Creating a movie from scratch or even making an adaptation that parallels its original is an intricate act. There is always an ambiguity behind its anticipated perception until the release date comes, and in some cases, an unfortunate truth arises:it is a flop.
One of the genres that is widely known to produce controversial products ishorror. Triggering a sense of fear can easily backfire due to its subjective essence and hard-to-execute extravagance at times. Films that perform poorly at the box office can often be seen with a horror label and mixed reviews tagging alongside them. The 10 films included in this list dig up technical flops that failed to achieve what they set out to do but still have that spark of entertainment for anyone willing to give them a chance.
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10Crimes of the Future
Occasionally confused withDavid Cronenberg’s remakeof his 1970 sci-fi film with the same name, the 2022 body horror dramaCrimes of the Futureis actually unrelated to its predecessor. Starring infamous names such as Viggo Mortensen, Léa Seydoux, and Kristen Stewart, the film follows a performance artist duo who surgically remove unusual organs that grow in people as a symptom of the “Accelerated Evolution Syndrome” disease.
Cronenberg’s films are not generally considered box office hits, and his official return to thesci-fi body horror nichedid not produce any different outcome. Mostly functioning as an appealing tribute to the director’s existing fans,Crimes of the Future’s global box office earning was roughly a $4 million, whereas the production was worth a $27 million budget.
9The New Mutants
Proposing a not-so-common combination,The New Mutantsis a 2020 superhero horror film directed by Josh Boone and based on the Marvel Comics team sharing the same name. With Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton, Alice Braga, Blu Hunt, and Henry Zaga, the movie features a group of young mutants trapped in a psychiatric facility for evaluation and attempts to confront both their own individual inner demons and an ominous entity called the Demon Bear.
The movie merges a coming-of-age drama with horror and revolves around themes such as self-discovery, social acceptance, and friendship. However, despite its strong cast and anticipated release,The New Mutantsfailed to gross over $45 million worldwide when its production budget was $67 million. It was also plagued with troubled shootings and was releasedduring the COVID-19 pandemic, most likely impacting its box office numbers. Although it’s essentially a fun and camp horror movie to take a look at, it is still a target of criticism for its muddled plot and lack of depth.
8Crimson Peak
The 2015 gothic romanceCrimson Peakis aGuillermo del Toro-directed filmfollowing Edith Cushing, a young woman who marries Thomas Sharpe, a mysterious aristocrat. When Edith moves into his decaying mansion on a hill known as Crimson Peak, she slowly begins to explore and uncover the secrets that lay underneath the Sharpe family’s mansion and past.Crimson Peakhas a star-studded cast with Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, and Jessica Chastain as part of its cast.
Still, it did not receive parallel recognition after its release. The movie was promoted mainly through its horror elements and not so much its gothic romance storyline. Not only did this create false expectancy, but it also triggered a let-down since it was also released close to Halloween but lacked the typical horror genre conventions one would expect. With the mixed reviews about its slow pacing and overall plot structure, and the fact that it was a box office failure, the movie was not met with the initial impression it promised but still managed to attract attention through its stunning visuals and del Toro’s characteristic direction.
7The Invasion
Oliver Hirschbiegel and James McTeigue’sThe Invasionis a 2007 science-fiction horror film based on Jack Finney’s novel “The Body Snatchers.” Revolving around Carol Bennell (played by Nicole Kidman), the movie tells the story of an alien virus that is spreading across the world and turning everyone infected into an emotionless drone. With her friend Ben (played by Daniel Craig), Carol attempts to find a cure and stop disseminating the virus before it becomes too late. One of the reasons whyThe Invasionwas a box office flop was related to its problematic production.
The making of the film was plagued with various issues, from re-shoots and director changes to conflicts in the studio and between the filmmakers. The final cut resulted in a lack of coherency; thus, the film was criticized for weak character development, unoriginality, and poor pacing. Combined with its failed commercial success, the film became an exemplary note of how troubled shooting can impact the film’s perception.
6Grindhouse
Grindhouseis a double feature directed by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino in the year 2007. The plot contains two different movie narratives namedDeath ProofandPlanet Terror, whichpay homage to 1970s exploitation films. The first movie,Death Proof,is about a psychotic stuntman who terrorizes young women by weaponizing his car. On the other hand,Planet Terrortells the story of a group of small-town survivors in Texas who struggle to fight an army of zombies.
Even though both films include star casts, including Kurt Russell, Rose McGowan, and Bruce Willis,Grindhousewas still a box office flop. The lengthy runtime that exceeds three hours and quite the niche plot that mainly appeals to fans of exploitation films ensured a lack of mainstream promotion for the film. Since it reflects 1970s exploitative cinema, the sexual and violent content in the movie also made it difficult for it to premiere in theaters, leading to financial failure.
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5The Stepford Wives
A remake of the 1975 version, the 2004 releaseThe Stepford Wiveswas directed by Frank Oz and has a vividly strong cast consisting of Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler, Glenn Close, and Christopher Walken. It follows an authoritative TV executive named Joanna Eberhart after she is fired for having a nervous breakdown. With her two children and husband Walter, Joanna moves to the seemingly perfect town of Stepford but soon discovers the dark secrets that lay hidden beneath its alluring facade.
Despite its original premise being based on Ira Levin’s 1972 novel, the film was not the big hit it was initially thought to be. The viewers and critics reacted adversely to the film’s tonal inconsistencies and messy, slightly unoriginal plot, and lack ofsatirical social commentary compared to the 1975 original movieand the book itself.
4The Astronaut’s Wife
With Johnny Depp and Charlize Theron as part of its main cast,The Astronaut’s Wifeis about a happily married couple, Spencer and Jillian Armacost. When Spencer loses two of his colleagues to the failure of a mysterious space mission, he returns to Earth as a changed man. The difference in his behaviors and attitude soon makes Jillian think there is something seriously wrong with him. Her increasing suspicion soon reveals a secret about the mission that changes the trajectory of her life.
The film’s earning was limited to $19 million at the box office and was described as a commercial and critical misfire despite having a solid and sturdy cast. Combined with the fact that it was released around the same time as significant blockbusters, includingThe Sixth SenseandThe Blair Project, the film has been called a flop.
3Event Horizon
Set in the year 2047, the 1997 filmEvent Horizonwas directed by Paul W. S. Andersonand tells the story of uncovering the truth behind the reappearance of a long-lost experimental spacecraft, named the Event Horizon. The spacecraft had disappeared seven years prior on its maiden voyage, and in 2047, a rescue mission is set to investigate the mystery. Event Horizon was initially a flop with a disturbing premise and unraveling of horrifying events.
The film’s budget was set at around $60 million but only grossed $26 million. Such an underperformance was thought to relate to the release of other popular movies around the time and to the mixed reviews of critics about its superficially heavy editing and lack of marketing. The film is yet another gem with a cult following in today’s cinephile world with its horrifyingly intriguing story.
2The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Though now considered a cult classic musical, Jim Sharman’s 1975 comedy horrorThe Rocky Horror Picture Show, was a box office flop at the time of its release. The story follows Janet and Brad, a young couple who happen to stumble upon a gothic and odd mansion filled with eccentric characters. One of these bizarre individuals is a doctor and mad scientist named Frank N. Furter, who has also created a creature called Rocky.
Mixing the genres of science-fiction, horror, and comedy,The Rocky Horror Picture Showpresents a conjunction of music, drama,and gothic humorthat ultimately failed to attract a large audience following its premiere. It also garnered mixed reviews and received harsh criticism from critics. The initial failure was caused mainly by poor marketing, the fact that it was a limited release, and becauseit leaned on more avant-garde visualsrather than appealing to mainstream taste. Despite its flop introduction, the movie nonetheless has a current cult following that indulges in its campy humor and outrageous characters.
1Phantom of the Paradise
Directed by Brian De Palma,Phantom of the Paradiseis amusical horrorfilm about Winslow Leach, a successful musician who has his music stolen by Swan, a morally corrupt music producer. After being framed and sent to prison, Leach manages to escape and plan revenge plan on Swan. He chooses to sabotage The Paradise, Swan’s new music venue, but eventually starts becoming disfigured and adopts the identity of Phantom. In 1974, the year of its release, the film was a commercial failure mostly because of its low promotional value and bizarre storyline.
Criticized for its off-putting and grotesque imagery, the film’sunconventional subject matterwas deemed too dark and unsettling for proper mainstream recognition. However, the film gradually strengthened its reputation over time and is now praised among horror and music fans. Though late, its unique nature and innovative way of storytelling continue to be embraced.
