20 Things You Didn't Know About Waterworld

1. It Eventually Turned A Profit On Home Video

Waterworld Still
Universal

Though Waterworld continues to be cited as one of the biggest box office bombs in Hollywood history, that's really not true at all.

While absolutely not a commercial success, it nevertheless grossed $264.2 million against its $235 million budget (including marketing).

Though undeniably a commercial dud, it isn't an Adventures of Pluto Nash-level disaster (grossing $7.1 million against a $100 million budget as that film did).

Critics mockingly nicknamed Waterworld "Kevin's Gate" (in reference to Kevin Reynolds and the epic 1980 flop Heaven's Gate) and also "Fishtar" (after the 1987 dud Ishtar), yet in 2013 it was reported that due to extensive home video sales and TV licensing, the film had just barely slid into profitability.

Considering how mercilessly Waterworld was skewered by box office analysts at the time of its original release, that can probably be considered a happy ending for the divisive blockbuster.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.