Like a teenage boy, who spends his high school years awaiting a puberty-prompted growth spurt and enduring the pains of high-pitched voice cracks, some films are late bloomers. But eventually, those boys become men; and ultimately, after perhaps a lackluster initial response from audiences and critics alike, those films become certifiable, enduring classics.
There are countless reasons why a movie might flop upon its release, only to emerge over the years as a hugely influential piece of cinema. It could be that the marketing efforts for the film were slim, thus limiting public knowledge about the project, or that the film was an indie, limited release, preventing the public’s ability to actually see the movie in theaters, or that the movie was so ahead of its time, that viewers weren’t ready for them just yet.
Whatever the case, some movies needed time to mature – just like a fine wine. Here’s a handful of movies that initially flopped, only to become hugely influential as the years went on.
9 The Shawshank Redemption
Endlessly quoted, and often making “best movies of all time” lists, The Shawshank Redemption opened to a disappointing box office performance, earning only $16 million during its initial theatrical run compared to its $25 million budget. (Although it would get re-released later, earning a much more successful $58.3 million.) And yet, today, the prisonbreak classic is a much-watch for any cinema buff.
8 Fight Club
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Some might call it a “cult classic,” but David Fincher’s Fight Club is arguably a universal classic for cinema nerds and causal moviegoers alike. Upon its initial release, however, that wasn’t the case. With a $65 million budget, the film only made $37 million in its domestic release. The reason? The film’s star, Edward Norton, suspects a slipup on the part of the marketing team. During an interview with PeopleTV's Lola Ogunnaike, Norton said: "I think there was a reluctance on the part of some of the people who were actually marketing it, to embrace the idea that it was funny, and honestly I think they felt indicted by it."
7 The Big Lebowski
The Coen Brothers’ 1998 crime comedy, The Big Lebowski, starring Jeff Bridges in one of his most iconic roles of all time as “The Dude,” bombed at the box office. Its opening weekend pulled in $5.5 million, despite its $15 million budget. And critics didn’t dig it initially either. In a review from Variety, the critic said the film features “momentary pleasures [that] almost immediately afterward seem hollow and without resonance.” Ouch. Yet today, it remains a beloved film with an enduring legacy, often rescreened for fans, and even inspiring its own religion. So, take that critics.
6 Donnie Darko
Sometimes, some movies are just too complicated, too bold for viewers to comprehend – in those cases, they may require multiple viewings. Donnie Darko (2001) is one of those films. The indie flick, which arguably launched the career of Jake Gyllenhaal, debuted to a paltry $110,494 during its opening weekend; it cost an estimated $6 million to make. So, yeah – that’s a flop. But the psychological sci-fi thriller continues to confound – and enthrall – viewers to this day.
5 The Room
Perhaps best known as one of the best worst movies of all time, The Room opened in theaters, mostly empty, for just two weeks. In probably the biggest discrepancy in filmmaking history, it made only $1,900 during its initial release, as compared to its $6 million budget. But then something strange happened. The film became a beloved cultural phenomenon, due to its cringe-worthy script, awkward acting, and nonsensical plot. The film is now a cult classic, specifically of the “so bad it’s actually good” genre.
4 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Heavily inspired by comic books and video games (think: “kapow” graphics and sound effects scrawling across the screen during fight scenes), Scott Pilgrim vs. the World wasn’t well-received upon its initial release. It debuted to a $10.6 million take, as compared to its $60 million budget. Disappointing, to put it mildly. But eventually, the geeks came out in support, and even non comic book or video game-loving nerds can get a kick (pun totally intended) out of the film’s unique and influential fight sequences.
3 The Rocky Horror Picture Show
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From the start, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was only released in eight cities during its opening weekend in 1975. And from sheer numbers, that’s going to result in a flop. But now, the film is a cultural touchstone, beloved by countless devotees, and still screened for fans to sing along in a communal theater experience. Even Roger Ebert wrote that the film was "ignored by pretty much everyone, including the future fanatics who would eventually count the hundreds of times they'd seen it."
2 Hocus Pocus
Now with a sequel, and a piece of required-viewing every year during Halloween time, the original Hocus Pocus didn’t open to such widespread fandom. In fact, it’s opening weekend only pulled in $8.1 million compared to its $28 million budget. And it was panned by critics, still to this day only boasting a 38% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, in that same rating system, fans gave it a 72%. And even today, almost three decades after its release, it remains one of the most cherished movies to come from the Disney Channel.
1 Starship Troopers
Although 1997’s Starship Troopers opened at #1 at the box office, taking home $22 million in its first week, the film’s gross intake ended up at a loss against its $105 million budget. It’s main problem? The futuristic, alien space-bug-slaying sci-fi drama was utterly slammed by the critics. Giving the film only two stars, Roger Ebert remarked: “What's lacking is exhilaration and sheer entertainment… It's one-dimensional.” However, despite the reviews, amidst the cultural zeitgeist, Starship Troopers gained a cult following. Something about giant alien bugs being blown to bits keeps people watching it, all these years later.