A box office bomb is a movie that loses money compared to its budget. box office bombs can occur for a number of reasons, including poor marketing, bad reviews, or simply because the movie is not popular with audiences (e.g the movie totally sucks!).
Whatever the reason, box office bombs are major financial losses for studios and can often lead to the cancellation of sequels or even entire franchises. In some cases, this has led to the demise of the studio… not often, but it happens!
This varies depending on the movie’s budget and how much it actually made at the box office. However, box office bombs typically result in tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars in losses. For example, the 2016 box office bomb “Gods of Egypt” lost an estimated $149 million, while the 2017 box office bomb “The Dark Tower” lost an estimated $75 million. Box office bombs can have a major impact on studios and often lead to big changes within the industry.
Meh, well yes and no, generally studios do not go bust because of box office bombs. While box office bombs are certainly a financial loss for studios, they typically have enough money from other successful films to offset these losses. Additionally, box office bombs often receive tax breaks and other forms of government support, which can help soften the blow. That being said, life in Hollywood is hard, and often studios have gone bust. Mainly due to mismanagement and over-exposure to big budgets however.
The most expensive box office bomb is “John Carter,” which cost an estimated $263 million to make and only made $73 million at the box office. This resulted in a loss of approximately $190 million. Other notable box office bombs include “The Lone Ranger” ($215 million budget, $260 million loss), “47 Ronin” ($175 million budget),
And now here is the list of the top 100 box office bombs (based on industry-supplied data!)
How much was their budget and how much did they make? Note: this is not in any order, just a general reference! Also, this list doesn’t take into account inflation and all other boring financial things! But it’s still a great guide!
1. “The Adventures of Pluto Nash”
Budget: $100 million – Box Office: $7 million.
Pretty much ended Eddie Murphy’s A-list career.
Murphy stars as the titular character, a former mobster who now owns and operates a nightclub on the moon in the year 2087. When the club is threatened by a corrupt businessman, Pluto must find a way to save it before it’s too late.
2. “Cutthroat Island”
Budget: $98 million – Box Office: $10 million
Although Carolco pictures were pretty much fucked already at this stage, this was the final nail in the coffin for the studio.
3. “Ishtar”
Budget: $55 million – Box Office: $14 million
Even with two high-profile stars, Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beaty, this was a stinker from start to finish.
4. “The Postman”
Budget: $80 million – Box Office: $17 million
Another major Kevin Costner flop.
5. “Town & Country”
Budget: $90 million – Box Office: $18 million
6. “Heaven’s Gate”
Budget: 44$ million – Box Office: 3$ million
7. “Waterworld”
Budget: 175$ million – Box Office: 88$ million
One of the most synonymous box office failures went way over budget and took down Kevin Costner’s status as an auteur director/actor.
8. “The Alamo”
Budget: 145$ million – Box Office: 22$ million
9. “Sahara”
Budget: 130$ million – Box Office: 36$ million
10. “Solaris”
Budget: 90$ million – Box Office: 3$ million
Intellectuall sci-fi/romance with no action? No thanks!
11. “Battlefield Earth”
Budget: 75$ million – Box Office: 21$ million
Infamously bad movie, check out our review!
12. “Hudson Hawk”
Budget: 65$ million – Box Office: 17$ million
13. “The 13th Warrior”
Budget: 160$ million – Box office: 61$ million
14. “Catwoman”
Budget: 100$ million – Box office: 40$ million
At least Halle Berry had the guts to acknowledge just what a stinker this movie was.
View her Razzie award acceptance here. Say what you want about the movie, but this makes her an A-grader in our eyes. Perhaps one of the best “acceptance” speeches ever done in Hollywood.
15. “Superman Returns”
Budget: 270$ million – Box office: 200$ million
16. “The Lone Ranger”
Budget: 215$ million – Box office: 260$ million
Oh boy did this movie suck. Without going into Johnny Depp’s Native-American character, this movie lost Disney a ton of money. When they say a budget of $215 million, they don’t even include overall marketing spending.
17. “47 Ronin”
Budget: 175$ million – Box office: 151$ million.
A low point in Keanu Reeves’ career. Luckily he would bounce back with the John Wick franchise.
18. “John Carter”
Budget: 263$ million – Box office 284$ million
19. “After Earth”
Budget: 243 $million – Box office: 243$ million
20. “Mars Needs Moms”
Budget: 150$ million – box office: 39$ million
21. “The Last Airbender”
Budget: 150$ million – box office: 131 $million
22. “Stealth”
Budget: 170$million – box office: 85 $million
23. “A Good Day to Die Hard”
Budget: 92 $ million, Box office: 304$ million
24. “Osmosis Jones”
Budget: 75 $million, box office33 $million
25. “Speed 2: Cruise Control”
Budget 160$ million, box office 48$ million
26. “The Love Guru”
Budget: 62$million – Box office: 32 $million
27. “Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within”
Budget 137 $million, box office 85 $million
28.”Gangster Squad”
Budget: 119$ million, box office 105$ million
29.”Jack the Giant Slayer”
Budget: 195$ million, box office 197$ million
30.”47 Ronin”
Budget: 175$ million, box office 151$ million
31. “The Happening”
Budget: 60$ million, box office 64 $million
32.”After Earth”
Budget: 243$ million, box office 243 $million
33. “R.I.P.D.”
Budget: 130$ million, box office 78 $million
34.”White House Down”
Budget: 150$ million, box office 205 $million
35.”Grown Ups 2″
Budget: 80$ million, box office 247 $million
36.”Last Vegas”
Budget: 58$ million, box office 105 $million
37.”The Lone Ranger”
Budget: 215$ million, box office 260 $million
38.”47 Ronin”
Budget: 175$ million, box office 151 $million
39.”Winter’s Tale”
Budget: 60$ million, box office 32 $million
40.”Transcendence”
Budget: 100$ million, box office 103 $million
41.”Tomorrowland”
Budget: 190$ million, box office 228 $million
42. “The BFG”
Budget: 140$ million, box office 182 $million
43.”Independence Day: Resurgence”
Budget: 165$ million, – Box office: 389 $million
Who needs a sequel to a movie from the 90s, with a terrible script? This is the question the movie asked. And this is what we got.
44.”The Legend of Tarzan”
Budget: 180$ million, box office 356 $million
45. “Passengers”
Budget: 110$ million – Box office: 303 $million
What could be better about Chris Pratt being a perverted sexual stalker? IN SPACE!
46.”King Arthur: Legend of the Sword”
Budget: 175$ million, box office 148 $million
47.”Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”
Budget: 230$ million, box office 794 $million
48. “Baywatch”
Budget: 69$ million, box office 58 $ million
49.”Geostorm”
Budget: 120$ million, box office 220 $million
50. “The Mummy”
Budget: 125$ million, box office 410 $million
51.”Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets”
Budget: 177$ million, box office 225 $million
52. “Downsizing”
Budget: 68$ million, box office 55 $million
53.”A Wrinkle in Time”
Budget: 103$ million, box office 132 $million
54.”Suburbicon”
Budget: 25$ million, box office 5 $million
55. “mother!”
Budget: 70$ million, box office 74 $million
56. “The Dark Tower”
Budget: 60$ million, box office 50 $million
57.”The Emoji Movie”
Budget: 50$ million, box office 86 $million
58.”Cars 3″
Budget: 175$ million, box office 383 $million
59. “Justice League”
Budget: 300$ million, box officer 657 $million
60. “Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool”
Budget: 10$ million, box office 474 $million
61.”Last Flag Flying”
Budget: 17$ million, box office 91 $million
62. “The Star”
Budget: 20$ million, box office 81 $million
63. “Coco”
Budget: 175$ million, box office 807 $million
64.”Bright”
Budget: 90$ million, box office 90 $million
65.”Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”
Budget: 90$ million, box office 962 $ million
66.”Paddington 2″
Budget: 40$ million, box office 232 $million
67. “12 Strong”
Budget: 35$ million, box office 115 $million
68.”Den of Thieves”
Budget: 30$ million, box office 102 $million
69. “Maze Runner: The Death Cure”
Budget: 62$ million, box office 58 $million
70. “Hostiles”
Budget: 50$ million, box office 78 $million
71.”The Cloverfield Paradox”
Budget: 10$ million, box office 72 $million
72.”Insidious: The Last Key”
Budget: 10$ million, box office 167 $million
73.”A Bad Moms Christmas”
Budget: 28$ million, box office 130 $million
74. “The Greatest Showman”
Budget: 84$ million, box office 174 $million
75. “Proud Mary”
Budget: 16$ million, box office 21 $million
76.”Molly’s Game”
Budget: 30$ million, box office 35 $million
77. “All the Money in the World”
Budget: 50$ million, box office 25 $million
78.” Downsizing”
Budget: 68$ million, box office 55 $million
79.”Father Figures”
Budget: 25$ million, box office 17 $million
80.”The Post”
Budget: 50$ million, box office 81 $million
81.”12 Strong”
Budget: 35$ million, box office 115 $million
82. “Den of Thieves”
Budget: 30$ million, box office 102 $million
83. “Maze Runner: The Death Cure”
Budget: 62$ million, box office 58 $million
84. “Hostiles”
Budget: 50$ million, box office 78 $million
85.”The Cloverfield Paradox”
Budget: 10$ million, box office 72 $million
86. “Insidious: The Last Key”
Budget: 10$ million, box office 167 $million
87. “A Bad Moms Christmas”
Budget: 28$ million, box office 130 $million
88. “The Greatest Showman”
Budget: 84$ million, box office 174 $million
89. “Proud Mary”
Budget: 16$ million, box office 21 $ million
90.”Molly’s Game”
Budget: 30$ million, box office 35 $million
91. “All the Money in the World”
Budget: 50$ million, box office 25 $million
92.” Downsizing”
Budget: 68$ million, box office 55 $million
93. “Father Figures”
Budget: 25$ million, box office 17 $million
94. “The Post”
Budget: 50$ million, box office 81 $ million
95.”12 Strong”
Budget: 35$ million, box office 115 $million
96. “Den of Thieves”
Budget: 30$ million, box office 102 $ million
97. “Maze Runner: The Death Cure”
Budget: 62$ million, box office 58 $million
98. “Hostiles”
Budget: 50$ million, box office 78 $million
99.”The Cloverfield Paradox”
Budget: 10$ million, box office 72 $million
100. “Insidious: The Last Key”
Budget: 10$ million, box office 167 $million
The box office bomb is a movie that fails to recoup its production costs at the box office. These movies are often major financial disasters for the studios that produce them.