‘The 13th Warrior’ Didn’t Deserve to Be One of the Biggest Bombs Ever Made

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  • ‘The 13th Warrior’s A-List Pedigree
  • Why ‘The 13th Warrior’ Didn’t Deserve Its Box Office Demise

1999 was a triumphant year for American cinema, but it proved to be disappointing for John McTiernan’s underestimated historical action-adventure, “The 13th Warrior.” The filmmaker responsible for the successful action films like “Predator” and “Die Hard” suffered a significant financial blow when “The 13th Warrior” flopped at the box office, resulting in a loss of approximately $130 million for Touchstone Pictures. By the time the smoke cleared, “The 13th Warrior” stood as the largest box-office failure of 1999.

Equipped with a lavish $160 million production budget (which would be equivalent to $302 million in 2025), “The 13th Warrior” boasted an elite global cast and had the potential for success. However, due to mixed critical reception and fierce competition at the box office from a distant galaxy, the film met its demise on the big screen. As it marks its 25th anniversary in August, it’s time to reevaluate its qualities despite its infamous financial failure.

‘The 13th Warrior’s Premise, Explained

The movie “The 13th Warrior” is a blend of historical action and adventure, inspired by Michael Crichton’s novel “Eaters of the Dead,” published in 1976. Unlike his usual science fiction stories, this book combines elements from the epic poem “Beowulf” and the chronicles of the Volga Vikings as narrated by a Muslim nomad named Ahmad Ibn Fadlan, portrayed by Antonio Banderas. Consequently, some viewers who watched the film in 1999 might have found the core plot confusing or disconnected due to its unique blend of historical and literary sources.

From a narrative standpoint, “The 13th Warrior” chronicles the journey of Fadlan as he is tasked to embark on a perilous voyage from Baghdad to meet the King of Saqaliba. Along the way, Fadlan and his trusted companion Melchisidek (played by Omar Sharif) are saved from the merciless Tartar warriors by a band of Norsemen. As Fadlan spends increasing time with these Vikings, he gains insight into their harsh ways of life, which starkly contrasts with his refined, diplomatic upbringing.

As time goes by, Fadlan’s initially contrasting culture gradually shifts towards understanding and integration within Buliwyf’s (Beowulf) community, despite their differing religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds. Remarkably, the Viking leader, Buliwyf, accepts Fadlan as part of his group, demonstrating a tale of unity, collaboration, and respect for diverse faiths, as portrayed by authors Crichton and McTiernan in their blending of the Beowulf story and the Volga Vikings narrative.

‘The 13th Warrior’s A-List Pedigree

According to its promotional content, “The 13th Warrior” was a production by the author of “Jurassic Park” and the director of “Die Hard“. This association likely would have boosted ticket sales, considering Crichton’s other successful movie adaptations such as “The Andromeda Strain, Westworld, The Great Train Robbery, Rising Sun, Twister, Congo,” and more.

In essence, if John McTiernan had created ‘Predator’ or ‘Die Hard’ on his own, he likely would have been inducted into the Hall of Fame for directors. However, the fact that he directed iconic action films and yet struggled to attract audiences for a movie based on a Crichton novel shows how challenging it can be in the film industry. Regrettably, after ‘The 13th Warrior’, McTiernan only directed two more movies – the disappointing remake of ‘Rollerball’ and the fittingly-named crime thriller ‘Basic’.

In 1999, Antonio Banderas was riding high on the success of films like El Mariachi, Desperado, Assassins, and The Mask of Zorro. However, McTiernan and Touchstone might have underestimated Banderas’ drawing power by surrounding him with a talented international cast that many American viewers were not familiar with at the time.

Regardless of the prestigious team behind it, some lesser-known actors (apart from Sharif) might have inadvertently contributed to a less successful run at the box office than anticipated. However, when evaluating the plot, acting, and technical aspects, there’s no doubt that The 13th Warrior should not have suffered such a painful demise at the box office.

Why ‘The 13th Warrior’ Didn’t Deserve Its Box Office Demise

In August of 1999, amidst the transition from summer blockbusters to award-worthy films, the movie titled “The 13th Warrior” premiered. Despite not being the best timing for a historical adventure film, it didn’t fare well domestically and abroad. Unfortunately, this production, which reportedly cost around $160 million (including both production and marketing costs), only earned $61 million at the box office, leading to losses of up to $129 million. This made “The 13th Warrior” the biggest flop at the box office in 1999 according to Business Insider and The Numbers.

As a passionate film aficionado, I can’t help but reflect on the remarkable journey of “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace,” which has since amassed an astounding billion dollars globally. However, it’s crucial to remember that “The 13th Warrior” wasn’t immune to tough competition in theaters during its release. August 1999 saw the launch of blockbusters such as “The Sixth Sense” and “The Blair Witch Project,” effectively crowding out space for a historical drama like “The 13th Warrior” to strike a chord with moviegoers everywhere.

Over the past quarter-century, The 13th Warrior has gained recognition as a cult favorite, initially overshadowed in 1999. The film’s production process was marked by lengthy reshoots and edits, with Michael Crichton eventually taking over from John McTiernan as director. Omar Sharif even momentarily stepped away from acting following the movie’s poor reception. Despite these challenges, The 13th Warrior endeavors to foster unity across cultures, rather than fueling division.

In a surprising blend of Muslim and Viking traditions, this narrative presents itself as a heartwarming testament to tolerance, understanding, kindness, and collective bravery. Despite its rough and perplexing storytelling, the film’s noble intentions, spearheaded by Banderas, Crichton, and McTiernan, were unfortunately overshadowed by 1999’s most infamous cinematic disaster.

You can watch ‘The 13th Warrior’ on Prime Video or stream it on Hoopla.

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2025-01-12 06:31