10 movies that were box office flops but cult hits

Box office results are the measure of a movie’s worth in the eyes of its production company. If it lives up to expectations, it is considered a success, and if not, it is relegated to oblivion... but not always. In this article, we examine 10 feature films that went from box office flops to cult classics.

‘Blade Runner’ (1982)

The most obvious example of this article can be found in one of Ridley Scott’s greatest works. ‘Blade Runner’ failed to meet the expectations of Warner Bros. Pictures. It barely made $34 million out of a budget of $28 million. What the production company did not anticipate was that its jump to home video platforms would propel it to historic records. Once distributed in physical format, it managed to find a place among the great classics of science fiction.

‘Mortal Engines’ (2018)

Peter Jackson’s tag as one of the movie’s screenwriters was not enough for ‘Mortal Engines’. The movie, which takes us to an apocalyptic future 1000 years after the fall of civilization, was adapted from the novel of the same name, but the fan reception was not enough to at least recoup the investment. Universal Pictures and its partners saw nothing more than a gross of nearly $84 million for the $100 million it cost to make. Later on, new audiences were attracted to the universe.

‘Big Trouble in Little China’ (1986)

Kurt Russell and Kim Cattrall star in John Carpenter’s latest blockbuster. All the ingredients seemed to be in place for the filmmaker’s latest hit. But audiences were not flocking to the theaters. On a budget of between $19 and $25 million, 20th Century Fox only made $11 million. Pitiful. Many say that the promotion of the movie was not the best; it lacked the appeal to sell what they wanted to convey. But when it reached the homes of half the world, it finally achieved its place in history.

‘Warcraft’ (2016)

The Warcraft franchise extends beyond the popular World of Warcraft, although it must be acknowledged that the MMO has brought it to the highest levels of video game recognition. Everything seemed predestined for its adaptation to be a box office success, so its production went accordingly with more than $160 million invested. In the U.S., it just passed the $40 million mark, and the rest of the world improved a bit, but not enough... until China came along. In just 12 days, it surpassed 205 million in that country alone. The bad reviews didn’t slow down the franchise’s epic moments and winks.

‘Battleship’ (2012)

“A fleet of ships is forced to battle an armada of unknown origin in order to discover and thwart their destructive goals,” reads the description on IMDb. Many thought that “Battleship” was just another movie that would serve as propaganda for the U.S. military, where it managed to surpass $62 million at the box office. Gradually, more and more audiences took the step to give it a chance, and they did not miss it. In China, it grossed $42 million, and Russia completed the podium of countries with $21 million. In the end, everyone was captivated by the charm of this fight against aliens.

‘The Thing’ (1982)

As you may have noticed, John Carpenter has often had to wait to be recognized by audiences far from the theaters. It is estimated that “The Thing” needed $15 million to become a reality, to reach just over $19 million shortly after its release. The most prominent review on IMDb dates from September 29, 2001. Its headline was simple: “Finally getting recognition.” The Thing had direct competition from E.T., one of the reasons for its slow start.

‘Lucky Number Slevin’ (2006)

Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Lucy Liu, Ben Kingsley, and Josh Hartnett. Pretty much nothing, right? The cast wasn’t exactly what kept audiences from flocking to theaters as predicted. Lucky Number Slevin” pits the character against a feud between two major crime rivals, while the police follow in their footsteps. Not that the plot was gripping, and its execution on screen didn’t please critics. But audiences who gave it a chance found a more than worthy film noir.

‘Waterworld’ (1995)

Movies about the apocalypse and the state of the planet after a jump into the abyss have a lot of chances to be part of lists like this. In 1995, Kevin Costner played a half-fish, half-human sailor on an almost completely submerged Earth after the two poles melted. Having an actor of that stature was not enough. In its first weekend, it grossed just over $21 million, while its total gross in the U.S. and Canada was just over $88 million. The comparisons to Mad Max were obvious, but change the desert to water.

‘Ender’s Game’ (2013)

The anticipation for Ender’s Game was at its peak. The adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s novel had the entire fan community on edge. In general, they responded well, but it failed to resonate with the masses of science fiction fans and beyond. The critics didn’t help, with a Metacritic rating of only 51, but the level of fidelity to the book was very much appreciated. So much so that when it debuted on demand, it managed to turn the tables.

‘Dreed’ (2012)

Karl Urban donned the mythical helmet of Judge Dredd to dispense justice on the streets of Mega City One. The comic book movie, which was not too popular with the general public, convinced its fans with its incessant action scenes, but not enough to make anyone who didn’t know it take the plunge and pay for a ticket. Its budget hovered around $50 million, although it only managed to earn $41 million.