From Box Office Failure to Fan Favorites

For various reasons, we’ve seen movies go from box office failure to fan favorites. Truthfully, how the masses feel about a film can’t be determined by money or critics. So here are some movies that triumphed beyond the poor box office numbers.

 

Alice In Wonderland (1951)

Genre: Animation Fantasy
Budget:  $3,000,000 (estimated)
To Disney’s surprise, Alice in Wonderland’s initial release didn’t meet expectations. Pulling in an estimated 2.4 Million, and that’s under the budget, yikes. An adaption of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice book series, Alice in Wonderland, is a surrealist adventure that follows a girl, Alice, who falls into a rabbit hole and has to navigate a new world and its inhabitants. It’s wild down the rabbit hole, and that’s why the movie gained a dedicated fan base, and the movie was remade into a live-action film in 2010. 

 

Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory (1971)

Genre: Musical Fantasy
Budget: $3,000,000 (estimated)
The ultimate classic film, and at the time of its release, it only grossed worldwide $622,861 on opening weekend. Talk about devastating numbers for such a cult classic film. I guess in the 70s, a chocolatier with orange men and golden tickets was hard to fathom. Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory is about a kind-hearted boy who dreams of discovering one of the five golden tickets tucked inside chocolate bar wrappers. These prized tickets are the keys to the mystical and enigmatic Willy Wonka’s extraordinary factory. However, luck seems to favor the not-so-nice kids, as they uncover the golden tickets one after another. Charlie embarks on a search to find the last remaining ticket and experiences a chance of a lifetime inside the factory. What’s not to love about a whimsical musical not only did this film grow in popularity. Later on, it was adapted in 2005, and currently a Willy Wonka origin story is set to release in 2023.    

 

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Genre: Drama
Budget: $25 million (estimated)
This film is repeatedly praised, so it’s hard to believe it did not deliver at the box office. Pulling in $28,884,71, which is an increase but not by much. We’re watching two imprisoned men bond over the years. In the gripping tale of “The Shawshank Redemption,” we meet Andy Dufresne. Unjustly convicted for crimes he didn’t commit – the murders of his wife and her lover – Andy is handed two consecutive life sentences in a harsh and unforgiving prison. Amid the harsh realities of prison life, Andy forges an unexpected bond with Red. Together, they navigate the brutality of their confinement, adapting and surviving through the passing of 19 long years. Yes, it’s a heavy movie but an undeniable classic.  

 

Waterworld (1995)

Genre: Action / Sci-fi
Budget: 175 million (estimated)
Waterworld initially struggled at the box office, making an estimated 264.2 million globally. It eventually found a dedicated fan base and became a favorite among certain audiences. Despite its poor box office performance, several factors contributed to its popularity. For one, it’s a unique concept of a post-apocalyptic world where the polar ice caps have melted, submerging most of the earth’s landmass, and now we have adapted to water people with gills. I don’t know with the way things are going with climate change, we might want to take notes. 

 

The Craft (1996)

Genre: Supernatural Horror
Budget: 15 Million (estimated)
The Craft didn’t exactly light up the box office. It pulled in $24.5 million, which might sound like a lot, but compared to other ’90s horror flicks, it’s more like a flicker. Take Scream, for instance, it cashed in over $173 million that same year, and I Know What You Did Last Summer brought in $125 million the next year. I guess people are more skeptical about witches than murderers. The Craft had an alright run and managed to earn a little more than its budget, but barely, by $10 million. But you know what’s crazy? The real magic happened when The Craft hit the TV screens and rental market. Suddenly, it started gaining a serious following. And honestly, can you blame people? The story revolves around four teenage witches in L.A., and when they pool their powers, they become wickedly strong. Picture Clueless with a witchy twist.

 

Pitch Black (2000)

Genre: Sci-Fi Thriller
Budget: 23 million (estimated)
The movie that gave Vin Desiel his big break grossed worldwide $53,187,659. Though there is a little cushion there, it’s not much considering. For its time, it was conceptually a little different for a sci-fi film. Pitch Black is about a transport ship that crashes and leaves its crew stranded on a desert planet inhabited by bloodthirsty creatures that come out during an eclipse. Yes, aliens are not a new concept, but a man with unique eyes that allows him to see clearly in the dark is. Riddick, the antihero, became an instant standout. His persona, with a mix of darkness and charisma, resonated with viewers and quickly became an iconic figure in sci-fi cinema.

 

Lucky Number Slevin (2006)

Genre: Thriller/Drama
Budget: $27 million (estimated)
Some of you never heard of this movie, but it’s a worthy watch. Lucky Number Slevin grossed $56.3 million at the box office. That’s about a 29 million increase over the budget. It’s not bad, but it’s not great, either. Over time it was met with mixed reviews, but it’s a good time with an A-list cast. A film about a case of mistaken identity puts a man named Slevin in the middle of a war between two rival New York crime lords: The Rabbi and the Boss. While under the watchful eyes of Detective Brikowski and well-known assassin Goodkat, Slevin must quickly devise a plan to save his skin before his luck runs out.

 

In the unpredictable realm of cinema, box office failures can sometimes find redemption as cult classics cherished and celebrated by devoted fan bases. Once overlooked or misunderstood by mainstream audiences, these films carve out a special place in cinematic history, defying their initial box office disappointments. These films find new life through home videos (this is no longer a popular choice), streaming platforms, and dedicated communities. They serve as a reminder that a movie’s true impact is not solely measured by its box office success but rather by its ability to captivate and resonate with audiences for generations to come.