MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Financial Flops You Can't Understand

Financial Flops You Can't Understand

posted 7 years ago by BillHicksFan (10717)
20 replies | jump to latest

Whether it's a favorite movie of yours, or if you think it has commercial appeal (stars, formulaic story, etc)...

[–] olioz (3865) 7 years ago

Waterworld.

Fun escapist entertainment and a great setting. I really don't get why it flopped or why it's so hated. Because of Costner?

[–] lordbishop34 (1442) 7 years ago

I think it was a combination of being way to expensive a film for the time (it would have had to make monster BO to cover its budget), it not being very good, and Costner burn out because it was yet another too long film featuring the greatness of Costner.

[–] olioz (3865) 7 years ago

Yeah all of those things make sense. I still love it.

[–] IrinaOma (648) 7 years ago

Flash Gordon (1980)
The Punisher (1989)
The Rocketeer (1991)
Nothing But Trouble (1991)
1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)
The Real McCoy (1993)
The Shadow (1994)
Strange Days (1995)
Cutthroat Island (1995)
The Quick and the Dead (1995)
Waterworld (1995)
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Multiplicity (1996)
Blood and Wine (1996)
Daylight (1996)
Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
Starship Troopers (1997)
Smilla's Sense of Snow (1997)
Soldier (1998)
Sphere (1998)
Dark City (1998)
Bringing Out the Dead (1999)
Anna and the King (1999)
I Dreamed of Africa (2000)
Mission To Mars (2000)
Proof of Life (2000)
Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)
Tears of the Sun (2003)
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
Dreamcatcher (2003)
The Life of David Gale (2003)
Imaginary Heroes (2004)
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005)
Elektra (2005)
Stardust (2007)

[–] actionkamen (23176) 7 years ago

Very comprehensive list!

[–] [email protected] (6247) 7 years ago

That is a long list! But I'll just go with Ishtar. I though it was hilarious and entertaining. I know it was disavowed by its stars Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman. But they made a funny movie. Everyone I recommended it to agreed with me.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Glad you.mentioned Ishtar
I started watching it for the first time last year just to see if it was as terrible as its reputation in the 80's. It surprised me how much I started laughing out loud at much of it.

[–] IrinaOma (648) 7 years ago

Thanks. I even wanted to add "Ultraviolet" for its action and visuals but everyone hates it

[–] croft_alice (12180) 7 years ago

And i wonder why...🤔

[–] IrinaOma (648) 7 years ago

Ultraviolet could have been a huge hit - great action moments, stylish effects and Milla looked brilliant but the story was under-developed, the acting was so-so. They cut near 35-45 minutes from the story

[–] lordbishop34 (1442) 7 years ago

holy crap, did you have this list prepared?

[–] IrinaOma (648) 7 years ago

No, my dearest. I typed it

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

a whole bunch of bad movies with a few decent ones

[–] BillHicksFan (10717) 7 years ago

lol

[–] IrinaOma (648) 7 years ago

Many people - many opinions, my dearest!

[–] croft_alice (12180) 7 years ago

90% of this list,i never watch it...they're good?

[–] IrinaOma (648) 7 years ago

I don't know dear. My taste is weird. Many people would disagree with me

[–] actionkamen (23176) 7 years ago

I watched most of them. From above list I actually liked these:

The Punisher (1989)
The Shadow (1994)
Waterworld (1995)
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Multiplicity (1996)
Starship Troopers (1997)
Dark City (1998)
Proof of Life (2000)
Tears of the Sun (2003)
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005)

I think they are pretty good. My favorite is The Long Kiss Goodnight.

[–] IrinaOma (648) 7 years ago

Thanks. By the way, The Long Kiss Goodnight is one of my all-time faves. I re-watch it every year

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7386) 7 years ago

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
John Carter
Peter Pan (2003)
Shawshank Redemption
Rise of the Guardians

Most of the movies I like are movies that were flops at the time, but later gained much deserved success, like Citizen Cane and It's A Wonderful Life. I think there's a lot of reasons for those movies to have been flops, but honestly some are unexplained mysteries to me. Like Rise of the Guardians is funny and well told and visually great and appeals to both kids and adults - I can't think of a bad thing to say about it.