Misplaced Pages

List of biggest box-office bombs

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
(Redirected from List of movies generating losses)

In the film and media industry, if a film released in theatres fails to break even by a large amount, it is considered a box-office bomb (or box-office flop), thus losing money for the distributor, studio, and/or production company that invested in it. Due to the secrecy surrounding costs and profit margins in the film industry, figures of losses are usually rough estimates at best, and there are often conflicting estimates over how much a film has lost. To accommodate this uncertainty, the losses are presented as ranges where this is the case, and the list is ordered alphabetically in the absence of a definitive order. Because the films on the list have been released over a large span of time, currency inflation is a material factor, so losses are adjusted for inflation using the United States Consumer Price Index to enable comparison at equivalent purchasing power.

Some films on this list grossed more than their production budgets yet are still regarded as flops. This can be due to Hollywood accounting practices that manipulate profits or keep costs secret to circumvent profit-sharing agreements, but it is also possible for films to lose money legitimately even when the theatrical gross exceeds the budget. This is because a distributor does not collect the full gross, and the full cost of a film can substantially exceed its production budget once distribution and marketing are taken into account. For example, tax filings in 2010 for Cinemark Theatres show that only 54.5 percent of ticket revenues went to the distributor, with the exhibitor retaining the rest. While the distributor's cut will vary from film to film, a Hollywood studio will typically collect half the gross in the United States and less in other parts of the world. Marketing often represents a substantial share of the overall cost of the picture too: for a film with an average sized budget the promotion and advertising costs are typically half that of the production budget, and in the case of smaller films it is not unusual for the cost of the marketing to be higher than the production budget. In some cases, a company can make profits from a box-office bomb when ancillary revenues are taken into account, such as streaming, home media sales and rentals, television broadcast rights, and licensing fees, so a film that loses money at the box office can still eventually break even.

There are some films notorious for large production budgets and widely seen as box-office bombs that have either broken even or turned a profit. Cleopatra nearly bankrupted 20th Century Fox with production and marketing costs of US$44 million and numerous delays. It was among the top ten films of the 1960s, but still failed to recoup its investment during its theatrical release. It eventually broke even in 1966 when Fox sold the television broadcast rights to ABC for $5 million. The total costs for Waterworld (1995) exceeded $300 million and it was perceived as a disaster at the time, despite grossing $264 million worldwide. It also eventually broke even through other revenue streams. Such films are still cited as high-risk examples in evaluating the prospects of future productions. For example, Cleopatra is blamed for a decline in big-budget epic films in the 1960s.

The COVID-19 pandemic, starting around March 2020, caused temporary closure of movie theatres, and distributors moved several films to premier to streaming services such as HBO Max, Disney+, and Peacock with little to no box-office takes. While these films may have had successful runs on these services, the viewership or revenue from these showings are typically not reported and excluded from the box office. As a result, several films from 2020 to 2022 are included on this list, despite potentially having been profitable for their studios through streaming.

Biggest box-office bombs

The following is a partial list of films that lost the most money, based on documented losses or estimated by expert analysis of various financial factors such as the production budget, marketing and distribution costs, gross box-office receipts and other ancillary revenues. The list is limited to films that are potentially among the top one hundred box-office losses, adjusted for inflation (approximately upper-bound losses of $100 million or higher as of 2023).

  † Background shading indicates films playing in the week commencing 3 January 2025 in theaters around the world.
§ indicates a film released for streaming less than 30 days after it was released theatrically.
Biggest box-office bombs
Title Year Net production budget
(millions) 		Worldwide gross
(millions) 		Estimated loss (millions) Ref.
Nominal Adjusted for inflation
The 13th Warrior 1999 $100–160 $61.7 $69–129 $126–236
47 Ronin 2013 $175–225 $151.8 $96 $126
The 355 2022 $40–75 $27.7 $93 $105
The Adventures of Pluto Nash 2002 $100 $7.1 $96 $163
The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle 2000 $76–98.6 $35.1 $63.5 $112
The Alamo 2004 $107 $25.8 $94 $152
Alexander 2004 $155 $167.3 $71 $115
Ali 2001 $107 $87.7 $63 $108
Allied 2016 $85 $118.6 $75–90 $95–114
Amsterdam 2022 $80 $31.2 $108 $112
Around the World in 80 Days 2004 $110 $72.2 $74 $119
The Astronaut's Wife 1999 $75 $19.6 $65 $119
Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever 2002 $70 $19.9 $70.1 $119
Battlefield Earth 2000 $73–103 $29.7 $73.3 $130
Battleship 2012 $209–220 $303 $150 $199
Beloved 1998 $80 $22.9 $68.5 $128
Ben-Hur 2016 $100 $94.1 $75–120 $95–152
The BFG 2016 $140 $179.6 $71–100 $90–127
Black Adam 2022 $190–260 $393 $50–100 $52–104
Blackhat 2015 $70 $19.7 $68–90 $87–116
The Call of the Wild 2020 $125–150 $107.6 $50–100 $59–118
Cats 2019 $90–100 $73.7 $71–113.6 $85–135
Chaos Walking 2021 $100 $26.5 $112 $126
Chill Factor 1999 $34–70 $11.8 $64 $117
A Christmas Carol 2009 $175–200 $325.3 $50–100 $71–142
The Chronicles of Riddick 2004 $105–120 $115.8 $47–73 $76–118
Cowboys & Aliens 2011 $163 $174.8 $63–75 $85–102
Cutthroat Island  1995 $98 $18.3 $105 $210
Dark Phoenix 2019 $200 $252.4 $79–133 $96–161
Deepwater Horizon 2016 $110–120 $119.5 $60–113 $76–143
Dolittle 2020 $175 $227.9 $50–100 $59–118
Driven 2001 $94 $54.7 $67 $115
Dudley Do-Right 1999 $70 $10 $65 $119
Evan Almighty 2007 $175 $173.4 $87 $128
The Fall of the Roman Empire 1964 $18.4 $4.8 $14.3 $140
Fantastic Four 2015 $120–125 $168 $80–100 $103–129
Fathers' Day 1997 $85 $35.7 $67 $127
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within 2001 $137 $85.1 $94 $162
The Flash 2023 $200 $271.3 $155 $155
Gemini Man 2019 $138 $173.5 $111.1 $132
Ghost in the Shell 2017 $110–180 $169.8 $60–100 $75–124
Gigli 2003 $75.6 $7.3 $72 $119
Gods of Egypt 2016 $140 $150.7 $76–90 $96–114
The Good Dinosaur 2015 $175–200 $332.2 $85 $109
The Great Raid 2005 $80 $10.8 $75 $117
Green Lantern 2011 $200 $219.9 $75–90 $102–122
Hard Rain 1998 $70 $19.9 $60 $112
Hart's War 2002 $70–95 $32.3 $62.7 $106
Haunted Mansion 2023 $150 $117.4 $117 $117
Heaven's Gate 1980 $44 $3.5 $40.5 $150
How Do You Know 2010 $100 $48.7 $104 $145
Hudson Hawk 1991 $65 $17.2 $47.8 $107
Hugo 2011 $150–170 $185.8 $91 $123
Inchon 1982 $46 $5.2 $40.8 $129
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny 2023 $326 $384 $143 $143
Instinct 1999 $80 $34.1 $63 $115
The Invasion 2007 $80 $40 $71 $104
Ishtar 1987 $51–55 $14.4 $40.6 $109
Jack Frost 1998 $40–85 $34.6 $68 $127
Jack the Giant Slayer 2013 $185–200 $197.7 $103 $135
John Carter 2012 $263.7 $284.1 $112–200 $149–265
Joker: Folie à Deux 2024 $190–200 $206.4 $125–200 $125–200
Jungle Cruise § 2021 $200 $220.9 $150 $169
Jupiter Ascending 2015 $175 $184 $95–120 $122–154
K-19: The Widowmaker 2002 $100 $65.7 $67 $113
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword 2017 $175 $148.7 $112–153.2 $139–190
Krull 1983 $27 $16.5 $33.5 $102
The Last Duel 2021 $100 $30.6 $99 $111
Lightyear 2022 $200 $226.4 $106–122 $110–127
Lolita 1997 $62 $1.1 $61 $116
The Lone Ranger 2013 $225–250 $260.5 $160–190 $209–249
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. 2015 $75 $109.8 $80 $103
Mars Needs Moms 2011 $150 $39 $100–144 $135–195
The Marvels 2023 $270 $206.1 $237 $237
The Matrix Resurrections § 2021 $190 $156.5 $130 $146
Missing Link 2019 $102.3 $26.2 $101.3 $121
Monkeybone 2001 $75 $7.6 $71 $122
Monster Trucks 2016 $125 $64.5 $108–123.1 $137–156
Moonfall 2022 $138 $67.3 $138 $144
Mortal Engines 2018 $110 $83.7 $174.8 $212
Mulan § 2020 $200 $66.8 $141 $166
The Mummy 2017 $195 $410 $60–95 $75–118
The Nutcracker in 3D 2010 $90 $20.5 $82 $115
Onward § 2020 $175–200 $142 $130 $153
Osmosis Jones 2001 $70 $14 $63 $108
Pan 2015 $150 $128.4 $86–150 $111–193
Peter Pan 2003 $130.6 $122 $70 $116
Poseidon 2006 $160 $181.7 $83 $125
The Postman 1997 $80 $20.8 $70 $133
The Promise 2016 $90 $10.6 $93–102.1 $118–130
R.I.P.D. 2013 $130–154 $78.3 $92 $120
Red Planet 2000 $80 $33.5 $63 $111
Rise of the Guardians 2012 $145 $306.9 $87 $115
Robin Hood 2018 $100 $85.7 $83.7 $102
Sahara 2005 $160 $119.2 $78.4 $122
Seventh Son 2015 $95 $114.2 $85 $109
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas 2003 $60 $80.8 $125 $207
Soldier 1998 $60–75 $14.6 $60 $112
A Sound of Thunder 2005 $80 $11.7 $74 $115
Space Jam: A New Legacy § 2021 $150 $162.9 $111 $125
Speed Racer 2008 $120 $93.9 $88 $125
Sphere 1998 $73–80 $50.2 $61 $114
Stealth 2005 $135 $79.3 $96 $150
Strange World 2022 $180 $73.6 $197 $205
The Suicide Squad § 2021 $185 $167.4 $120 $135
Supernova 2000 $90 $14.8 $83 $147
Tenet 2020 $200 $363.7 $50–100 $59–118
Terminator: Dark Fate 2019 $185–196 $261.1 $110–130 $131–155
Titan A.E. 2000 $75–90 $36.8 $100 $177
Tomorrowland 2015 $180–190 $209 $90–150 $116–193
Town & Country 2001 $90 $10.4 $85 $146
Transformers: The Last Knight 2017 $217–260 $605.4 $100+ $124+
Treasure Planet 2002 $140 $109.6 $85 $144
Turning Red § 2022 $175 $19.8 $167 $174
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets 2017 $177.2–180 $225.9 $82 $102
West Side Story 2021 $100 $76 $104 $117
Windtalkers 2002 $115–120 $77.6 $76–81 $129–137
Wish 2023 $200 $254.9 $131 $131
The Wolfman 2010 $150 $139.8 $76 $106
Wonder Woman 1984 § 2020 $200 $166.5 $100–137 $118–161
A Wrinkle in Time 2018 $125 $133.2 $130.6 $158
xXx: State of the Union 2005 $113.1 $71 $78 $122
Zoom 2006 $75.6 $12.5 $69 $104

See also

Notes

  1. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. Cutthroat Island was once listed as having the "largest box office loss" by Guinness World Records but the category has since been retired.

References

Citations

  1. Susman, Gary (April 14, 2015). "The 19 Biggest Box Office Bombs in Movie History". Moviefone. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  2. Anders, Charlie Jane (January 31, 2011). "How much money does a movie need to make to be profitable?". io9. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  3. Davidson, Adam (June 26, 2012). "How Does the Film Industry Actually Make Money". The New York Times. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  4. ^ Galloway, Stephen (September 9, 2019). "Hollywood History Questions Answered: What Movie Was the Biggest Bomb Ever?". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  5. Hall, Sheldon; Neale, Stephen (2010). Epics, spectacles, and blockbusters: a Hollywood history. Wayne State University Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-8143-3008-1. With top tickets set at an all-time high of $5.50,Cleopatra had amassed as much as $20 million in such guarantees from exhibitors even before its premiere. Fox claimed the film had cost in total $44 million, of which $31,115,000 represented the direct negative cost and the rest distribution, print and advertising expenses. (These figures excluded the more than $5 million spent on the production's abortive British shoot in 1960–61, prior to its relocation to Italy.) By 1966 worldwide rentals had reached $38,042,000 including $23.5 million from the United States.
  6. King, Susan (April 3, 2001). "How 'Cleopatra' Nearly Sank Fox". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  7. Block, Alex Ben; Wilson, Lucy Autrey, eds. (2010). George Lucas's Blockbusting: A Decade-by-Decade Survey of Timeless Movies Including Untold Secrets of Their Financial and Cultural Success. HarperCollins. pp. 434 & 461. ISBN 9780061778896.
  8. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 7, 2013). "Isn't It Time To Take 'Waterworld' Off The All-Time Flop List?". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 8, 2015.
  9. Stewart, Andrew (August 11, 2012). "B.O. reality gets lost in perception". Variety. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  10. Patterson, John (July 15, 2013). "Cleopatra, the film that killed off big-budget epics". The Guardian. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  11. D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 31, 2020). "How Covid Wiped Out The Studios' Domestic Box Office Market Share In 2020". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  12. "Largest Box Office Loss". Guinness World Records. April 30, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  13. McClintock, Pamela (July 8, 2013). "Why 'Mars Needs Moms' bombed for Disney". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 16, 2013. Other infamous financial flops include Renny Harlin's pirate pic Cutthroat Island -- listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest bomb of all time -- Sahara, The Adventures of Pluto Nash and Gigli.

Chart sources

  1. The 13th Warrior
  2. 47 Ronin
  3. The 355
  4. The Adventures of Pluto Nash
  5. The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle
  6. The Alamo
  7. Alexander
  8. Ali
  9. Allied
  10. Amsterdam
  11. Around the World in 80 Days
  12. The Astronaut's Wife
  13. Ballistic
  14. Battlefield Earth
  15. Battleship
  16. Beloved
  17. Ben-Hur
  18. The BFG
  19. Black Adam
  20. Blackhat
  21. The Call of the Wild
  22. Cats
  23. Chaos Walking
  24. Chill Factor
  25. A Christmas Carol
  26. The Chronicles of Riddick
  27. Cowboys & Aliens
  28. Cutthroat Island
  29. Dark Phoenix
  30. Deepwater Horizon
  31. Dolittle (2020)
  32. Driven
  33. Dudley Do-Right
  34. Evan Almighty
  35. The Fall of the Roman Empire
  36. Fantastic Four
  37. Father's Day
  38. Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
  39. Flash
  40. Gemini Man
  41. Ghost in the Shell
  42. Gigli
  43. Gods of Egypt
  44. The Good Dinosaur
  45. The Great Raid
  46. Green Lantern
  47. Hard Rain
  48. Hart's War
  49. Haunted Mansion
  50. Heaven's Gate
  51. How Do You Know
  52. Hudson Hawk
  53. Hugo
  54. Inchon
  55. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
  56. Instinct
  57. The Invasion
  58. Ishtar
  59. Jack Frost
  60. Jack the Giant Slayer
  61. John Carter
  62. Joker 2
  63. Jungle Cruise
  64. Jupiter Ascending
  65. K-19: The Widowmaker
  66. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
  67. Krull
  68. The Last Duel
  69. Lightyear
  70. Lolita
  71. The Lone Ranger
  72. The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
  73. Mars Needs Moms
  74. The Marvels
  75. The Matrix Resurrections
  76. Missing Link
  77. Monkeybone
  78. Monster Trucks
  79. Moonfall
  80. Mortal Engines
  81. Mulan
  82. The Mummy
  83. The Nutcracker in 3D
  84. Onward
  85. Osmosis Jones
  86. Pan
  87. Peter Pan
  88. Poseidon
  89. The Postman
  90. The Promise
  91. R.I.P.D.
  92. Red Planet
  93. Rise of the Guardians
  94. Robin Hood
  95. Sahara
  96. Seventh Son
  97. Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas
  98. Soldier
  99. A Sound of Thunder
  100. Space Jam: A New Legacy
  101. Speed Racer
  102. Sphere
  103. Stealth
  104. Strange World
  105. The Suicide Squad
  106. Supernova
  107. Tenet
  108. Terminator: Dark Fate
  109. Titan A.E.
  110. Tomorrowland
  111. Town & Country
  112. Transformers: The Last Knight
  113. Treasure Planet
  114. Turning Red
  115. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
  116. West Side Story
  117. Windtalkers
  118. Wish
  119. The Wolfman
  120. Wonder Woman 1984
  121. A Wrinkle in Time
  122. XXX: State of the Union
  123. Zoom

Bibliography

Box office
Topics
Highest-grossing
General
Animated
By genre
By origin
By region
By person
Records
Awards
Websites
Other
Related
Categories: