10 Iconic Movies That Were Initially Critical Flops
4. Vertigo
Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo is now considered a nearly-undisputed classic, and in some cases is considered the greatest ever made. It is frequently considered alongside the very best movies and the idea that it wasn't always adored seems illogical.
In 1958, however, it was a different story. Frequent critiques at the time were that it was melodramatic and too far-fetched. And TIME Magazine even implied that Hitchcock's commitments to television were adversely impacting his movie-making prowess.
And, similarly to Henry Fonda in Once Upon a Time in the West, some took issue with Stewart's role. Though he had played a villain in the past, when Vertigo was released, he was famous for playing characters who were noble, heroic or at least likeable. His character in Vertigo was more in line with an obsessive stalker and it was obviously too much to take.
Thankfully, that much has changed considerably.