There’s no doubt that film critics are an important aspect of Hollywood. Their critical reviews in online and print publications are a key tool for audiences, a go-to resource that helps viewers discern which films are worth their time and money. Critical acclaim could convince the public that a certain film is a must-see event and persuade them to take that trip to the theater.
But critical acclaim doesn’t always translate into ticket sales and commercial success. Even some of the best films are poised to flop at the box office, due to uncontrollable external factors, bad publicity and marketing, or a negative public perception. This list may consist of cult classics and revered masterpieces, but at the time of their release, these eight critically acclaimed films didn’t stand a chance at thebox office.
The Suicide Squad
Directed by David Ayer, 2016’sSuicide Squadassembles a ragtag team of infamous DC Comics supervillains and tasks them with saving the world. The film was a critical disaster but a box office smash, grossing nearly $750 million worldwide. Then, just five years later, we gotThe Suicide Squadfrom James Gunn. This film follows a similar premise to the 2016 film and features several actors who reprised their roles from the original movie.
The Suicide Squadfared better critically than its predecessor, scoring a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. But audiences just couldn’t wrap their minds around this new film. Was it a reboot? A sequel? Nobody really knew. That, plus the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, setThe Suicide Squadup for slaughter at the box office.
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7’Dredd' (2012)
Judge Dreddis a 1995 sci-fi action film based on the comic book series of the same name. Starring Sylvester Stallone as the titular character, it follows a police officer in a dystopian future, who’s convicted of a crime he didn’t commit.Judge Dreddwas a commercial and critical bomb and is widely regarded as one of Stallone’s worst films. 17 years later, Hollywood produced a reboot that was simply titledDredd.It was written and produced by Alex Garland, the mastermind behind films like28 Days Later, Ex Machina,andAnnihilation.
Now starring Karl Urban as the titular character, the reboot follows Dredd as he goes to war with a gang that deals reality-altering drugs in a dystopian future.Dreddenjoyed a warm critical reception but flopped at the box office, grossing just $41 million on a budget of roughly $45 million. Urban blamed the film’s commercial failure on poor marketing, claiming nobody knew thatDreddwas even being released. And those that did likely associated the film with the original movie that had bombed 17 years earlier.
6’Office Space' (1999)
Office Space
Fed up with their mundane 9–5 work cycle and unfulfilling office jobs, three white-collar colleagues decide to rebel against the system that they hate so much in 1999’sOffice Space.You’d probably expect this satirical comedy to perform well at the box office, given its relatable premise and critical acclaim. Plus, it features one of the biggest stars from the ’90s, Jennifer Aniston. But despite these factors,Office Spacewas a box office disappointment, grossing just $12 million against a $10 million budget.
Why? For one thing,Office Spacewas released in February, in what’s commonly known as a dump month – a period of time when theatrical releases generally produce low commercial results. On top of that,Office Spacehad terrible marketing. Because of her small role, Jennifer Aniston wasn’t featured on the film’s theatrical posters. They instead featured a guy covered head-to-toe in Post-it notes, which some viewers had trouble identifying. But there is a silver lining here. Since 1999,Office Spacehas gone on to become a cult classic and a favorite comedy for many fans.
5’Ed Wood' (1994)
Ed Woodis a biopic about the 1950s filmmaker Ed Wood, the most famous bad director in Hollywood. It captures the production of Wood’s most iconic films, known for their campy aesthetics and low budgets, as well as his infamous cross-dressing tendencies. It’s your typical Tim Burton film, a quirky black-and-white production starring Johnny Depp.
Ed Woodgarnered critical acclaim and won two Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Martin Landau. But like many of Wood’s films, it underperformed at the box office, barely scraping together $14 million against a budget of $18 million. The film’s weirdness turned off many viewers, who weren’t eager to watch a biopic about a reputably terrible, cross-dressing director of B movies.
4’Dazed and Confused' (1993)
Dazed and Confused
Dazed and Confusedis a classic coming-of-age story from the early ’90s. Set in 1976 Texas, it follows various teenagers of different ages, grades, and social circles as they celebrate their final day of school. It features a large ensemble cast of then-unknown actors, many of whom have since achieved success and superstardom, such as Ben Affleck, Milla Jovovich, Parker Posey, and Matthew McConaughey. It’s strange to look at this classic film now with its remarkable breakout cast, knowing that it was a box office bomb.Dazed and Confusedgrossed just a little over $8 million against a budget of almost $7 million.
The film’s writer and director, Richard Linklater, largely credits its “stoner movie” marketing campaign for its poor commercial performance. Although marijuana plays a role in the film’s setting, it’s by no means the focus. Its comedy also differs from other successful stoner comedies, such as theFridayfilm series and 2008’sPineapple Express,leaving movie-goers dazed and confused about this movie’s genre.
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3’Donnie Darko' (2001)
Donnie Darko
Donnie Darkocenters on a disturbed teenager who, after surviving a bizarre airplane accident, experiences peculiar hallucinations that warn of an impending apocalypse.Donnie Darkofeatures several big names, including Patrick Swayze, Drew Barrymore, a then-unknown Seth Rogen, and Jake Gyllenhaal in his breakout role as the film’s titular character.
Donnie Darkois your typical indie: it’s unique, it’s strange, it’s out there. And that’s partially why it tanked at the box office, grossing only $7.5 million against a budget of $4.5 million. The film’s premise, which involved a plane accident, also didn’t sit well with American audiences, who were still reeling from the devastating 9/11 terrorist attacks just a month before. But like many films on this list,Donnie Darkhas become a cult classicover the years.
2’Big Trouble in Little China' (1986)
Big Trouble in Little China
Big Trouble in Little Chinafollows a wisecracking truck driver (Kurt Russell) who finds himself in a battle with an ancient sorcerer after delivering a package to San Francisco’s Chinatown. It was directed by John Carpenter, the mastermind behind horror classics likeHalloweenandThe Thing. Big Trouble in Little Chinareceived a positive critical reception but tanked at the box office, grossing $11 million in the US against an estimated $25 million budget.
As it turned out, the real trouble with this film was its messaging. An action-comedy by John Carpenter rather than a horror movie? Another issue was the film’s competition.The Golden Child,which starred the more popular and commercially successful Eddie Murphy, had essentially the same plot. Although it came out a few months later,The Golden Childovershadowed Carpenter’s filmand had a much stronger performance at the box office.Big Trouble in Little Chinahas since become a cult classic.
1’Citizen Kane' (1941)
Citizen Kane
InCitizen Kane, an investigative journalist tries to uncover the meaning behind the last word of publishing tycoon and multi-millionaire Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles). The character and life of Kane is based on real-life publishing tycoon and multi-millionaire William Randolph Hearst.
Hearst famously tried shutting down Welles' production to keep his life out of the movies. When that failed, he limited the film’s theatrical release and flooded his newspapers with bad press about the movie, which setCitizen Kaneup for commercial failure and sank it at the box office. Heart might’ve won the battle, but he definitely lost the war. 84 years later,Citizen iswidely regarded asthe greatest movie ever made.
