Though these 10 movies might be all-time classics, they absolutely bombed at the box office. The financial success of a film isn’t necessarily indicative of its quality, and movies have longer lifespans today than they ever have before. A disastrous theatrical run isn’t really the end for excellent films, and classic status is bestowed upon plenty of outright flops.
Movies don’t always flop because they’re bad, and many great flicks are victims of circumstance. Competing releases, poor timing, or a lackluster marketing campaign can sink an otherwise excellent film when it finally hits theaters. Unforeseen events are always bad news for the movie business. As evidenced by the works on this list, the best pieces of cinematic art always find their audience eventually.
It’s clear that poor financial performance didn’t really hold these movies back, and that’s due in large part to subsequent releases and home video. Many of the older films on this list bombed in their first outing, but proved lucrative when they returned to theaters. What’s more, home video formats used to save tons of classic movies from obscurity thanks to rentals and purchases. That role is filled by streaming today.
None of the movies on this list could be considered cult classics, because they were almost universally beloved from the word go. They aren’t really hidden gems, despite the fact that they didn’t move the needle at the box office. Some actually posted big numbers, but not big enough to recoup huge losses. Regardless of why these classics flopped, it’s surprising they weren’t big moneymakers.
10
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is the newest film on this list and is also the newest movie to earn its classic status. Edgar Wright’s raucous video game-inspired action rom-com perfectly encapsulates elements of hipster culture in the Aughts, and is a time capsule to the year 2010. The Michael Cera vehicle is one of the greatest comic book movies ever made, but it falls short of comic book movie financial success.
Grossing only $47 million, the movie lost a considerable amount of money against it’s $60 million budget. When factoring in the film’s huge marketing push, the epic bombing is even worse. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is now a beloved part of 2010s cinema, and its reputation grows year after year.
9
The Thing (1982)
It’s no longer a secret that John Carpenter’s The Thing was a financial disappointment, and the sci-fi horror classic has shed its image as a notorious flop. Anchored by Rob Bottin’s stomach-churning effects, The Thing is a claustrophobic thrill ride with a double dose of paranoia. It’s one of the only films on this list that earned derision from critics at first.
The film’s $15 million budget was a pretty steep hill to climb, and its $20 million box office couldn’t quite overcome the challenge. The Thing is far from the biggest bomb among the classics, and it came close to being a success. Marketing let the film down, and it was overshadowed by other science fiction films released that year.
8
Office Space (1999)
Mike Judge’s Office Space is a workplace comedy that really gets it, but the film didn’t connect with its intended audience right away. With a script jam-packed with raunchy cubicle humor, Office Space is still quoted today as an all-time classic by those who are fed up with the 9 to 5 life. It’s also an excellent example of a movie saved by home video.
Made for a somewhat modest $10 million, the comedy only outgrossed its production budget by $2 million. Considering the fact that some cash was spent on marketing, and with theater cuts factored in, that surplus quickly dwindles into a loss. Only a few years after its debut, Office Space made almost another $10 million in DVD and VHS sales.
7
Blade Runner (1982)
Challenging science fiction wasn’t what audiences wanted in 1982, so Blade Runner lost quite a bit of money upon initial release. Noted for its dystopian cyberpunk future and noir-inspired visuals, Blade Runner is still one of the most unique sci-fi experiences in cinema history. Though polarizing at first, critical consensus quickly settled on the Ridley Scott film being a bona fide classic.
Like The Thing, Blade Runner was outmatched by bigger releases like E.T. and Star Trek II. It made a respectable $41 million, but that wasn’t enough to break even when all was said and done. Ironically, the legacy sequel, Blade Runner 2049, was an even bigger financial failure when it premiered in 2017.
6
The Big Lebowski (1998)
The financial failure of The Big Lebowski isn’t really evident unless further examination is conducted. The iconic slacker comedy from the Coen brothers has spawned its own philosophy, and is one of the most celebrated ’90s flops. The heady concepts flew over the heads of some critics, but it was generally well-received and became a classic almost immediately. It transcends the cult classic label.
The movie made nearly $50 million across the world, but flamed out with only $18 million domestically. On a $15 million budget, that means The Big Lewbowski wasn’t really profitable. Foreign distributors take the lion’s share of a movie’s profits overseas, so if an American movie flops at home, it’s safe to say it’s a bomb. The full financials of the Coen classic aren’t available, but it’s widely known it didn’t do well.
5
Raging Bull (1980)
Martin Scorsese’s filmography is stuffed with classics, but many of them didn’t do well at the box office. Raging Bull is one of Scorsese’s crown jewels, and the boxing gem has stood the test of time. Critics adored the film, and the Academy lavished it with numerous nominations, but audiences didn’t really turn up to the theater back in 1980.
Scorsese made the film for $18 million, and it only mustered about $23 million in theaters. Poor marketing ultimately sunk the film, and it lost money at the box office. Though Raging Bull isn’t the worst flop in film history, its disappointing reception would follow Scorsese for the next few years as he honed his craft.
4
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Disney is the undisputed champion of cinematic animation, but even some of their classic films flopped. Sleeping Beauty is the pinnacle of the studio’s golden age, and every frame is an opulent work of art that practically drips with expensive largesse. It was the costliest animated film ever made up to that point, and it showed onscreen. This price meant the film couldn’t possibly turn a profit.
Back in 1959, a $6 million budget was considered extreme. Thus, the initial box office of only $5 million meant that Sleeping Beauty lost quite a bit of money. Disney shifted its approach to animation in the 1960s, and it isn’t hard to see why. Nevertheless, the beautiful animated classic is still one of the best films the studio has ever produced, and is a cornerstone of their brand worldwide.
3
It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
With It’s a Wonderful Life ranking among the all-time favorite Christmas movies, it may come as a surprise that the Frank Capra masterpiece bombed hard. The iconic modern re-telling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol continues to touch hearts all these decades later, largely because its themes are still so powerful. It’s a TV staple every year around the holidays despite turning 80 in 2026.
In the film world, making the same amount as your production budget means your movie lost a ton of money. It’s a Wonderful Life fell into that category, grossing about $3 million on a $3 million budget. If the marketing and advertising rule of thumb holds, the movie likely lost around $3 million at the box office. Thankfully, it’s become profitable in the years since, thanks to its glowing reputation.
2
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Stephen King is the master of literary horror, and his movies are known for their popularity with audiences. However, The Shawshank Redemption is a far cry from his usual monsters and ghouls. The prison drama is one of the author’s best non-horror works. That reputation was only earned after its theatrical run, which was a disaster.
Ending its time in theaters with only $16 million against a $25 million budget, it isn’t a stretch to say that The Shawshank Redemption bombed hard. Thankfully, video rentals and TV broadcast sales pushed the film into the black, adding financial success to its critical praise. Now, it’s arguably Stephen King’s most beloved classic film.
1
Citizen Kane (1941)
Though it often shares the top spot with a few other classics, Citizen Kane is generally regarded as the greatest film ever made. Orson Welles’ ambitious drama revolutionized filmmaking technique, and continues to influence filmmakers to this day. Sadly, it is the best and worst thing to happen to Welles, because the film’s lack of success haunted the artist for the rest of his life.
With a 1940s budget of around $800,000, the movie’s weak $1.5 million box office gross just wasn’t enough. Unfortunately, the movie never got the chance to be profitable because it was released before widespread TV usage and the advent of home video. Thankfully, its legacy will always outshine its poor box office performance.
Sources: Box Office Mojo, The Numbers