10 Horror Movies You Didn't Realise Secretly Bombed

Budget: $40 million

Box Office: $43.1 million

On paper, Alex Garland's Annihilation should've been a triumph. After the success of Ex Machina, Garland had already proven he knew how to make an entertaining, intelligent, thought-provoking sci-fi drama.

Because Annihilation was crammed with A-listers like Natalie Portman, Benedict Wong, Oscar Isaac, and Tessa Thompson, it was safe to assume it would attract a large audience. Even if Annihilation wasn't a blockbuster, it shouldn't have been too hard for it to turn a profit, due to its minimal budget.

But after negative test-screenings, Paramount exec David Ellison got cold feet. Believing Annihilation was too intellectual for casuals, Ellison pushed for a major recut and a changing of the depressing ending. Producer Scott Rudin, who had final cut privilege, refused to alter a single frame. With Ellison backed into a corner, he was compelled to make a new deal.

Instead, the studio opted to release the film theatrically in US, Canada, and China for 17 days, before dumping it on Netflix. Despite the fact Annihilation was universally praised, the ruthless studio-meddling doomed its chances of making any money.