10 Incredible Films That Bombed At The Box Office
4. The Shawshank Redemption
Production Budget: $25 Million
Box Office Earnings: $16 Million
The Shawshank Redemption follows the life of Andy Dufresne, a banker convicted for the crime of murdering his wife. He spends years in prison and during that time forms some friendships and also makes a few enemies. The film is considered a classic and is loved by many, but it wasn't appreciated by the masses at first. It failed to earn back its production budget during its initial theatrical run. Re-releases brought in a lot more money, but that did little to dull the sting of the original lack of returns.
Tim Robbins is an amazing actor, but he has never been the biggest of stars. His name didn't do much to encourage cinema fans to head to theatres. Morgan Freeman was more marketable, but the bleak tone of the advertising campaign and long runtime turned many people away. The studio also elected to make no mention of Stephen King, the writer of the novella the movie is based on. Things may have gone differently if they had.
In the years since the picture was first released, it has been admired for its stunning visuals, engaging dialogue, strong performances, and powerful soundtrack.