If you haven’t blown the price of a movie ticket on a box office disaster, consider yourself lucky. Some actors are developing a reputation for helping to bring a movie down. Eddie Murphy, Warren Beatty and Andie MacDowell have had more than one.
Even some of Hollywood’s finest have been involved in a box office failure, including Elizabeth Taylor, Katherine Heigl, Dustin Hoffman, John Travolta and Forrest Whitaker.
We’ve pulled together fourteen movies that had big budgets and sadly, U.S. box office takes that didn’t begin to cover the costs much less earn a profit. Check them out.
Battlefield Earth 2000 – Budget $73 million; US Box Office $21 million – starring John Travolta and Forrest Whitaker: After the enslavement and near extermination by an alien race in the year 3000, humanity begins to fight back.
The Adventures of Pluto Nash 2002 – Budget $100 million; US Box Office $4.4 million – starring Eddie Murphy, Randy Quaid and Rosario Dawson: Future man struggles to keep control of his nightclub from mafia control in space.
Heaven’s Gate 1980 – Budget $40 million; US Box Office $3.5 million – starring Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken and John Hurt: Tells the story of European cattle rustlers in 1890’s Wyoming. The movie destroyed the career of director Michael Cimino and folded United Artists studio.
More of the list below.
Town & Country 2001 – Budget $90 million, US Box Office $6.7 million – starring Diane Keaton, Warren Beatty, Andie MacDowell: This romantic comedy took three years to produce and told the story of life, love and friendships.
Cleopatra 1963 – Budget $44 million, US Box Office $26 million – staring Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Rex Harrison: The historical epic told the story of an Egyptian queen. The movie drew a respectable crowd but production costs spiraled, threatening to put 20th Century Fox out of business.
Hudson Hawk 1991 – Budget $65 million, US Box Office $17 million – starring Bruce Willis and Andie MacDowell: A cat burglar is forced to steal Da Vinci works of art for a world domination plot. Production costs reportedly skyrocketed because a special effects company was called in to airbrush out the bald spot on Willis’ head.
Cutthroat Island 1995 – Budget $98 million, US Box Office $10 million – starring Geena Davis and Matthew Modine: A female pirate and her companion race against their rivals to find a hidden island and uncover it’s fabulous treasures. The film derailed Davis’ career and put Carolco Pictures out of business.
Ishtar 1987 – Budget $55 million, US Box Office $14 million – starring Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty: Two lousy lounge singers get caught up in Cold War politics.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen 1988 – Budget $47 million, US Box Office $8 million – starring John Neville: The story of the Baron’s travels and fantastical experiences with his band of misfits. The flick did develop some serious legs on Video and DVD release.
Howard the Duck 1986 – Budget $38 million, US Box Office $16 million – starring Lea Thompson: A cigar chomping duck is stuck in Cleveland. The duck suit reportedly put the budget back a cool $2 million.
The Postman 1997 – Budget $80 million, US Box Office $17.6 – starring Kevin Costner as actor and director: Tells the tale of a post apocalyptic America in 2013 where technology is erased and one man sets out on a quest to rebuild civilization via a new postal system. Costner saw his directing career derailed as a result of this effort.
Zyzzyx Road 2006 – Budget $2 million, US Box Office $30 (yep) – starring Katherine Heigl and Tom Sizemore: What happens in Vegas gets burried on Zyzzyx Rd. This was the lowest grossing film of all times – screened in a Texas theater for a week.
Meet Dave 2008 – Budget $60 million, US Box Office $11.6 million – starring Eddie Murphy, Gabrielle Union, Elizabeth Banks: Miniature aliens operate a space ship in human form.
Speed Racer 2008 – Budget $120 million, US Box Office $44 million – starring Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci and John Goodman: Story of an 18 year old who’s life and love have always been racing.
There are undoubtedly other duds that have hit the big screen. These particular flicks proved to be very painful for the production companies who were left holding the bag.