5 Movie Box Office Bombs That Were Actually Really Good

Technically the biggest box office bomb in cinema history (although the recently released Cats might be challenging for that title), John Carter proved once and for all the importance of marketing, and where a lack of it can get you.

Disney's big budget (estimated $250 million) live action adaptation of the Princess of Mars books from 2012 seemed to have all the tools to become a classic. Starring Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Dominic West, Mark Strong, James Purefoy and other acclaimed actors, John Carter certainly had the star power to pull a huge audience. On top of this it was filled with gripping action scenes, subtle sub-plots, excellent character development and a number of experienced cast members.

However, the lack of sufficient or adequate marketing for the film leading up to its release left it dead in the water by the time it actually came out. Audiences weren't even willing to give it a chance after the shambles of an advertising campaign and it slumped to a historic financial loss with just $73 million recouped domestically.

Plans for a sequel were cancelled almost immediately following the film's poor box office reception but, the reputation of this film has gradually increased over time, with a lot of people starting to see it as the underrated phenomenon it really is.