10 Flop Movies You Thought Were Huge Hits
4. Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a ludicrously entertaining naval epic and stone cold classic of the nautical actioner genre.
Yet despite receiving rave reviews from critics, landing a truckload of Oscar nominations including Best Picture, and starring Russell Crowe at his undeniable career peak, it grossed an underwhelming $211.6 million considering its mammoth $150 million budget.
Beyond the historically dubious popularity of naval epics and the film's massive price tag, it also had the misfortune of releasing in earshot of The Matrix Revolutions, Elf, Love Actually, The Last Samurai, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, all of which had more clearly defined marketing and overall audience buzz.
And so, for the great many who wonder why we never got Master and Commander 2 - there's your answer.
For as beloved as it is today for its magnificent action sequences and stellar performances, audiences just didn't show up for it in the necessary numbers in 2003.