-13-2003, 10:20 PM	#7
ShortCake Blair Warner fan. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Florida Posts: 3,761	Open range does look like a great movie!! I cannot wait to see it.. i hope it doesnt have alot of gory stuff in it! has a weak stomach. The Cast looks awesome too!
	__________________ Ashley "Nice girls don't throw tree's"- Jo Polniaczek.

08-14-2003, 01:01 PM	#10
DianeChambers87 Elizabeth B. Malone Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 16, 2003 Location: Swampland USA Posts: 5,178	I thought Waterworld was the biggest flop of all time.....and next to titanic the most expensive movie of all time..
	__________________ Strange Fascinations, Fascinating me

08-14-2003, 01:37 PM	#12
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	The first 20 minutes or so of Ishtar is actually very funny stuff. Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman are two idiots who try to be song writers, and the crap they come up with is priceless. (Songs written by Paul Williams- bad on purpose). Anyone who's seen it can't tell me that "Hot Fudge Love" and "(I'm Sending You Some) Love in My Will" aren't great bad songs. And the scene of them working on their various songs is classic- "Wardrobe of Love" being one: "I said come look there's a wardrobe of love in my eyes/ Come on in, take a look and see if there's something your size" Unfortunately, when they arrive in Ishtar, it becomes a bit of a drag.
	__________________ Michael

08-13-2003, 08:11 PM	#2
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I'm surprised that Waterworld and Giggly aren't on the list of box office bombs.

08-13-2003, 09:37 PM	#6
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	I read that Heaven's Gate virtually bankrupted United Artists, which eventually resulted in their sale to MGM. Since then, director Michael Cimino has had difficulty getting further work in the film industry. And this film comes from a guy whose previous film, The Deer Hunter, won several Oscars.

08-14-2003, 10:31 AM	#9
Sitcomwriter Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 27, 2001 Posts: 7,356	"Ishtar" has actually been on TV recently but I haven't sat down to watch it.

08-14-2003, 01:35 PM	#11
ShortCake Blair Warner fan. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Florida Posts: 3,761	WaterWorld was awful!!! Bringing Up Baby was pretty bad too when it first came out.. but now its one of the funniest movies ever made.. ah i love this movie.

08-14-2003, 02:18 PM	#14
webuster Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 26, 2002 Posts: 2,150	I thought Waterworld was underrated, some of it was pretty good- and the premise for that story was great but made kinda wrong. Am I also the only one to like 'Master of Disguise'- maybe it's cos Stacey from Spin City was in it. I'm surprised Shock Treatment wasn't mentioned, then again it's so unknown by most people that they have probably forgotten. It was made by Fox for 2, almost 3 million dollars- and made only $100,000- it was kinda Fox's fault for delaying release and putting it in very few cinemas. Also- as a kid I watched Howard the Duck alot- I was also a big fan of Duckula, Darkwing Duck- Scrooge McDuck and his nephews Huey,duey and louie. So when I came across Howard the Duck on tv- I thought he was a live action version of one of those. Duckula was a good show, resembled Pennsylania Petshop.

08-14-2003, 04:08 PM	#15
Kay Scarpetta Defy Gravity 8.26.05 Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 04, 2001 Location: La Vie Boheme Posts: 28,013	WHERE is "Gigli"? I know the swiping at that movie is getting old (well not to TJL ) but come on now... it's hideous!
	__________________ The people who think they know everything about Broadway make me laugh. They've never seen a Broadway play in their life. "oh mi godddd RENT's a mooovie! lyke 525600 minuuuuuuutes!" No. To be a Broadway Freak, you must live, eat, sleep, study, devout, think, obsess, dream, believe Broadway. You must know original & revival casts, soundtracks, performance runs, dates, theatres, numbers, how many Tony Awards A Chorus Line won. You must be Broadway. That's right bitches. I AM Broadway.