Total Box Office: $261 million While it was never going to hit the heady heights of critical acclaim, Pitch Black was nevertheless an enjoyable sci-fi action romp introducing us to the world of antihero Richard B. Riddick and proved a moderate box office success, more than doubling its modest budget of $23 million. The Chronicles of Riddick saw the budget quadruple, but big bucks and even veteran actress Judi Dench as cosmic ambassador Aereon couldnt save its flimsy and baffling plotline, superficial attempt at political commentary and subpar dialogue and the film barely recouped its $105 million production budget. Maybe Vin Diesel and director David Twohy shouldve stopped there, but encouraged by Chronicles of Riddicks successful DVD sales, they delivered the threequel Riddick in 2013 and though it fared well financially, critics felt it was a basic recycling of the first (and better) films plot. And it might not end there: Vin Diesel has been bragging theres a fourth Riddick film and spin-off TV series in the works.
