As a seasoned movie buff and critic with a knack for uncovering the hidden stories behind the silver screen, I find myself constantly fascinated by the intriguing tales of films that failed to make an impact at the box office despite their seemingly promising beginnings. These cinematic misfires are like phantom limbs in the vast landscape of Hollywood, whispering tales of what could have been from the shadows.
Many people argue that the 1980s produced some of the greatest and most lucrative films ever made, with a wealth of proof to support this claim. This period saw a significant surge in science fiction, franchises reaching unprecedented heights, and teen comedies reaching their zenith. The highest-grossing film of the 80s, “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” amassed almost $800 million. Numerous other films also brought in hundreds of millions of dollars.
10 Heaven’s Gate (1980)
Budget – $44 Million; Box Office – $3.5 Million
During the 1890s in Wyoming, the story of Heaven’s Gate revolves around European immigrants who are farmers, struggling to maintain their land amid conflicts with cattle barons who suspect them of stealing livestock. Sheriff James Averill attempts to mediate this dispute, but his focus becomes divided when he finds himself captivated by a madam. As reported by the BBC, the initial budget for Heaven’s Gate was a relatively small $11.6 million. However, director Michael Cimino’s grand vision for this production significantly increased the cost.
Too Much Directorial Input?
The production of “Heaven’s Gate” faced numerous challenges right from the beginning. Disregarding the escalating budget, this movie had a tough road ahead before its release. Issues like unsafe working conditions, allegations of animal abuse, delays in scheduling, and Cimino’s unrealistic expectations were just some of the hurdles it encountered. Regrettably, the film did not live up to the high standards set by its director. Many critics pointed out the excessive length of the movie and the historical inaccuracies present within it.
9 Honky Tonk Freeway (1981)
Budget – $24 Million; Box Office – $2 Million
The unusual plot of “Honky Tonk Freeway” might have been a tad too bizarre for viewers. This British comedy satirizes American politics, with the story unfolding in an imaginary Florida town named Ticlaw. Kirby T. Calo serves as the mayor, preacher, and proprietor of both a hotel and safari park here. An unexpected turn of events occurs when a new highway is constructed without an exit ramp to attract travelers to Ticlaw. Consequently, Kirby and the townspeople of Ticlaw decide it’s their responsibility to revitalize their own community.
One Week, One Chance
This movie, “Honky Tonk Freeway,” is a mix of unconventional and seemingly unrelated events. For instance, an elephant named Bubbles water-skiing, townsfolk painting their town pink to solve their problems, and the film being so poorly received by audiences that it lasted only a week in cinemas. Some supporters argued American viewers found it hard to appreciate the satire, while others believed it simply wasn’t very humorous. Regardless of the reasons, “Honky Tonk Freeway” was undeniably a flop at the box office.
8 Inchon (1982)
Budget – $46 Million; Box Office – $5.2 Million
As a movie enthusiast who’s always on the lookout for gripping war films, let me tell you about “Inchon” – a cinematic masterpiece that delves into the heart of the Korean War and focuses particularly on The Battle of Inchon. It’s all about General Douglas MacArthur’s daring strategy to orchestrate an “amphibious landing,” a three-pronged assault involving land, sea, and air, against enemy territory. Interestingly, while some sources claim it was screened to Navy veterans in May 1981, the film didn’t officially hit the big screens until September of the following year.
An Expensive Blunder
Filmmakers aimed for “Inchon” to leave a significant impression, but it achieved something different than they anticipated. It fell short in North America, barely earning $2 million, and managed to gross slightly over $5 million globally. The movie missed the mark in portraying the seriousness it intended, as it featured flat characters, lackluster dialogue, and controversial representations of the war. Unfortunately, not even the film’s leading actor, Laurence Olivier, could prevent “Inchon” from its path to failure.
7 The King of Comedy (1983)
Budget – $19 Million; Box Office – $2.5 Million
The King of Comedy represents the fifth joint venture between director Martin Scorsese and actor Robert De Niro, but unfortunately, it’s their least successful partnership. In this film, we follow the character Rubert Pupkin (played by De Niro), a struggling comedian who yearns for the same level of success as comedian and talk show host Jerry Langford. However, his obsession with Langford leads him to engage in stalking and eventually concocts a kidnapping plot.
The Wrong Decade
The King of Comedy sank so that nearly forty years later, Baby Reindeer could swim. It had a limited release in Iceland at the end of 1982 and fully premiered to audiences in 1983. Unlike many others on this list, the reviews weren’t bad. They found De Niro’s character charming and funny and the subject matter intriguing. This perhaps is a case of a film being way ahead of its time. Luckily for fans of Scorsese and De Niro, this was not the end of their creative partnership.
6 The Cotton Club (1984)
Budget – $58 Million; Box Office – $26 Million
The renowned filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola is known for epic movies such as “The Godfather.” Regrettably, the film “The Cotton Club” failed to attract an audience when it was released in 1984. This movie is based on a book by James Haskins and focuses on the famous Harlem jazz club, “The Cotton Club, during the 1930s. The film introduces us to a diverse group of individuals who frequented the club, including musicians, dancers, and gangsters.
Good Film, Bad Sales
Initially, the production of The Cotton Club encountered delays. By the time Francis Ford Coppola came aboard, substantial funds had already been invested. Frequent changes in production companies and screenwriters further increased costs. Regrettably, the film only managed to recover about half of its $58 million budget at the box office. Despite positive reviews and numerous award nominations, one can only imagine how gratifying it would have been for the creators if these accolades had led to higher ticket sales.
5 Enemy Mine (1985)
Budget – $29 Million; Box Office – $12.3 Million
Enemy Mine refers to a science fiction movie derived from Barry B. Longyear’s novella, set in the late 21st century during a persistent conflict between mankind and an extraterrestrial race known as Dracs. The protagonist, Will Davidge (portrayed by Dennis Quaid), harbors intense animosity towards Dracs. In a skirmish, he encounters Jareeba Shigan (Louis Gossett Jr.), a Drac pilot. Their confrontation culminates with both of them crash-landing on a planet, their sole hope for survival hinging upon their reluctant alliance.
An Expensive Risk
Expensive elements like massive production designs, advanced computer-generated imagery (CGI), special effects, and meticulous costuming significantly increase the costs of sci-fi movies. Initially budgeted at a reasonable $17 million, the final expenses for Enemy Mine escalated to around $40 million. Regrettably, even if it had stayed within the initial budget, it would have underperformed at the box office, earning only $12 million. Despite a holiday release often being beneficial for films, Enemy Mine was considered forgettable and struggled to gain attention.
4 The Manhattan Project (1986)
Budget – $18 Million; Box Office – $3.9 Million
The Manhattan Project is titled as a sci-fi thriller, referring to a World War II program that developed the first atomic bomb. Our protagonist, Paul Stephens, is an exceptionally intelligent high school student with a passion for science. However, he finds himself suspicious of his mother’s new partner, John, who claims to work for a medical company. With the National Science Fair fast approaching, Paul sees this as an opportunity to unveil a questionable organization by winning the competition.
Bad Timing
The movie didn’t elicit a strong sense of revulsion from viewers or critics; instead, it generally drew a shrug and the comment “It’s okay.” However, the film’s box office performance was far from satisfactory, earning only $2 million. It’s possible that the real-life Chernobyl disaster, which happened two months prior to the movie’s release, made the film’s events too resonant for some viewers. Alternatively, perhaps child prodigy Paul was simply too hard to connect with for audiences to fully support. Whatever the reason, the cinematic run fell short of expectations for all parties involved.
3 Ishtar (1987)
Budget – $51 Million; Box Office – $14.4 Million
The story Ishtar revolves around two musicians, Chuck Clarke and Lyle Rogers, who find themselves in an unexpected predicament. They are asked to perform in a hotel lounge situated in Marrakesh, Morocco. With their finances dwindling and no one to return home to, they accept the offer. However, what seems like a simple gig turns out to be far from innocent. Unbeknownst to them, they soon find themselves caught up in a complex political conflict involving rebels, the C.I.A., and various nations.
Tension On & Off Set
In another instance, a budget spiraled out of management and failed to yield profits, similar to the film “Ishtar.” Initially budgeted at approximately $28 million, it eventually ballooned to around $51 million. The strife between producer Warren Beatty and director Elaine May during production made the release of Ishtar a rocky journey. Experts anticipated its downfall due to creative differences, and unfortunately, their predictions came true. With only $14 million earned at the box office and unfavorable critiques, “Ishtar” seemed destined for failure from the outset.
2 The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)
Budget – $46.6 Million; Box Office – $8 Million
The Tales of Baron Munchausen narrates the fictional exploits of a German baron from the 18th century. The narrative unfolds as a series of reminiscences by an older Baron attempting to convince theater-goers that he is indeed the person in question. Accompanying him on his various escapades are a diverse band of companions: a swift runner, an expert marksman, a powerful strongman, and a man with extraordinary hearing abilities.
Niche Film with Blockbuster Budget
It came as a shock that this film production exceeded its budget (by $23 million no less) and ended up costing $46 million. Given the peculiar nature of the movie, one might have guessed it catered to a specific audience. Despite being visually stunning, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen probably never stood a chance at becoming the year’s top box office hit. Although most viewers who saw the film enjoyed it, its $8 million earnings at the box office were overshadowed by the disappointing reviews.
1 Pink Cadillac (1989)
Budget – $19 Million; Box Office – $12 Million
“Pink Cadillac
Been There, Seen That
The film, featuring Clint Eastwood and Bernadette Peters in leading roles and boasting decent chemistry, should have managed a modest level of success. Its budget of $19 million wasn’t excessive, and the plot was relatively safe, which might have been its downfall. Despite the presence of well-known stars, it didn’t stand out enough to draw audiences to this comedy over others. Although not as significant a flop as some others on the list, it fell short at the box office with earnings of $12 million, significantly lower than what was probably expected.
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2024-10-13 19:02