MovieChat Forums > The Iron Giant (1999) Discussion > Why this flopped

Why this flopped

posted 9 years ago by harmisjack
7 replies | jump to latest

I saw this in theaters when I was 5 with an old friend and his grandma. I don't remember how long the movie had been out for at the time I went, but I remember the theater having a decent sized audience at my showing. I vaguely remember seeing any marketing for this film, besides a few trailers, a few tv spots, and the toys coming with kids meals at McDonalds and BK. If the film has a cult following today, why did this pull in such low numbers during its release? My only guess could be the advertising. What do you think?

[–] Catdisc 9 years ago

It was the advertising.

[–] SpaceRain 9 years ago

Warner Bros. did a terrible job advertising it. They had no idea how great of a movie it was, so when the reviews came out they were speechless.

[–] Ellie8888 9 years ago

It literally says on wikipedia that they were "shamefaced" once it received great reviews. They did a horrible job advertising it. They didn't think it would would be greatly received as it was. Idiots...

[–] white-37 9 years ago

yep.

[–] ejl-41750 7 years ago

From what I've heard, one of the main reasons is because Warner Bros. had no faith in any more animated projects after the critical and financial failure of Quest For Camelot, but they were already in the middle of making Iron Giant by that time.

[–] crc-4 7 years ago

I worked in a theater at the time and even I didn't know about it. IT just kinda showed up one day.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 2 years ago

NOBODY has “an old friend” at the age of 5.

Sheesh!