There’s an odd sort of magic in seeing a film the world deemed a failure—particularly when it turns out to be brilliant. Certain films bombed so spectacularly on opening day that they almost derailed studios or reputations alongside them. But years down the line, they’re cherished, re-watched, and quoted ad infinitum. Here’s our list of ten “failure” films that proved the box office isn’t always right.
10. Better Man – The CGI Chimp Musical Nobody Showed Up For
A $110 million musical biopic about Robbie Williams, starring a CGI chimp as his alter ego, sounded. Ambitious. And it was—just not at the box office, where it scraped together $1.9 million in its U.S. debut. Still, it’s bold, eccentric, and unlike anything else out there—exactly the kind of risk that makes movie history interesting.
9. The Fabelmans – Spielberg’s Box Office Underdog
Steven Spielberg’s deeply personal coming-of-age drama might not have taken flight financially, but as a close-up portrait of art, family, and obsession, its reputation continues to build. Sometimes the quieter pictures take the longest to be heard.
8. The Abyss – Cameron’s Drowning Gamble
James Cameron descended into the depths—literally—for this underwater science fiction epic. Between the bloated budget and exhausting shoot, The Abyss operated on the edge of profitability. But today, its groundbreaking visual effects and epic scope render it one of Cameron’s most underappreciated masterpieces.
7. Event Horizon – From Box Office Bomb to Cult Horror Classic
A gothic horror and space opera fusion, Event Horizon confused critics and bombed at the box office. But its eerie aesthetic, graphic violence, and Sam Neill’s crazed acting finally gained it a devoted cult following.
6. Titan A.E. – The Animated Flop That Sank a Studio
Fox Animation staked all on this dark science fiction epic of the human condition. The poor box office result brought down the studio, though its blend of 2D and primitive CGI animation has become a cult classic among fans who enjoy their cartoons with a dash of apocalypse.
5. Treasure Planet – Disney’s Missjudged Space Epic
A steampunk, spacefaring retelling of Treasure Island, this artwork wonder was buried at the box office—partly due to coming out at the same time as Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Twenty years on, it’s renowned for its beautiful artwork and forward-thinking setting.
4. The Thing – Carpenter’s Icy Masterpiece
When John Carpenter’s The Thing initially appeared in cinemas, people weren’t prepared for its gore and paranoia. It was a commercial failure. Today? It’s a standard for sci-fi horror and practical effects filmmaking.
3. Blade Runner – The Future Classic Nobody Asked For (Yet)
In 1982, Ridley Scott’s dystopian notion of the future was too slow, too weird, and too pessimistic for mainstream audiences. Now, Blade Runner is one of the most influential sci-fi films of all time. Guess the future just took a little while to catch up.
2. The Shawshank Redemption – The Prison Drama That Bucked Failure
It’s now a fixture of “greatest movies” lists, but initially, The Shawshank Redemption didn’t create a ripple at the box office. Home video and word of mouth took its theatrical failure and turned it into an enduring story of hope and friendship.
1. Citizen Kane – The Original “Flop to Masterpiece” Story
Orson Welles’ revolutionary debut was a critical hit but a commercial failure, abetted by studio politics and scandal. Years later, it’s consistently voted the greatest movie ever made—testimony to the idea that the box office is a lousy barometer of greatness.
So the next time you hear that a movie “flopped,” recall: history is dotted with movies that flailed out of the starting gate, only to take the victory lap years down the line. Occasionally, it simply takes the world a little longer to catch up.