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FOR EVERY AVATAR, Titanic and Harry Potter, there’s a John Carter, Gigli and The Lone Ranger.
It is a fact of life that some films will do better than others.
2015 has seen some: Jurassic World, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Furious 7 all placing in the top 10 ranking box office hits of all time.
Other films haven’t been so lucky, taking a critical beating and failing to recuperate their budgets.
Released in Ireland in October, Pan has faced a critical onslaught and poor box office takings internationally.
The film cost €141 million to make and took back just €14.4 million of that during its opening weekend, with projections for its long-term losses being potentially tens of millions.
After its release Variety even predicted that the film’s failure could be so profound that it could bring an end of ‘origin stories’ as a genre.
This Zac Efron fronted-vehicle had one of the worst box office openings ever back in August.
Its return of just €1.7 million from a domestic release into 2,333 cinemas was the 4th worst of all time according to Box Office Mojo (it has since been surpassed by Rock the Kasbah and Jem and the Holograms, but we’ll get onto those in a second).
The film focused on a DJ aiming to break through and make it big – with Warner Bros. executive VP for domestic distribution Jeff Goldstein calling the film a “passion project” for Efron in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter.
When this film came out back in January there was a lot of people scratching their heads and wondering what had happened to Johnny Depp’s film career.
The film was heavily slated and saw it take home €8.75 million worldwide on a budget of €56.5 million – with many outlets pointing out that it was the fifth box office flop in a row for Depp.
Thankfully, he managed to turn the corner before the end of the year – with the actor winning accolades for his performance as Whitey Bulger in Black Mass.
Another musical themed film that didn’t perform this year was Jem and the Holograms.
Released last month, the film has a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of just 20%, with Molly Lambert from Grantland calling it “a master class in How Did This Get Made?”.
The film also tanked spectacularly from a financial point of view – taking in just €2 million in its first two weeks after a worldwide release.
It’s not a nice feeling to see Bill Murray taking a critical battering.
Rock the Kasbah saw the comedy legend playing a washed-up rock manager who gets inspired after hearing an incredible voice in a cave during a trip to war-time Afghanistan.
Despite being backed up by an impressive cast including Danny McBride, Bruce Willis, Kate Hudson and Zooey Deschanel, the film grossed just €1.4 million during its opening weekend and was condemned by critics.
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At least they were all terrible movies. It’s sad when good movies flop
Carlin,can you explain what you mean by ‘it’s sad when good movies flop’.Surely a movie thats a flop was never a good movie in the first place.
Shawshank redemption flopped on its release in theatres that’s a good movie
Shawshank and Fight Club both flopped on release, surely this is enough explanation.
Ever hear of Shawshank Redemption? That flopped on its initial release and is now considered a classic.
Blade Runner, the Wizard of Oz is a pretty iconic movie. Just a quick search of good movies which bombed at the box office shows up movies like Citizen Kane, Its a Wonderful Life and much more films.
Hypernova a movie that didn’t make any money is considered a flop. Making money is by no means the mark of a good movie.
Waterworld. Quite an ok movie, but the definition of (cost – sales) doomed it to the junk basement.
American psyco was a complete flop too
ScarFace was a huge flop when it was released. Now considered a classic.
Big Trouble in Little China is another good example of a great movie that tanked in the cinema
If my memory serves “Once Upon a Time in America” was a major flop?, yet I beg anyone to tell me its not one of the all time great gangster movies?.
pretty sure Wayne’s World was a flop at the cinema but now a cult classic
Incorrect my man…Waynes World was actually a big hit on release. The sequel flopped tho.
Rubbish film
Once upon a time in America I’m talking about
Your opinion Kieran which you’re entitled to but you’re in a minority.
Huge Leone fan. Think once upon in a time in the west is a masterpiece, don’t think America is anywhere near as good, too long with poor pacing, though maybe worth a rewatch.
Citizen Kane, Fight club, it’s a wonderful life, children of men, shawshank redemption, willy wonka and the chocolate factory, Hugo. Looks like you got absolutely smacked down there you smart@rse.
That dj movie looks horrendous
That fifa movie was out this year, that surely floped
That was released last year, it got a release in the US this year and made less than $1000 in the box office.
Southpaw was also a terrible film that I hoped would be good.
Yeah there is not much left to do with boxing movies. Maybe a good behind the scenes of the business end of boxing. Night and the city remake gave a stab at it but could have been better.
Creed was better than I expected.
Bill Murray is way overrated!!
Disgracefully comment. Take that back!
Mark is entitled to his opinion I find Murray ok but a little bit one dimensional, fwiw the sight of Robin Williams in any film comedy or serious use to make me want to gouge my eyes out with a blunt pencil, but thats only my opinion some people love the guy.
I thought Legend with Tom Hardy was a bit disappointing tbh
Yup.That Krays movie was drivel.Worst movie of the year by far.
I watched we are your friends. It was terrible but Emily Ratajkowski….so I’d give it a 6/10
One thing that is never taken into consideration is inflation of box office ticket prices. It cost 2c to see Go With The Wind in 1939, of course StarWars will break $1bn @ €15 a ticket!
But what is the value of that 2c now?
Standard rule of thumb is to double it every 15 years
Mortdecai was a funny film, enjoyed it. Depp’s performance was brilliant in it.
Cable Guy, the best flop of a movie ever.
All shite each and all
have your say