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Sadly, just because many people enjoy a certain film, that doesn’t instantly make it successful. And that doesn’t mean all those people have a poor taste in movies – that’s just because the success of movies is based on the profit it makes in the box office, rather than on the opinions of the viewers. However, there are times when movies that flopped in the box office make spectacular comebacks and eventually become cult classics – and today we have 10 great examples that might leave you surprised.
Check out the movies that became cult classics despite being box office flops in the gallery below!
#1 The Shawshank Redemption
Image source: Columbia Pictures
Budget: $25,000,000
Box office earnings: $28,428,150
Most of us can’t imagine any “Greatest movies” list without The Shawshank Redemption – but did you know it actually flopped in the box office? Despite being praised by critics, the movie only made $3,428,150 when it came out at first.
#2 Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
Image source: Paramount Pictures
Budget: $3,000,000
Box office earnings: $4,000,000
The 1971 movie starring Gene Wilder was mostly overlooked by movie goers as it first came out, only making $4,000,000 in the box office, which is not that much considering its $3,000,000 budget.
#3 Blade Runner
Image source: Warner Bros
Budget: $28,000,000
Box office earnings: $39,342,912
Despite being considered a cult classic today and even receiving a sequel 35 years after the original, Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner was a box office flop at first. It was only over the years that the movie gained quite a following in the sci-fi fan community.
#4 Matilda
Image source: TriStar Pictures
Budget: $36,000,000
Box office earnings: $33,459,416
This movie adaptation of Roald Dahl’s novel of the same name still remains a favorite of many children even 24 years after its initial release. However, Matilda was a complete box office flop, earning only $33 million in the US, $3 million less than the movie’s budget.
#5 Hocus Pocus
Image source: Buena Vista Pictures
Budget: $28,000,000
Box office earnings: $39,514,713
Today we recognize Hocus Pocus as an all-time Halloween classic but when the movie initially came out, it was met with rather harsh criticism, causing Disney to lose around $16.5 million.
#6 Stardust
Image source: Paramount Pictures
Budget: $70,000,000
Box office earnings: $137,515,140
The 2007 movie Stardust had a pretty impressive cast, featuring actors like Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, and Robert De Niro. But even despite the cast and positive reviews from critics, the movie did not earn much in the box office. However, the movie eventually gained a cult following after becoming available on various streaming platforms.
#7 Fight Club
Image source: 20th Century Fox
Budget: $63,000,000
Box office earnings: $101,187,503
When you say “cult classic”, you can’t help but think of Fight Club. However, even despite its fan following today, the movie didn’t do so well in the box office when it initially came out, and was not considered a financial success.
#8 Donnie Darko
Image source: Newmarket Films
Budget: $6,000,000
Box office earnings: $2,962,988
Even though Richard Kelly’s 2001 film Donnie Darko played in the cinemas for 28 days, it only made a little under $3 million at the box office, only earning nearly half of the film’s budget. Some people wondered that one of the reasons could be because the movie came out just a little after 9/11 and featured a plane crash in its storyline.
#9 Blade Runner 2049
Image source: Warner Bros
Budget: $150,000,000
Box office earnings: $259,239,658
The 2017 sequel of Blade Runner suffered a similar fate to the original movie by earning significantly less than expected in the box office. Some people speculated that the film may have flopped because the movie industry was a little oversaturated with sci-fi movies at the time.
#10 Heathers
Image source: New World Pictures
Budget: $3,000,000
Box office earnings: $1,108,462
Even though Heathers flopped in the box office, only making a little over $1 million at the box office, the film eventually gained a cult following over the years.
