5 Movie Box Office Bombs That Were Actually Really Good
Turns out films don't need to break box office records to build a cult classic legacy.
In the film industry, the box office success of a release is commonly used as a way to measure its quality, impact and potential longevity in years to come. Box office smash hits are frequently echoed through popular culture for weeks, months and even years while, less fortunate releases in the eye of the box office are swiftly disregarded.
The judgemental eye of the critics and the audiences first impressions are not always accurate however, as some colossal box office bombs have been genuinely amazing films, despite received damming reviews. Whether these seemingly underrated films suffered from bad marketing, too much box office competition at the time of the release or poor budgeting decisions, they stammered to an undeserved flop status upon release.
In this article, we will summarise six of Hollywood's biggest box office bombs, discuss why they bombed and also prove why they are all uniquely enjoyable films that are deserving of much more prestigious reputations.
5. The Postman
Released in 1997, this post-apocalyptic drama sees Kevin Costner as 'The Postman', delivering mail to the post-civilisation survivors and spreading word that the government has been resurrected. This original and intriguing story line was helped by a strong cast list and an eye-watering budget for the time of release (around $80 million).
This underrated gem stars Will Patton, Olivia Williams and the late great Rock icon Tom Petty in lead roles. Giovanni Ribisi also receives a notable early career break thanks to this film. Despite all these noteworthy positives going into the production of The Postman, the box office earnings put the film at -$65million compared to the initial budget, which at the time made it one of the biggest bombs ever.
The Postman's failings were simply down to harsh reviews and a poor reaction from the initial audience. Even today, critics can be hesitant to sing the praises of this film as The Postman still only holds an 8% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, The Postman now has an 87% approval rating from fans on Google and has a much friendlier response from audiences all round.