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Interesting Article on on movies that "bombed" at the box office


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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/05/box-office-bombs_n_3386236.html?utm_hp_ref=entertainment

 

Box Office 'Bombs' That Grossed More Money Than You Realized

Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunters, Box Office Bombs, Box Office Busts, Movies That Made More Money Than You Thought, The Postman, Waterworld, Entertainment News

As the old saying goes, when the legend becomes fact, print the legend. Such is life for some of Hollywood's most notorious box office bombs, even if the films weren't technically "bombs."

Take "Waterworld," for instance: Kevin Costner's costly and critically battered 1995 has often been cited as a major failure, but it actually made $264 million worldwide on a reported budget of $175 million.

"I've probably said [that 'Waterworld' made money] ad nauseum, but people don't give a sh-t," Costner told HuffPost Entertainment. "So, it doesn't really matter. It just is what it is."

Costner isn't alone, of course, in taking heat for a "bomb" that wasn't a bomb. Below, find 10 other commonly cited box office busts that probably made a lot more money than you realized.

[budget figures and grosses via Box Office Mojo]

1. "The Tourist"
box office bombs
Reported budget: $100 million
Global gross: $278 million

2. "Knight and Day"
box office bombs
Reported budget: $117 million
Global gross: $261 million

3. "Dark Shadows"
box office bombs
Reported budget: $150 million
Global gross: $245 million

4. "The Dictator"
box office bombs
Reported budget: $65 million
Global gross: $177 million

5. "Hulk":
box office bombs
Reported budget: $137 million
Global gross: $245 million

6. "The Last Airbender"
box office bombs
Reported budget: $150 million
Global gross: $319 million

7. "The Beach"
box office bombs
Reported budget: $50 million
Global gross: $144 million

8. "Batman and Robin"
box office bombs
Reported budget: $125 million
Global gross: $238 million

9. "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters"
box office bombs
Reported budget: $50 million
Global gross: $225 million

10. "The Hangover Part III"
box office bombs
Reported budget: $103 million
Global gross: $200 million (and counting)

 

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You have to add marketing to the budget cost and deduct the amount the theatres take from the screenings. On the other hand, there is a life after the theatrical release and a film can earn a lot more from other forms of distribution. Plus, there is creative accounting, so that the successful films can cover the costs of the less successful and the studios really don't want to hand over any net profits etc.

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No matter how they do the math, Pluto Nash, is never going to be redeemed as a movie that actually made money ;)

 

Regardless of what the final outcome is, when you spend 150 million on a movie, that is one hell of a big hurdle to get over!!

 

R,

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If the definition of the a bomb being a financial failure then a lot of these would of come close but remember some of these films probably only made that much because of a built in audience already, comic books or previous films that were successful

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Well, the thing is almost every movie gets it's money back eventually. "Cleopatra" -1963 reportedly the biggest bomb in cinema history, finally made it's money back all be it in 1973 and from then on went into profit. See this is why studios are only interested in 70 mil + film budgets, They throw it up on 2500 screens, get their money back in a few weeks and the rest is gravy. Even bombs will recoup with ancillary windows and overseas sales. I'll bet dollars to donuts that even Will Smith's recent land mine explosion "After Earth"'- 2013 will break even in a few years. We kinda discovered this phenomenon while doing research on projected profits for "Blood Moon Rising". None of the comparable films with similar genera and budgets actually lost money.

Edited by James Steven Beverly
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The thing is, this situation is obvious from empirical data.

 

They've been doing this for decades; no business would keep making investments that size without a knowledge that it was ultimately profitable.

 

I don't think it's the only business model that can work, though. I certainly hope it isn't, as it's based on dishonesty.

 

P

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Well, there is also the fact that movies, unlike almost every other product on earth, aren't perishable so they tend to generate income for 20 years or more. It is an interesting business model, I'll give you that. As for business being dishonest, have you been paying attention to the last 10 years??!!

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