Hollywood is famous for producing commercially successful films across the world. However, recent research suggests that, once the pandemic period has passed, many experts and industry professionals believe that cinemas will never again reach box-office levels similar to those recorded before the quarantine.
Regardless of whether this prediction comes true or not, it is undeniable that the mecca of American cinema has experienced moments of failure over the years. There are examples of films that were so disastrous that they profoundly affected the Hollywood film scene.
However, identifying major commercial failures is subjective, as box office numbers depend on factors such as budget and profit expectations. Additionally, films that did not perform well at the box office may gain popularity later, whether in video formats, streaming, or through licensed products.
In this context, we have selected a list with excellent examples of films that performed poorly at the box office in relation to their production costs. The amounts shown below are the monetary values at the time of the films’ release.
Hollywood’s biggest flops
John Carter – Between Two Worlds (2012)
Available to Disney+ subscribers
Produced by Walt Disney Pictures, “John Carter” is a science fiction adventure film based on the classic novel “A Princess of Mars” by Edgar Rice Burroughs, first published in 1912, and is part of a series of well-known stories like “Barsoom”. series “.
Planned to be a trilogy, “John Carter” was initially conceived as a blockbuster, with an estimated budget of around $250 million (tax returns released in 2014 revealed that the film’s exact budget was $263.7 million dollars after considering tax credits).
Despite grossing nearly $300 million worldwide, the film is considered one of Hollywood’s biggest financial disasters. High production and marketing costs, combined with unmet profit expectations, resulted in significant losses for Disney, estimated at approximately $200 million.
The Thirteenth Warrior (1999)
Available to Star+ subscribers
Directed by John McTiernan (“Predator”, “Die Hard”) and starring Antonio Banderas, “The 13th Warrior” is one of the biggest box office flops in the history of cinema.
Despite being a high-investment project, with an estimated production budget of around $160 million, the film did not attract significant audiences, grossing only around $61 million worldwide following its release.
This revenue did not cover production and marketing costs, resulting in an estimated loss of up to a staggering $129 million for the studio.
The Gate of Paradise, 1980
Directed by Michael Cimino, now a cult figure (for many modern viewers, a true masterpiece), but once an iconic symbol of Hollywood failure, he left a deep legacy in the film industry. With its disastrous financial performance and negative reviews, the film prompted studios to reevaluate their production models, resulting in greater scrutiny of film budgets and deadlines.
Furthermore, it marked the end of the “New Hollywood” era, characterized by the creative freedom of filmmakers, and had a negative impact on the career of one of the most talented American directors of all time.
Trusting in the skill of the director who recently won an Oscar for the film “The Sharpshooter”, United Artists financed the project of “The Gateway to Paradise”. The film initially had an estimated budget of around $11 million. However, this value increased significantly during production. It reached an expense of $44 million, due to delays, reshoots and other problems during filming.
However, when the film was released in the United States, its box office earnings were approximately $3.5 million, far below the high production costs.
The box office performance was so disastrous that United Artists suffered losses in excess of $100 million, leading to its sale to MGM in an attempt to stabilize its finances.
Cutthroat Island, 1995
Action and adventure film directed by Renny Harlin and starring Geena Davis, Matthew Modine and Frank Langella. The film is known for being one of the largest pirated productions in cinema history, but also for being one of the biggest commercial failures of all time.
The film faced several problems during production, including delays, budget problems, and on-set injuries. Made on an approximate production budget of $98 million, its global revenue only reached about $18.5 million. A figure insufficient to cover even a small part of the high production costs.
As a result, the production suffered substantial losses, with estimates indicating that the studios involved suffered losses in excess of $100 million.
Ishtar (1987)
Comedy with famous Hollywood names: directed by Elaine May and stars Warren Beatty, Dustin Hoffman and Isabelle Adjani in the main roles.
However, the film is notable for being a huge box office and critical failure upon its release. And what’s more, it is often mentioned in lists of the worst films ever made. However, over the years it has acquired a cult status and is seen by some as an underrated work.
“Ishtar” had a high production cost, estimated at around $51-55 million, expensive for the time. However, the film only grossed around $14 million in the United States and did no better internationally.
The 5 Biggest Post-Hollywood Failures of Hollywood appeared first on Olhar Digital.
Source: Olhar Digital
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
