Oscar-Winning Movies That Didn’t Make Any Money

“A Passage to India” is a historical drama about the friendship between an Indian doctor, an English teacher, and an Englishwoman. This film, based in the early 1920s, is full of adventure and includes various themes from friendship to cultural differences. “A Passage to India” ended up being a low-grossing film, but Peggy Ashcroft still won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

“Wonder Boys,” a film about an English author and professor who is avoiding his editor, was released in theatres in 2000. The all-star cast of this film included Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Robert Downey Jr., and Katie Holmes. Despite the production budget being close to $60 million, (inflation-adjusted) the film brought in less than that in the worldwide box office.

“The Young Victoria” tells the story of Queen Victoria in her early years as ruler and the beginning of her relationship with Prince Albert. Renowned actress Emily Blunt plays the role of Queen Victoria and Rupert Friend plays Prince Albert. Although “The Young Victoria” only made $38.9 million (inflation-adjusted) in the box office, it did win an Oscar for Best Achievement in Costume Design.

Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Winona Ryder star in the 1993 romance, “The Age of Innocence.” This film, based on the novel by Edith Wharton, is about a wealthy New York lawyer who falls in love with his fiancée’s cousin. “The Age of Innocence” wasn’t much of a success in the box office, but it did win an Oscar for Best Costume Design.

The 1967 film “The Producers,” written by Mel Brooks, is a comedy about a producer who comes up with a plan to make a fortune. Starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, this film won an Academy Award for Best Writing in the category of Story and Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. The producers spent about $7.1 million (inflation-adjusted) on the film, but it only made about $1.2 million in the box office.

“The Wolfman” is a fantasty and horror film that was released in 2010 with a production budget of about $174 million. Compared to the production budget, “The Wolfman” didn’t make any money, but it was recognized with an award from the Academy. This film was the 2011 Academy Award Winner for Best Achievement in Makeup.

“Melvin and Howard” is a film based on Melvin Dummar, who became well-known after claiming he saved Howard Hughes and was left part of his estate. This comedy, released in 1980, starred Paul Le Mat, Jason Robards, Elizabeth Cheshire, and Mary Steenburgen. Despite this film losing over $9 million at the box office, it won two Academy Awards. Mary Steenburgen won Best Actress in a Supporting Role and the film also won Best Writing as a Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.

The magical 1971 film “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” is still a popular film today. Starring Angela Lansbury, David Tomlinson, and Roddy McDowall, this enchanting tale about an apprentice witch named Miss Eglantine Price received 5 award nominations. However, it ended up winning one Oscar for Best Special Visual Effects.

John Cusack, Dianne Wiest, and Jennifer Tilly starred in the 1994 film “Bullets Over Broadway.” This film is a comedy about a struggling playwright who casts a talentless woman in his latest play because her mobster boyfriend offers to finance the entire show. “Bullets Over Broadway” lost about $14.9 million (infation-adjusted) at the box office. It did win Dianne Wiest an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

“The Right Stuff” is a 1983 film based on Tom Wolfe’s book about the history of the U.S. Space Program. This film, starring Sam Shepard, Scott Glenn, and Ed Harris, covered the breaking of the sound barrier and included both drama and adventure. “The Right Stuff” ended up winning four Oscars for Best Sound, Film Editing, Sound Effects Editing, and Music.

“What Dreams May Come” is a romantic drama that won the 1999 Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. This film had a cast that included Robin Williams and Cuba Gooding Jr., but it didn’t make money in theaters. Even though it wasn’t a hit at the box office, it did win the award for Best Visual Effects and was a nominee for Best Art Direction.

The film “The Red Violin” follows the history and travels of a Nicolo Bussotti violin that is auctioned off at the beginning of the movie. Throughout the film, the writers Don McKellar and François Girard take the viewer through three centuries with the famous instrument in a dramatic and musical mystery. “The Red Violin” won the 2000 Academy Award for Best Music.

Dennis Quad, Martin Short, and Meg Ryan star in the 1987 comedy “Innerspace.” In this film, an experiment goes wrong, leading to a test pilot being shrunk and injected into a store clerk. Despite the all-star cast of this film, it lost over $16 million (inflation-adjusted) at the box office. “Innerspace” did win the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

“The Milagro Beanfield War” is based in the town of Milagro, New Mexico. This 1988 drama directed by Robert Redford tells the story of a small community facing a crisis due to the decisions of politicians and businessmen. “The Milagro Beanfield War” is based on a novel by John Nichols. The film ended up winning an Oscar for Best Music in 1989.

“Almost Famous” tells the story of an aspiring rock journalist in the 1970s. This 2000 film starred Kate Hudson, Zooey Deschanel, and Jimmy Fallon. The film suffered a significant loss at the box office. However, it received 103 award nominations and won an Academy Award for Best Writing as a Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.

Gregory Peck, Richard Crenna, and David Janssen star in the sci-fi drama “Marooned.” This film, released in 1969, is about three astronauts who end up stranded in space. The film tells the story of the rescue mission launched by NASA. “Marooned” only made a little more than half the production budget, but it did win an Oscar for Best Special Visual Effects.

Mike Leigh directed the 1999 dramedy “Topsy-Turvey.” This film was set in the 1880s and follows the tale of a partnership between writers Gilbert and Sullivan. The cast for “Topsy-Turvey” included Jim Broadbent, Allan Corduner, and Dexter Fletcher. The film ended up winning two Oscars, one for Best Costume Design and one for Best Makeup.

World renowned director and actor Client Eastwood directed the 1988 film “Bird.” This film is a drama and biography about the jazz musician Charlie “Bird” Parker. The top cast for “Bird” included Forest Whitaker, Diane Venora, and Samuel E. Wright. Although the profit from the worldwide box office was shy of $5 million (inflation-adjusted,) “Bird” won the Academy Award for Best Sound.

Johnny Depp and Sarah Jessica Parker starred in the 1994 comedy “Ed Wood.” This film was based on the troubled life of movie director Edward D. Wood Jr., who is played by Johnny Depp. The film ended up losing over $27 million (inflation-adjusted) at the box office, but it received two Oscars. One award was given to Martin Landau for Best Actor and the film also won Best Makeup.

“Blue Sky,” a drama and romance released in 1994 is about a nuclear engineer named Hank Marshall who causes problems because of his stance on nuclear testing. Hank Marshall is played by Tommy Lee Jones and the cast also included Jessica Lange, Powers Boothe, and Chris O’Donnell. Jessica Lange won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in “Bird.”

“Restoration” is a drama based on the story of one of King Charles II’s physicians who was exiled after falling in love with the king’s mistress. This 1995 film starred Robert Downey Jr., Sam Neill, and David Thewlis. “Restoration” ended up losing nearly $30 million (inflation-adjusted) at the box office, but it went on to win two Oscars. The film won an Academy Award for Best Art Direction and Costume Design.

Michael Douglas, Val Kilmer, and Tom Wilkinson starred in the 1996 film “The Ghost and the Darkness.” This thriller directed by Stephen Hopkins is a fictional telling of the Tsavo man-eaters, a pair of lions that killed many of the workers on the Kenya-Uganda Railway in the late 1800s. “The Ghost and the Darkness” was the 1997 Academy Award winner for Best Sound Effects Editing.

James Cameron directed the 1989 drama “The Abyss.” This drama and mystery film starred Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn. “The Abyss” tells the story of a diving team sent to search for a lost nuclear sub. This film was a loss at the box office, however, it won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects and was a nominee for Best Cinematography, Set Direction, and Sound.

“The Alamo,” a John Wayne film, was released in 1960. This film follows the story of a group of soldiers who fight in the Battle of the Alamo. Full of drama and adventure, this historical film starred John Wayne, Richard Widmark, and Laurence Harvey. Even though “The Alamo” suffered a huge loss at the box office, it went on to win the Oscar for Best Sound. (Here’s The Best Oscar-Winning Movies to Stream for Free This Month.)