With the mind-blowing success of “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (not like we didn’t see that box office sensation making a huge opening week…) I got to thinking about the poor little films that didn’t make the box office bust, but eventually wormed their way into becoming cult classics despite their disappointing openers as movie box office flops .
If you’re an 80’s freak like me, certainly “Heathers,” “This is Spinal Tap,” “Howard the Duck,” and “Labrynth” come to mind. Perhaps you’ve even think of “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.” (And if you do, I applaud you, that one of my favorite more obscure cult classics.)
But did you know that “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Fight Club,” “The Fifth Element,” and “Scarface” were also first run flops? Even “Citizen Kane,” a film now touted as an American cinema classic, was originally one of the famous movie box office flops.
Among the most famous film duds turned cult classic is the “The Big Lebowski” which now has fans gathering annually in Louisville for movie viewings, bowling parties, and dude mayhem at “Lebowski Fest.”
Also joining the ranks of premiere washouts are “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “The Wiz,” and “Office Space,” … which if you haven’t seen, you’ll still likely recognize the names due to their after-opener cult status.
What’s your favorite movie belly flop?
As long as you don’t say “Barbarella” we can still remain chums… (ha ha!)
Lots of the movies you shared here were movies I’ve seen more than once! Anything with Morgan Freeman in it has my vote. The Fifth Element has some hilaroius spots. Who can forget Chris Tucker as Ruby Rhod?
Indeed! He was total hoot in that movie! It’s hard to believe that some of these didn’t do well initially, plenty are definitely among my favorites and on our movie shelf.
I love Heathers…that came out right in the heart of my big hair days so I could relate to those girls more than I should admit! Office space was good too. I’ll have to check out the others!