10 Famous Films That Failed To Turn A Profit Thanks To Hollywood Accounting

Dubbed ‘the little movie that could’, romantic comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding was the surprise sleeper hit of 2002. Despite a cast of relative unknowns and a tiny budget of just $5 million, the movie charmed critics and ticket buyers alike becoming not only the highest grossing romcom of all time but one of Hollywood’s highest grossing indie films too.

But even though the movie made nigh on $370 million in worldwide box office takings, co-producers Gold Circle Films and HBO somehow reported a loss of $20 million. A big, fat flurry of lawsuits followed with original producers MPH Entertainment suing Gold Circle, HBO, writer and star Nia Vardalos and co-producers Playtone (owned by Tom Hanks, his wife Rita Wilson and Gary Goetzman) and Vardalos and Playtone in turn suing Gold Circle Films themselves.

Oddly enough, all those lawsuits didn’t deter them from teaming up again (except MPH Entertainment, notably) on My Big Fat Greek Wedding’s lacklustre sequel last year. Hollywood at its most hypocritical.