13 iconic films that were massive box office failures

Surprising box office bombs

Not every Hollywood classic was an instant success. In fact, some of the most iconic films of all time bombed at the box office when they first premiered.

From adored cult classics to defining cinematic masterpieces, click or scroll on to discover 13 beloved films that initially flopped but went on to leave a lasting legacy.

All dollar amounts in US dollars and currency conversions are correct for the year of release.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

Despite its status as a modern cult classic, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World flopped at the box office when it first hit screens. The comic book adaptation grossed just $47.6 million against a $60 million production budget, resulting in a $12.4 million loss. And this figure doesn’t even account for additional costs like marketing and distribution.

According to the film’s star, Michael Cera, the underperformance was partly due to stiff box-office competition from Sylvester Stallone’s action-packed The Expendables and the romantic drama Eat Pray Love. Cera also suggested that the movie, renowned for its wacky plot and unique blend of genres, may have been too ahead of its time for audiences.

Given the cult following the film has since garnered, Cera seems to have been correct. A 10th-anniversary cinematic re-release brought in an additional $4 million, increasing the movie's lifetime gross to $51.6 million.

Mulholland Drive (2001)

Mulholland Drive is as mind-boggling as you’d expect a David Lynch movie to be. Perhaps a bit too puzzling for general audiences, the 2001 film earned just $20.1 million upon its initial release, against a production budget of $15 million.

While this technically represents a modest $5 million profit, additional costs such as marketing and distribution likely pushed the film into a loss, though the exact amount remains unknown.

However, the movie has developed a strong cult following over time and established itself as a critical darling. In 2016, the BBC even named it the best film of the 21st century.

Fight Club (1999)

David Fincher's gritty thriller Fight Club is by no means the biggest flop in this round-up, but the film was still a massive box-office disappointment. It earned just $100.8 million worldwide against a $63 million production budget, resulting in a modest profit of $37.8 million. However, this profit margin shrinks when considering additional costs like marketing and distribution.

Star Edward Norton claimed that distributor 20th Century Fox was partly to blame for the underwhelming performance, claiming executives failed to market the film's more humorous elements.

Despite its poor box office result, Fight Club has become one of the most iconic and widely quoted movies of all time. The film has also reportedly made a fortune from DVD sales and TV rights over the years, bolstering its profits.

The Big Lebowski (1998)

The comedy flick The Big Lebowski has spawned its own religion, known as Dudeism, which boasts over 800,000 ordained priests worldwide.

Despite this loyal following, the movie was actually a box office disappointment upon its release, earning just $47.4 million against a $15 million budget. The underwhelming $32.4 million profit shrinks even further when accounting for costs such as distribution and promotion.

While it’s not the biggest flop in this round-up, The Big Lebowski's modest earnings are surprising compared to the cult following (and the religion) it would later inspire.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

An adaptation of Stephen King’s short story Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, The Shawshank Redemption is widely regarded as a cinematic masterpiece. However, it was surprisingly a box office flop upon release, struggling to compete with the likes of Forrest Gump and Pulp Fiction.

The movie grossed just $28.7 million against a production budget of $25 million, likely incurring a loss once additional promotional and distribution costs are factored in.

Critically, however, the film fared much better, scoring seven Oscar nominations. The acclaim helped boost its popularity on VHS, and it became the most rented title of 1995.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Disney's Hocus Pocus is widely regarded as one of the best family-friendly Halloween movies of all time, with its popularity even prompting the release of a belated sequel in 2022. A third film is currently in the works.

Surprisingly, the beloved film was originally panned by critics. The negative reception contributed to a disappointing box office gross of just $39.5 million against a production budget of $28 million, resulting in a modest profit of $11.5 million. However, when factoring in additional costs, the film likely incurred a loss.

Despite its initial struggles, the spooktacular flick has found a loyal fanbase over the years. In 2020, the streaming platform Vudu revealed it was its most-watched Halloween movie for five consecutive years.

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Labyrinth (1986)

Even though Labyrinth is considered an iconic part of 1980s pop culture today, the film was a total box office bomb when it first hit screens. 

It grossed just $12.9 million globally against an estimated budget of $25 million, resulting in a loss of at least $12.1 million – but likely much more when factoring in additional costs.

However, over the years, David Bowie's performance as the kooky Goblin King has garnered widespread acclaim, helping to cement the fantasy flick as a cult classic. Its lifetime gross currently stands at $15.9 million, bolstered by several successful re-releases over the decades. Last year, Nosferatu director Robert Eggers signed a deal to write and direct the sequel fans have been waiting for.

The Thing (1982)

John Carpenter is one of the world's most renowned horror movie directors, and aside from his iconic slasher flick Halloween, he's arguably best known for the sci-fi thriller The Thing.

However, despite its cult classic status today, the 1982 movie actually tanked at the box office, grossing just $20.6 million against an estimated $15 million production budget.

It's believed that tough box office competition from films like E.T. and Poltergeist contributed to its poor performance.

Blade Runner (1982)

Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Blade Runner is regarded as a sci-fi classic today, with its stunning visual effects still impressive even by modern standards.

However, it was a major flop on its initial release, with critics slamming everything from the plot to the pacing. It grossed just $27.6 million against an estimated $28 million budget.

Over the decades, the film has gained a loyal following, and several re-releases, including a wildly popular director's cut released in 1993, have helped increase its lifetime gross to a slightly more respectable $41.7 million.

Raging Bull (1980)

The boxing drama Raging Bull is considered a career highlight for both director Martin Scorsese and star Robert De Niro, making it all the more surprising that the film flopped at the box office.

It grossed just $23.3 million against its $18 million budget – a shocking result for a film now widely regarded as a cinematic masterpiece.

The film’s graphic violence is believed to have alienated wider audiences, contributing to its poor box office performance. 

Citizen Kane (1942)

Citizen Kane is regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, renowned for its groundbreaking cinematography, innovative storytelling, and Orson Welles' visionary direction.

A critical hit, the film was nominated for nine Oscars upon release (it won one). However, it flopped commercially, earning just over $51,000 during its initial run against a much larger production budget of $839,727.

Over the decades, the film has enjoyed many successful re-releases, with audiences from new generations flocking to watch this defining piece of film history on the silver screen. These re-releases have bolstered its lifetime gross to $1.7 million.

Bambi (1942)

The timeless tearjerker Bambi is one of Disney's best-loved movies, but the cinematic gem got off to a challenging start.

Released during World War II, Bambi's international box office performance was severely impacted by the global conflict. It grossed around $3 million against its $858,000 production budget. However, when factoring in costs such as distribution and marketing, this already narrow profit margin becomes even smaller.

Over the years, the film has become a much-adored classic. Currently, it holds a lifetime gross of $267 million, thanks to numerous successful re-releases.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

As the first movie to feature Technicolor, The Wizard of Oz is a defining piece of cinematic history. However, the movie was initially a massive flop upon release and is widely reported to have grossed just $3 million against a budget of $2.7 million. When additional promotional costs are factored in, it resulted in a painful loss for production studio MGM.

Several factors contributed to the failure. Like Bambi, the film was released during World War II, which impacted its global box office performance. It also faced stiff box office competition from films such as Gone with the Wind and received a mixed critical reception at the time.

Despite its shaky start, the musical eventually grew on audiences and became an iconic part of pop culture, inspiring numerous spin-offs over the decades. The most recent is the 2024 musical adaptation Wicked, and its 2025 sequel Wicked: For Good. Re-releases have bolstered The Wizard of Oz's lifetime gross to a respectable $25.6 million.

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