Wizard of Oz
Just because you have made a great movie doesn't mean that it will enjoy huge box office success.
We take a look at some of the great movies that either flopped or were not as successful as expected and surprisingly there are a few classics included.
- The Wizard of Oz (1939)
The Wizard of Oz is widely regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time, which really did pave the way with its use of Technicolor.
However, it did struggle at the box office when released, despite being met with positive reviews from the critics.
The Wizard of Oz was, at the time, the most expensive film made by MGM, and it struggled to recoup the budget.
Over the years, The Wizard of Oz has become an iconic and much loved film: re-releases over the year has meant that the movie was a financial success.
It is widely regarded as one of the best musicals of all time, and was added to the National Film Registry in 1989, as being "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant".
- It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
It's A Wonderful Life is another film classic that struggled at the box office when it was first released back in 1946.
The movie was based on the short story The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doreen Stern, and saw Frank Capra in the director's chair.
The movie follows George Bailey, who is shown by an angel what life would be like if he never existed.
It's A Wonderful Life was not a box office success when it was released and struggled to make back its budget.
Over the years, It's A Wonderful Life has become somewhat of a classic, and a real must-see every Christmas.
Despite being a box office flop, It's A Wonderful Life did go on to be nominated for a clutch of Oscars, including Best Picture: it lost out to The Best Years of our Lives.
- Blade Runner (1982)
Blade Runner was released back in 1982 - yes, it really was over thirty years ago - and remains one of Ridley Scott's greatest films.
The movie was based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep? by Philip K. Dick and saw Harrison Ford in the central role.
Despite being considered a cult classic today, the movie was not as successful when it was first released.
Blade Runner split the critics at first, and really struggled to find an audience when it was released in the U.S.
Over the years, Blade Runner has gained cult status and really has become a classic in the sci-fi genre. Not only that, but it has helped Dick's work become noticed by Hollywood.
- The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Another much loved movie that did not set the box office alight comes in the form of The Shawshank Redemption.
The movie was an adaptation of novella Rita Heyworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King, and was brought to the big screen by director Frank Darabont.
Despite starring the likes of Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, the movie was not met well when it was released; it really did struggle to find an audience.
This poor box office performance saw the movie struggle to make back its $25 million budget.
The Shawshank Redemption has enjoyed huge success on home release, and now it is widely regarded as a movie classic.
- Fight Club (1999)
Fight Club was one of the best movies to hit the big screen in 1999, and was only the third feature film from director David Fincher.
Everyone may rave about Fight Club now, but it was a polarising film when it was released.
Despite having Brad Pitt, Ed Norton, and Helen Bonham Carter on the cast list, the movie did not reach the level of success that 20th Century Fox expected.
Despite some people liking it, and other hating it, Fight Club was one of the most talked about movies of 1999.
It is now regarded a cult classic, as it has gone on to enjoy huge success and popularity over the last fifteen years. It remains one of Fincher's best movies and one of the best movies of the 90s.
- Children Of Men (2006)
Children of Men hit the big screen back in 2006, was directed by Alfonso Cuarón, and was an adaptation of the novel of the same name by P.D. James.
Children of Men is a bleak film, which looks at society coping with the loss of fertility.
I consider Children of Men to be one of the best science fiction films of the last ten years: it really is an exciting and compelling watch from start to finish.
The movie won over just about all of the critics, but failed to bring in the money at the box office.
Children of Men grossed just shy of $70 million: failing to make back its $76 million budget. Despite its poor box office performance, the critical acclaim saw it in the mix during the awards season.
- Sunshine (2007)
Danny Boyle is a director who has enjoyed huge success in recent years with the likes of Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours.
However, a movie of his that should have done far better than it did was Sunshine: which was released back in 2007.
The movie saw Boyle in the director's chair, Alex Garland on scriptwriting duties, and Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne & Chris Evans on the cast list.
As well as being an edge of your seat thriller, the movie was also beautifully shot - one of the most stunning films of the year.
Sadly, despite being met well by the critics, the movie failed to make back its $40 million budget.
- Dredd (2012)
Dredd was one of my favourite films of 2012, as the iconic character returned.
This time around, Karl Urban took on the role of Dredd, while Pete Travis was in the director's chair for the film.
Dredd is a mix of violence and style and really was a terrific watch - shame the story was so similar to The Raid.
Sadly, this great movie - which also won over the critics - struggled at the box office: it failed to make back its $45 million budget.
However, the movie has enjoyed another lease of life on home release and has gone on to gain cult status. The home release success has been so good that a sequel is being considered.
Other great movies that also failed to perform well at the box office include Citizen Kane, Once Upon a Time in America, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and The Iron Giant.
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