The box office is often not the best measure of the success of a movie. Despite not doing commercially well, there are many movies that are cinematic masterpieces. They might receive a setback because of competition or other reasons, but eventually, the audience realizes their true worth and they become iconic hits.
Here is a list of 20 movies that became cult classics despite flopping at the box office.
20) Three Thousand Years of Longing
Three Thousand Years of Longing, released in 2022, is a movie about Alithea, a girl who discovers a genie trapped in a bottle. Starring Idris Elba, this movie is deep and takes you on a journey of philosophical underpinnings. Although the movie didn’t do well at the box office, it is loved by audiences for its unique take on different issues.
19) Serenity
Serenity is a 2005 movie about a group of people aboard a spaceship trying to protect a government asset. The movie failed at the box office but with time garnered a dedicated audience because of its great script. Moreover, the casting of the movie is top-notch and all the actors do justice to their characters.
18) Clue
With time, Clue, released in 1985 has become a classic movie. It is a comedic murder mystery movie about a host who invites people to a creepy mansion and kills them. One unique feature of the movie is that it had three different endings and when the movie was released in theatres all three were shown at different places. Yet, upon release, it failed commercially.
17) Hugo
Hugo directed by the one and only - Martin Scorsese had a grand budget and merely managed to recover it. The movie follows the story of Hugo an orphan, living in Paris. Despite winning 5 Oscars, the movie failed commercially. But critics still appreciated it widely for its wonderful cinematography.
16) Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory
The children’s classic musical - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, failed when it was first released. People believed it was a little too dark for children. So much so, that the author - Roald Dahl, on whose book the movie was based, found it mediocre. But a few decades later, its songs and acting have developed a separate fan base of their own.
15) Jennifer's Body
Jennifer’s Body was a 2005 horror-comedy starring Meghan Fox. Following the story of a high school girl who gets possessed, during its initial release, it was dismissed as a cliche horror movie. But with time, it started gaining appreciation for its feminist appeal and the acting skills of Meghan Fox and Amanda Seyfried helped elevate the movie to a cult classic.
14) Children of Men
A dystopian movie about a time when women have become infertile and humanity’s survival is in jeopardy, Children of Men is another box office flop that later got the appreciation it deserved. Starring Julianne Moore, the movie is now widely appreciated because of its realistic portrayal of the future.
13) Office Space
Office Space, starring Jennifer Aniston and Ron Livingston, is a movie about a corporate employee who is done with his job. He gets hypnotized and starts rebelling, in its wake, bringing a series of hilarious events. The movie underperformed at the box office, scarcely making up its production budget. But with time, people have started to love it, especially because of its relatability.
12) Heathers
Heather is a movie about a clique of girls who all share the name Heather. With the likes of Winona Ryder and Shannen Doherty starring in it, this movie is a horror comedy set in a high school. Despite the star cast, the movie failed to perform well. But with time, it gained popularity among teens for its humor. It has now become a fan favorite.
11) Donnie Danko
Donnie Darko is a movie about a man who after an accident starts getting strange visions. With its themes of mental illnesses, teen drama, and time travel, Donnie Darko failed to take the Box Office by storm. But years later people started recognizing it for its deep meaning and the eerie feeling it manages to induce.
10) Dazed and Confused
Dazed and confused. released in 1993 has now become a cultural phenomenon. Can you believe that at the time when it was released, it was a box office flop? But with time, the nostalgia-driven audience started loving it for its portrayal of school and adolescent life.
9) Tenet
When Christopher Nolan directs a movie, people automatically assume it will be a box office hit. But the 2020 movie - Tenet, made a hole in his track record.
The film was a story about an organization working to stop the world from World War Three through time reversal. But people found it to be too complex in its narrative when it was released. Despite that, slowly people started liking it, and like other Nolan films, it started receiving the appreciation it deserved.
8) Zodiac
Zodiac with its star cast was supposed to be a crowd seizer. Based on the real-life story of a serial killer, it was considered a slow burn and thus people found it to be very slow for a thriller. But with time it has become one of the most loved thrillers, not just because of its cast which consists of - Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr, and Hulk, but also because of its riveting plot line.
7) The Thing
The Thing released in 1993 has now become one of the best horror movies to be made. Following an alien encounter in the Antarctic, the movie disappointed at the box office. Eventually, the movie started becoming known for its grotesque appeal among horror-loving audiences.
6) Blade Runner
The movie Blade Runner has now become a household name. But back in 1982 when it was released, the movie failed so badly that it was unable to even recover its budget. But it had such a profound influence on the sci-fi genre, it is now considered a masterpiece.
5) The Big Lebowski
The Big Lebowski is a comedy movie with a sinister side to it. It is about Jeffery Lebowski who is confused for a rich businessman and gets caught in a tense mixup. When it was released, people found it to be stupid and it ended up not performing well at the box office. But with time, the movie's humor started connecting with the audience making it a cult classic.
4) Fight Club
Everyone today knows of Fight Club and Brad Pitt. It's about an underground fighter with insomnia and has a thrilling end. Back in 1999 when it was released, it failed to perform successfully at the box office. Today any Brad Pitt movie would break the records, but this one was perceived by the audience as being too violent. Gradually it has etched its name in the list of cult classics and is loved by everyone.
3) Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane was released almost 80 years ago. The movie follows a journalist who is trying to uncover the meaning of an influential man's last words. Every aspect, be it acting, cinematography, or script, is top-notch. While the movie is considered a classic, now. During its initial release, the film got stuck amidst various controversies and failed to perform well.
2) The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz now is a household name. It has numerous adaptations and is loved by children and adults, alike. However, in 1939 when it was released, the movie faced competition from - Gone with the Wind and failed to perform well, even failing to recover its production cost.
1) The Shawshank Redemption
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The Shawshank Redemption today finds its name among classic movies. Released in 1994, it's about a person wrongly accused of murder and sentenced to prison where he faces a lot of challenges. It's a very deep and riveting movie, praised by almost everyone. But back when it was released, it managed to make only $16 million, when its budget alone was $25 million. One of the reasons can be competition from the movies - Forrest Gump and Pulp Fiction.
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