Consider these box office bombs for your next movie night! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the films that are potential classics despite failing during their theatrical runs.
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00:00 Do you think there's any possibility of salvaging this man?
00:02 Yes sir I do. Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're looking at films that are potential
00:11 classics despite failing during their theatrical run. You're gonna want to hear this story.
00:17 Now it's gonna sound ridiculous at first but the longer I talk the more rational it's going to
00:21 appear. Number 10 The Northmen. Many cinema fans are aware of William Shakespeare's Hamlet. What
00:35 most don't know is that Hamlet was inspired by the legend of Amleth. The Northmen derives from
00:41 the Amleth source material. The story follows a viking prince who seeks revenge for the slaying
00:47 of his father. The injection of Norse mythology into the movie adds a mystical element that the
01:05 talented cast fully embraces. It's a dark visceral look into what happens when justice is fueled by a
01:21 murderous need for vengeance. However the film only grossed 69.6 million dollars on a budget
01:28 reportedly up to 90 million dollars. Despite a 90 rotten tomatoes rating the Northmen's release
01:35 came and went without much notice. Number 9 Legend. A movie by A-list star Tom Cruise
01:57 and big time director Ridley Scott sounds like a recipe for instant success but things turned
02:03 out differently. In Legend the young Cruise plays a man of pure spirit who has to stop a villain
02:19 from covering the world in eternal darkness. Even with its fantastical story Cruise and Tim Curry
02:25 who plays the antagonist convincingly absorbs viewers into this fairy tale. Legend also deserves
02:31 credit for its cinematography costume design and overall aesthetics. Those looking for a visually
02:49 dazzling experience will appreciate the film's bold undertakings. Legend ultimately failed to
02:55 light up the ticket sales grossing lower than its 25 million dollar budget. The movie has since gained
03:08 a cult following although its box office run doesn't reflect its quality. Number 8 Dread.
03:15 While Sylvester Stallone's Judge Dread is more well known to the average moviegoer
03:20 Carl Urban's Dread received far better reviews. More faithful to the comic it's based on it goes
03:35 for an atmospheric feel rather than a standard action movie. Slow motion effects, color grading,
03:40 and cyberpunk themes are all part of storytelling. This had the side effect of making Dread an
03:59 acquired taste for mainstream audiences ending with a box office run lower than its reported 45
04:04 million dollar budget. Since its release Dread has garnered a dedicated fan base for its bold
04:10 approach and unique presentation. Unlike many other releases at the time Dread doesn't just
04:15 use 3D as a gimmick. However the saturation of 3D releases also contributed to the film being
04:28 overlooked. Number 7 The Lost City of Zed. Adventure films had it hard in the 2010s when
04:35 superhero franchises like the MCU ruled the box office. The Lost City of Zed slipped under the
04:41 radar grossing just 19 million dollars on a 30 million dollar budget. In terms of value though
04:47 the film really delivers. A biographical drama about British Major Percy Fawcett we follow him
05:02 and his crew in their attempts to find a lost city in the Amazon. Instead of relying on genre thrills
05:18 the movie focuses more on the toll the journey takes on the character's psyches. It doubles as
05:22 a fascinating character study of how an obsession can cloud a person's judgment as Fawcett
05:29 ultimately dooms himself and his son. Number 6 Deepwater Horizon. Based on the 2010 Deepwater
05:44 Horizon explosion this Mark Wahlberg feature was undone by its massive budget. Reportedly as high
05:50 as 150 million dollars. It was arguably released at the wrong time too as disaster films were much
06:03 more popular in the 90s and 2000s. Following the final hours before the oil rigs destruction
06:09 it depicts the struggle the victims went through.
06:11 (audio)
06:19 The real life tragedy is covered in awe inspiring detail placing viewers in the midst of the havoc
06:27 as it happened. This aspect received significant critical acclaim and the film was nominated for
06:33 an Oscar for best sound. Deepwater Horizon was lauded for its accuracy so audience can relate
06:38 to the events as they took place. (audio)
06:49 Number 5 Dark City. Before hits like Memento and Minority Report delivered mind-bending cinematic
06:55 experiences Dark City took a shot at it. (audio)
07:05 Protagonist John Murdock is trapped in perpetual night time in a world he can
07:10 somehow alter. Murdock slowly uncovers an alien invasion conspiracy as his memories return.
07:15 Dark City can be overwhelming because of its many plot twists and the constant dark palette it
07:29 utilizes. It was a hard sell at a time when audiences weren't necessarily tuned for neo-noir
07:35 filmmaking at a mainstream level. In addition Titanic was on an unprecedented box office run
07:41 that destroyed Dark City's chances. It's a shame because this thriller keeps viewers hooked right
07:47 from the get-go. In retrospect the movie was arguably a game changer for its genre. (audio)
07:59 Number 4 Annihilation. Remember when Black Panther exploded at the box office to gross over 1.3
08:06 billion dollars? Unfortunately for Annihilation its returns were well annihilated by the MCU movie.
08:13 "Your husband's here. He's extremely ill." "In what way?" "Multiple organ failure."
08:21 The Natalie Portman led horror boasts a solid 88% Rotten Tomatoes score. The story followed
08:28 Portman's character leading an expedition to a mysterious area known as the Shimmer. Here
08:33 her team starts to feel the Shimmer's deadly effects one by one as its true purpose comes to
08:39 light. "The Shimmer is a prism but it refracts everything." Annihilation amps up the tension
08:45 the further it goes creating a definite sense of paranoia that's as exhilarating as it is
08:50 terrifying. Those who've seen it are entertained by the scares it delivers. (audio)
09:03 A release date around Halloween would have probably benefited a film that deserved more viewers.
09:09 Number 3 Starship Troopers. "Insect with intelligence? Have you ever met one?" Audience
09:14 perception can make or break a film and this was Starship Troopers undoing. It features a
09:20 militaristic world government at war with an alien race. The portrayal of humans using strange
09:25 iconography, propaganda, and force was perceived as promoting Nazism. "I want combat sir." "The only
09:32 way you're gonna see combat is if you bust yourself to private. Get me?" However director Paul Verhoeven
09:38 has since clarified that it's a satirical look at a world fueled by war. This was mostly lost
09:44 on moviegoers with Starship Troopers only making 121 million dollars on a 110 million dollar budget.
09:50 But there's something fun about cheesy action and wooden acting that the film is happy to highlight.
09:56 When seen through a light-hearted lens the parody elements are easier to appreciate.
10:09 With so many clear-cut alien movies already out there Starship Trooper dares to try a more
10:15 inventive formula. "You trying to be a hero Walken?" "I'm trying to kill some bugs sir."
10:23 Number 2 The Nice Guys. Director Shane Black is known for the underrated gem Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
10:30 Pity another quality movie like The Nice Guys also flopped at the box office. The latter follows an
10:35 enforcer and private detective in the 70s searching for a missing girl. "You're a private investigator?"
10:41 "Look there's 20 bucks in there all right just take it." Buddy action films are so common that The Nice
10:46 Guys was brushed aside. Especially with Captain America Civil War released around the same time.
10:52 "Good to know." "You were looking for Amelia right?" "Yes and no. Excuse me. My profession is very
10:59 complicated okay it's nuanced." But the combination of witty dialogue, Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling
11:05 chemistry and a genuinely engrossing mystery sets it apart from the rest. Even with a lot of violence
11:11 The Nice Guys humor remains sky high. "Stay in here and don't move okay." "Wait dad dad."
11:21 This provides a perfect balance between its thrills and its gags making it a film with
11:26 unlimited replay value. Before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions.
11:31 Crimson Peak. This gothic horror is surprisingly heartfelt and romantic. "I knew it. You're not his sister."
11:39 "That's delightful. I am." The Man from UNCLE. As snappy and cool as the 60s spy series it's based on.
11:51 "Super hardened boron sharpened with a co2 laser."
11:56 "Hmm."
11:56 The Last Duel. An engrossing action drama about heavy subject matter. "You are risking
12:09 my life so you can fight your enemy and save your pride and that could render our child an orphan.
12:20 Or did you not think of that?" Before we continue be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the
12:25 bell to get notified about our latest videos. You have the option to be notified for occasional
12:30 videos or all of them. If you're on your phone make sure you go into your settings and switch
12:35 on notifications. Number one Edge of Tomorrow. Edge of Tomorrow grossed a respectable 370.5
12:44 million dollars but large production and advertising budgets meant that it underperformed.
12:49 Confusing promotion made it unclear what it was about leading to its lukewarm box office.
12:54 Still the film itself has a lovely take on the idea of time loops. Tom Cruise's character
13:07 shares the alien villain's ability to reset time enabling him to avert certain disaster for mankind.
13:13 "Hey watch your back out there sir." "No one else will."
13:17 Along with incredible set pieces and smart humor the protagonist's development from coward to a
13:26 hero is a treat to watch. With the benefit of time resets and new scenarios the action
13:32 remains fresh each time. "Drop drop drop." "Drop." "You're not hooked in."
13:41 "Oh."
13:44 It's a film designed for a big screen. High impact entertainment that has a creative spin on an
13:54 established concept. Which box office bomb do you think has an unbeatable charm? Let us know in the
14:00 comments down below. "You're in the pool?" "Yeah." "Why?" "I had to question the mermaids."
14:07 "What were you doing while I was working?" Did you enjoy this video? Check out these other clips
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