10 Box Office Failures That Are Actually Brilliant

4. The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen

Terry Gilliam's often nauseatingly quirkly filmic ventures aren't to everybody's taste, which is why The Adventures of Baron Munchausen - his follow-up to the most beloved (but also flopping) Brazil - failed to make any money at the box office: presumably the downright surreal premise - which concerned the exploits of an 18th century German nobleman - was enough to steer people away. Despite the fact that it grossed just $8 million on a $43 million dollar budget, though, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen is one of Gilliam's best and most accomplished films. Alas, for some reason the solid critical reviews failed to inspire people to leave their houses, but there was another comprising factor as to why The Adventures of Baron Munchausen did so little box office business: it was released on a very limited scale, having suffered through a change of CEOs at Columbia, who had distribution rights. The production process was notoriously catastrophic, of course, which seems to be common fare when Terry Gilliam is in charge. Regardless, this is a brilliantly inventive and absurdly creative film from start to finish.