MovieChat Forums > Mystery, Alaska (1999) Discussion > Good movies that were box office flops

Good movies that were box office flops


I was surprised to read in the box office and business area of this board that Mystery Alaska's budget was approximately $28 million. I always kind of assumed that this was a small film that wasn't well known and had a limited release, more of a straight to video and movie channel type of movie. Its box office gross wasn't even $9 million. This was obviously a studio movie, with a decent budget that was probably expected to perform to a certain level. For myself and members of my family Mystery has become one of the most entertaining movies we've ever watched. We often wonder why this movie didn't have more success at the box office. Can anybody think of movies that they love watching and are entertained by that were completed box office bombs? In addition to Mystery, Alaska, we're also big fans of Dazed and Confused and Mallrats. Neither of those would be considered a big studio movie (although, there were some very large expectations for Mallrats) but they still were considered box office burn outs. Another one I can think of is Waterworld. I know it was savaged by the critics and bombed, but I've always found it to be strangely entertaining and was estatic when I found the DVD in Wal-Mart's $6.88 bin.
So let's here them, box office bombs that you loved.

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I'll throw in for...
Mystery, Alaska... as well as Big Trouble in Little China & Somewhere in Time

My "serious" hidden gems list would include:
A Perfect World (1993)
Year of the Dragon (1985)
Short Cuts (1993)
Magnolia (1999)
Solaris (2002)

But in the more "fun loving / heart warming" spirit, I'll nominate:
Tempest (1982)
Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)
It Could Happen to You (1994)
eXistenZ (1999)
Election (1999)

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SOLARIS!!!!! That is one of WORST movies I have ever seen! It is also the only movie where the audience, and one with few teenagers, but older adults, were openly and verbally mocking the movie about 2/3 of way into it. The only entertaining aspect of the whole movie.

HORRIBLE movie.

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I agree, it sucked and I love Sci Fi and George Clooney

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Superman Returns...probably the best superhero movie made and just didnt seem to do as well as it should have in the box office.

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Fear and Loathing in las vegas

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Equilibrium

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I agree with you that Equilibrium was a good movie, but I don't think it can be called a box office flop when it was a straight to dvd release.

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Alexander had a huge budget, 200 million, and took in about 35 at the US box office, that's a pretty big flop but it really wasn't that bad of a movie. Colin Ferrel just sucked in it.
Another flop was PCU, one of the greatest comedies ever made and it was only in theatres for like a week and then it was pulled. Awsome movie, Jeremy Piven at his finest.

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Dumb & Dumberer
Deuce Bigalow 2
Black Sheep

They're great to me!

"Is the hot tea hot or cold?"
"Is the tea iced tea?"
"No, it's HOT tea!"
"Then I have no idea!"

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[deleted]

Another great movie that flopped in '99 was Ravenous, with Guy Pearce(Memento, The Time Machine). I saw it when it was in theaters for a week or two in '99, and bought the video release when it came out.

"Funny thing, killin' a man. You take away all he's got, and all he's ever gonna have."

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Surviving Christmas
Just Friends
Welcome to Mooseport

Being perfect is when you can look someone in the eye and know you did not let them down. - FNL

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Instinct, starring Anthony Hopkins and Cuba Gooding Jr.

A little slow and definitely a drama, but ultimately a well-written movie full of passion and greatly-developed characters. The acting is great also, as expected from these two.

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The Ref with Dennis Leary...best fun.

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I am not forom USA & this movie is an awful one.

Full of cliches and rather dull. If USA did not feel interested in
this *beep* imagine out of USa...

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"The Wizard Of Oz" was a box office dud.

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the unsung classic that first came to mind is Grand Canyon.

my theory is that it was sunk by poor editing at the very end (where it is most important to convey the thematic statement of the story).

still it's very much worth watching.

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Blade Runner which is an awesome movie was a flop at the box office.

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A good one. entertaining.

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A good one. entertaining.

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