Look at Scarface, that movie wasn't a box office hit, yet it's regarded as one of the greatest films ever by many and it's become such an iconic movie. Videodrome is one of the best sci fi movies ever in my opinion, I've had to rewatch it many times.
Y'know, I could eat a peach for hours
It was too bizarre and ahead of the times. I think it is more understood now because of the explosion in social networking.
shareAnd the explosion of reality tv.
Can't stop the signal.
I wouldn't say it was ahead of its time. It fit right in with the 80s.
http://www.cgonzales.net & http://www.drxcreatures.com
It does fit right in with the 80s, but it certainly seems to be a very appropriate expression of the direction media has taken in this very modern day
shareYou can add The Stunt Man (1980) to that list.
"May the Force be with you."
"I can do anything. Is America."
mariafan
also add
Network, Strange days, which ad similar themes to Videodrome.
Eyes Wide Shut
Full Metal Jacket
Thin Red line
Barry Lyndon
I don't know why but I vividly remember seeing Trailers on TV for videodrome, Scanners and Altered States as a kid/teen, but never saw any of them until the past year. They are all kinda related.
'Eyes Wide Shut'? Seriously?
http://www.cgonzales.net & http://www.drxcreatures.com
Yep. You have to watch it more than once like most Kubrick to appreciate it. So many levels of hidden meaning/symbolism, much of which goes over heads (mine included) unless you study it on the outside and dig deeper. Not everyone's cup of tea though.
shareEyes Wide Shut is severely underrated. It's almost like there's a reason you never hear about it... *ahem
shareWhat are you talking about? Videodrome wasn't a blockbuster, but it was hardly a box office bomb. It was a modest, independently produced film, put into limited release, which quickly gained a cult following. It did well enough that studios were willing to trust Cronenberg with The Dead Zone and The Fly.
But then, Scarface wasn't a flop either. It had a less than stellar opening weekend but it steadily gained word of mouth reputation and ended up making nearly twice of it's $25 million budget domestically and $65 million when you factor in the foreign box office.
It rubs the butter on it's skin, y'all.
videodrome has only become more relevant as time has gone by based on how the limits keep getting pushed and there is so much content now on the internet. and of course, we have only become far more addicted to our electronics to the point where it is extremely disturbing. using cellphones can give the user cancer. and there is a good amount of credence given to this somewhat recent idea that online porn addiction "rewires the brain pathways" of addicts. the content online is also global, whereas the premise of videodrome was a bit unrealistic regarding where the broadcast might be originating, they were guessing it had somehow come from thailand or the phillipines. that was a real stretch with early 80's cable, now it's common on the net. as a basic blueprint for what was to come, this film has a lot of timelessness to it.
Larry Gaylord: "a billion people come in on a day off, and they don't flip out!"
Not every great film is guaranteed financial success.
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