Oscar Winning Movies That Didn’t Turn a Profit

Mira Sorvino’s performance in this Woody Allen comedy — frequently referred to as a “minor” film by critics — earned the actress her sole Oscar.

Originally released in Japan, “Spirited Away” failed to gross its production budget in the U.S. and Canada. Still, the film has a strong following with 97% of critics and 96% of audience members giving it favorable reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

Angelina Jolie’s award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role was this 1999 drama’s only Academy Award. The film received mixed reviews, with just over half of critics liking it on Rotten Tomatoes.

Along with “Spirited Away,” Rango is one of two films that didn’t turn a profit that won Best Animated Feature Film of the Year at the Oscars. The movie had an exceptionally large reported budget of $135 million.

Tim Burton’s “Ed Wood” received rave reviews from critics in addition to its two Academy Awards. Yet it grossed less than a third of its production budget in the U.S. and Canada.

“Blue Sky” was withheld from release by its studio until a few years after director Tony Richardson’s death. Lead actress Jessica Lange, therefore, didn’t receive her Best Actress award until 1995.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Phantom Thread” tells the story of a dressmaker in 1950s London. This subject matter was perhaps not intriguing enough for U.S. audiences.

Despite its two Academy Award wins, the 1995 historical drama “Restoration” failed to have a major impact among audiences. The two and a half-hour movie grossed just over $4 million domestically.

Director James Cameron proved his cinematic eye for visuals long before “Avatar,” when his 1989 “The Abyss” took home the award for Best Effects. He would have better financial success, however, with later releases such as “Titanic.”

“The Ghost and the Darkness” was not a huge hit among critics, receiving positive reviews from just over half of critics on Rotten Tomatoes. No one can blame supervising sound editor Bruce Stambler, who won the award for his sound effects editing on the film.

The 2004 film grossed more than $118 million at the domestic box office, making it the 18th top grossing film of that year. Unfortunately, the film cost a whopping $140 million to produce.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” directed by David Fincher, did exceptionally well at the Academy Awards, receiving 13 nominations, three of which it won. Audiences may have had less patience with the film, which ran for a total of two hours and 46 minutes.

Historical drama “The Young Victoria” grossed just over $260,000 on its opening weekend in the U.S. and Canada and $11 million in total. The movie’s extravagant wardrobes, however, earned it the Academy Award for Best Achievement in Costume Design.

Sofia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette” is another historical drama that won an Oscar for its costume design. Audiences were lukewarm with regard to the full product, however, as was reflected in its middling box office returns.

Although “Almost Famous” bombed at the box office, it generated mostly positive reviews among critics who often noted the film’s screenplay, for which it won an Oscar.

Despite six total Oscar nominations and three wins, “Memoirs of a Geisha” received numerous poor reviews, resulting in a 35% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This critical reaction could be partially to blame for the film’s disappointing performance in the U.S. and Canada.

“What Dreams May Come” — starring Robin Williams and Cuba Gooding Jr. — received mixed reviews from critics. Most agreed on the film’s visual merits, however, which were rewarded with the Oscar for Best Effects, Visual Effects.

“Wonder Boys,” starring Michael Douglas, one of the most popular Oscar winners of all time, and Tobey Maguire, grossed less than half of its production budget at the domestic box office. It did receive recognition from the Academy for the inclusion of the Bob Dylan original song “Things Have Changed.”

Although the film featured exceptional costume design, “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” failed to blow away critics or audiences, who gave the film 34% and 59% approval ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively.

The 24th James Bond film, “Spectre” cost more and earned less in the U.S. and Canada than the franchise’s preceding film “Skyfall.” The latter film reportedly cost $200 million to produce and grossed $304 million. It also managed to win two Oscars, compared with the one “Spectre” won.

The Peter Weir-directed “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” is visually stunning thanks in large part to the work of cinematographer Russell Boyd, whose work on the film won him the Oscar for Best Cinematography. The movie also scored a win for Best Sound Editing.

Despite generally favorable reviews, the $150 million follow-up to “Blade Runner” grossed just over $92 million in the U.S. and Canada. Longtime Coen brothers collaborator Richard Deakins was recognized by the Academy for his cinematography, however, as was the movie’s visual effects team.

Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo” did extremely well at the 2012 Oscars, winning five awards and being nominated for an additional six, including Best Picture. Yet the 3D movie underperformed at the box office, due in part to audiences being more drawn to “The Muppets” and “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.”

The 2010 updated version of “The Wolfman” grossed just $62 million at the domestic box office against a bloated budget of $150 million. Accomplished makeup artists Rick Baker and Dave Elsey were still awarded for their first-rate work on the movie.

Fantasy film “The Golden Compass” failed miserably at the domestic box office, grossing a fraction of its reported $180 million budget. The film was plagued with controversies, including boycotts and protests from religious groups such as the Catholic League due to themes critical of the Catholic Church. The movie’s box office failure contributed to studio New Line Cinema’s being absorbed into Warner Bros. Pictures.