20 Movie Flops That Turned Into Classics

Brad Bird’s animated adventure spent years in development before debuting on the big screen to mediocre ticket sales. The film follows the story of a boy and his giant alien robot friend as they try to escape government authorities. Eventually, video rentals and television airings turned the movie into a cult classic.

Following a dismal box office performance, Tim Burton’s biopic about cult icon Ed Wood developed a cult following of its own. Johnny Depp stars as the eccentric title character, who chases his Hollywood dreams despite his lack of talent. The film won two Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Martin Landau.

Arthouse legend David Lynch transformed a rejected TV pilot into one of the greatest films of the 21st century. In this visionary work, Los Angeles becomes a literal city of dreams, pulling two women into the heart of a surreal mystery. Film audiences are still trying to uncover its many mysteries.

Despite receiving mostly favorable reviews when it opened, this horror-comedy did not do well at the box office, but later became a huge hit in the home rental market. Its popularity led to a mini-franchise, including direct-to-video sequels and a brief TV series.

Directed by Cameron Crowe, this semi-autobiographical dramedy takes place in the 1970s and revolves around a teenage journalist (Billy Crudup) on the road with an up-and-coming rock band. Despite widespread acclaim from critics and an Academy Award, the film didn’t catch on with audiences until after it left theaters, and has since become a cult classic.

By the time Russell Crowe and Christian Bale starred in this thrilling Western, they were already major Hollywood stars. This film, the second adaptation of an Elmore Leonard short story, features Bale as a small-town rancher facing challenges while escorting a dangerous criminal (Crowe) to justice on a train. Although, the film debuted at No. 1 at the domestic box office, it ultimately fell short of expectations during its theatrical run.

This action dramedy from Quentin Tarantino tells the story of a comic book nerd (Christian Slater) who goes on a wild journey with his new girl (Patricia Arquette) and a stash of stolen cocaine. Tony Scott directs the film with a stylish flair and a fast pace, leading to an ultra-violent climax. Although it was initially a box office disappointment, the film is now a beloved cult smash with lasting cultural significance.

“Lethal Weapon” writer Shane Black made his directorial debut with this sharp crime comedy. Loosely based on a Brett Halliday novel, it features Robert Downey Jr. as a former thief turned accidental actor investigating a deadly conspiracy. Wendy Ide of The Times (UK) called it a “sarky, sniping film noir homage that assassinates the character of every LA archetype you could imagine.”

This sci-fi mystery shows viewers a dystopian future world where genetics determine social status. It opened at No. 5 at the domestic box office, behind films like “The Devil’s Advocate” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” Central themes of space travel and DNA testing play out in a noirish setting, creating a unique aesthetic and lasting relevance.

This space-based adventure draws inspiration from classic Westerns and picks up where the short-lived TV series “Firefly” left off. It follows a band of rebels as they outmaneuver the an all-powerful Alliance. With a stronger performance at the domestic box office, a franchise would likely have followed.

Rarely does a film capture the spirit of an era as effectively as Richard Linklater’s, set in small-town Texas on the final day of school. With a pitch-perfect soundtrack, the story weaves through different characters and their misadventures. Several key scenes and dialogue have ingrained themselves into the cultural consciousness. This movie made Matthew McConaughey famous and Quentin Tarantino once included it as one of his top 10 films of all time.

Loosely inspired by a P. D. James novel, this dystopian thriller takes place in a world of human infertility. The discovery of a pregnant woman sets off a chain of increasingly intense action sequences. Recently, it landed the 13th spot on BBC’s list of The 21st Century’s 100 greatest films, according to a survey of 62 well-respected critics.

In this low-key drama, Leonardo DiCaprio gives an Oscar-nominated portrayal as the the disabled younger brother of Johnny Depp’s character, Gilbert Grape. Set in a small-town in Iowa, the film paints a melancholic picture of American life. DiCaprio also delivered another breakout performance earlier that year in “This Boy’s Life.”

Mike Judge’s workplace comedy initially struggled due to a poorly executed marketing campaign, that resulted in a disappointing performance at the box office and and a quick exit from theaters before word-of-mouth could spread. However, it quickly became an cultural sensation because of TV airings and home rentals, ranking among the best-selling DVDs of its time. Even now, the film remains one of cinema’s most enduring and oft-quoted classics.

Darren Aronofsky’s second film is a stylish but raw adaptation of Hubert Selby Jr.’s cult novel. Set in and around Coney Island, it tracks the downward spiral of four drug addicts as they sink into different levels of hopelessness. Addiction is a central theme, transforming everything from food and television into addictive substances themselves.

This intense drama follows the story of a former neo-Nazi and his radicalized younger brother. Actor Edward Norton and director Tony Kaye wrestled for creative control over the final product, which arguably worked to its advantage. Critic Andrew O’Hehir, in his review for Sight & Sound, described it as  “a work of impressive scale and craft and not a movie that’s easy to dismiss in the end.”

David Fincher’s satirical testosterone-fueled film made studio executives uneasy before it was released in theaters, and failed to meet box office expectations. It did find commercial success through the home rental market, prompting critical reappraisals and a massive fanbase. The story of underground fight clubs and anti-capitalist continues to be controversial to this day.

Adapted from a novella by Stephen King, this historical prison drama struggled at the box office against films like “Pulp Fiction” and “Forrest Gump.” However, after receiving seven Oscar nominations, it was reissued in theaters. Now considered one of the greatest films ever made, it claims the top spot on IMDb’s list of the Top 250 Movies.

In this musical fantasy film, five children win exclusive access to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Initially, the film faded from the public consciousness soon after its debut, but was revived years later through TV airings and home video sales. In 1996, a 25th anniversary theatrical re-release earned $21 million at the box office.

A surreal sci-fi drama with a demonic rabbit and mysterious countdown drive its title character toward a chilling climax. Despite a limited theatrical run shortly after 9/11, because it included a pivotal plane crash scene, the film gained popularity due to re-releases, home rentals, and strong word-of-mouth. Over time, it became a cult classic.