10 Movies That Rose From Shameful Flops To Cult Classics

Unfortunately, not all good movies are destined to become critical and commercial hits, no matter how hard the cast and crew worked on them.

However, if they can stand the test of time, and with the right amount of luck, the public's perception of them can change drastically, elevating such projects to cult status and attracting more fans than they could ever have hoped for.

With that in mind, let's take a look at ten undeniable cult classics that flopped badly upon release, some of them even getting destroyed by critics and audiences, only to rise again years later.

The Thing (1982)

John Carpenter's iconic film about a group of scientists fighting for the survival of the human race against a shape-shifting alien creature in the frozen wastes of Antarctica had a massive impact on the sci-fi horror genre.

Many other projects have attempted to recreate its chilling atmosphere of constant paranoia mixed with a Lovecraftian fear of the unknown, with varying degrees of success, but few have been able to come close.

The situation was drastically different in 1982, however, as the film was panned for its "junk" story, stereotypical characters, and even horrific visual effects (which are praised today), resulting in it barely breaking even at the box office.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

Terry Gilliam's adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's novel of the same name now has a significant number of dedicated fans who absolutely love the story of Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo's (brilliantly portrayed by Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro) drug-fueled trip to the Mint 400 motorcycle race in Las Vegas.

But upon its release, the film was considered a shallow adaptation of the author's work that failed to convey the bizarreness of the story and didn't impress audiences, becoming an embarrassing flop that earned only $13.7 million against its $18 million budget.

Fight Club (1999)

Based on the legendary novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk and directed by David Fincher, Fight Club is widely considered to be one of the best film adaptations to date, even though it changed the ending from the original.

Initially, however, the unique nature of its story, filled with social commentary, led to very polarizing reactions from critics and audiences, but the buzz didn't translate into box office success.

With a budget of around $65 million, the film underperformed badly in the U.S., and while it grossed $100.9 million worldwide, this result still left much to be desired.

Blade Runner ( 1982)

This iconic film, loosely based on Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?", came out at just the right time and ended up becoming one of the cornerstones of the whole new genre of cyberpunk, with its gritty story set in a dystopian Los Angeles of the future.

Unfortunately, it took a while for everyone to realize the film's cultural significance, as many people at the time criticized it for its heavy deviations from the novel, slow pacing, and bland characters, making it a box office bomb.

The King of Comedy (1982)

Martin Scorsese may be one of the most revered filmmakers of our time, but even his status hasn't always protected his projects from becoming financial disasters, and that's especially true of the director's earlier works.

This film, starring Robert De Niro as a delusional comedian who goes to extreme measures after being denied his five minutes of fame, didn't even come close to breaking even, earning just $2.5 million against a $19 million budget.

Citizen Kane (1941)

Now often cited as one of the greatest films of all time, this true classic directed by the legendary Orson Welles himself received rave reviews upon its release, but unfortunately didn't succeed financially.

It was not until years later that it received the recognition it deserved, leading to a re-release that allowed it to finally make money and reach an even wider audience.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

Edgar Wright's adaptation of the Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series captured the hearts of fans and critics alike, combining a charming story, great characters, colorful visuals and an amazing soundtrack into an unforgettable mix.

Still, it didn't make nearly enough to justify its $60-85 million budget, grossing only $49.3 million worldwide.

As time went on, however, the film garnered even more praise, and recently the entire cast, some of whom, like Chris Evans and Brie Larson, have gone on to become huge stars, reprised their roles in another adaptation of the same material, 2023's Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.

Idiocracy (2006)

This sci-fi comedy, set in a future where humanity's intellect has diminished to dangerous levels, received only moderately positive reviews upon its release and shamefully flopped at the box office, grossing only $495,303 against a $2.4 million budget.

Over the years, though, audiences' perceptions of the film have changed drastically for the better, as it has become clear that many aspects of the story are alarmingly close to the actual state of modern society.

The Big Lebowski (1998)

The Coen Brothers' cult classic, starring Jeff Bridges as the titular bum, failed to impress critics and audiences in 1999 and underperformed at the U.S. box office, with worldwide grosses only slightly improving the situation.

Since then, it has been recognized as a true masterpiece and forever embedded in popular culture.

Children of Men (2006)

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón and based on the novel The Children of Men by P.D. James, this film delivered one of the most unique takes on the apocalypse ever seen on the big screen, and the exceptional cinematography, story, and acting only enhanced the overall impression of the film.

Unfortunately, it didn't gain much popularity upon its release, resulting in an underwhelming box office performance that didn't even allow it to break even.