There’s something oddly satisfying about seeing a big-budget movie flop. Whenever we hear about these ambitious, special effects-laden extravaganzas going down in flames we get an odd feeling of schadenfreude.
But why is this? Does it stem from the fact that we feel manipulated, almost exploited, by the movie industry? Perhaps. After all, movie studios make a lot of coin from tweaking our emotions, be it through adrenaline-filled action films or mawkishly tear-jerking weepies.
Perhaps the best reason for our guilty pleasure at seeing a big-budget movie flop is the fact that we feel like we won a battle. We caught Hollywood trying to pull a fast one by releasing a bad movie and trying to hype it anyway—and we weren’t fooled. Gotcha. Better luck next time.
That’s all well and good, but there have been many excellent movies throughout the years that, for whatever reason, failed to make it big at the box office. Hey, just because a movie didn’t make a lot of money on its release doesn’t make it bad—after all, Citizen Kane barely made enough to cover the cost of a wooden sled on its original release. It wasn’t until its re-release and television syndication that it became perhaps the most critically acclaimed movie of all time.
So, here’s a look at two movies that didn’t live up to expectations on their release, but later went on to disprove the critics:
Fight Club
Despite eventually becoming an enormous cult hit, Fight Club performed poorly on its release. With a budget of $63 million it took just $37 million at the US box office. On its release the movie drew mixed critical reactions, partly due to its violent nature. One high profile critic described it as “a film without a single redeeming quality, which may have to find its audience in Hell”, and the flop cost the Entertainment Chief of 20th Century Fox his job.
Despite a tepid reception, Fight Club went on to turn a small profit at the global box office before exploding in popularity in the DVD market, becoming one of the best-loved films of the 90s. Today you’d be hard pressed to find a young man’s DVD collection that didn’t boast a Fight Club DVD.
Shawshank Redemption
One of the most well known box office flops of recent years, The Shawshank Redemption, based on a Steven King novella, came up against the might of Forrest Gump at the box office. Audiences preferred Hanks’ feel good vehicle over this depressing prison drama and, although Shawshank garnered 7 Oscar nominations, the box office take was pathetic.
This all changed once the movie was released on video. Bolstered by the Oscar endorsements Shawshank became the most rented video of 1995, going on to become our 2nd favorite movie of all time according to an Internet Movie Database poll.
The moral of the story, it seems, is that you should probably think twice before dismissing a movie based on its box office success. Movies are always at their most enjoyable when seen on the big screen, so you shouldn’t miss out on the chance to see them as they were meant to be seen simply because the audiences can’t tell a Hollywood gem from fools gold. After all, these are the same people who made Ernest Goes to Jail the number one movie in its opening week. Would you trust them?
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Help answer the question about Box Office
How did Twilight place in the box office?I want to know how it did in the box office counting just this years movies and movies over all. Only counting opening weekend sales.
Personally I thought it was great but they could have gone for three hours and Kristen wasn't the best Bella. But everyone else killed!
he has the best calenders
his real name is mike?
Mike Polk
There is a lot of truth to this! if all you get all day is the same girls, you start to be attracted to them somehow even though you might normally not be. I’m in college and at work and I’m 21, and honestly some of the older women at my work are starting to look pretty hot…
Congrats Greg! Charges Dropped!
or she’s not that married and pregnant lol
there’s actually some truth to this. LOL
greg’s really acting like terry in this one.
haha
LOL – definitely my kind of guy!
my guy friend u gotta lightly insult the girl so she feels like she has 2 prove herself to him, and shows he has higher valuer than her. This is also mentioned by master pickup artists. You don't want to show your into her unless she proves she deserves it and the attention. Otherwise the girl will pass u off as being desperate and less value. Girls are very judgemental, so u gotta be suave and smooth
It's a very touching story, and has so much meaning to it! Thanks for sharing it with us.
This is excellent. I've seen lots of stories on other message boards and this one is by far the best.
One question I had while looking at it was if most of this is autobiographical. Part of it is, but the narrative is made up. I have a hard time believing that, I'll admit, but I'll take your word and believe it. Because of that, this is a phenomenal story and you have great talent in how to tell a story. Do you read a lot?
You also have great restraint which is indicative of a more mature writer. I've seen older writers (in their 40s and older) who can't write drafts this well.
Continue to work with this or write more, please!
When the grammar police get on here, just ignore them. Grammar and spelling have nothing to do with storytelling. You can fix that in the editing stages.
The law is that a doctor must give you a copy of your contact lens prescription if you request it. Reputable ophthalmologists and optometrists do not charge for this. If your eye doctor does, then you might consider finding one more interested in you than in money.
You know, I think it's nice!
I like the second one.
Gosh! Love the first one! I can figure it out how to stand out from the crowd in elevator! LOL
i ♥ this story!!!! my only bad comments would be that in the beginning it kinda repeated a little, & some of the words were misspelled, but change that & its a super great story!!!!!!! i read it kinda quickly just so that i could comment on how good it was!!! plz finish it or email me the rest finalized if u can!!!!