10 Great 21st Century Sci-Fi Films That Bombed At The Box Office

9. Donnie Darko

Children Of Men
Pandora Cinema/Newmarket Films

To this day many are still attempting to figure out exactly what Donnie Darko is about and what the ending really means but most are agreed it is a stunning directorial debut and an intriguing take on the sci-fi genre.

While the film may have made slightly over its budget, it still failed to recoup the studio's money, perhaps due to its release in the wake of 9/11. In the years after its debut Donnie Darko managed to defy expectations and make a tidy profit thanks to VHS sales and midnight screenings.

There is even a case to be made that this small 2001 sci-fi psychological thriller was the first cult classic of the 21st century.

BUDGET: $4.5 million

BOX OFFICE: $7.5 million

Contributor

An avid cinephile, love Trainspotting (the film, not the hobby), like watching bad films ironically (The Room, Cats) and hate my over-reliance on brackets (they’re handy for a quick aside though).