Success can be fleeting as well as long-lasting in Hollywood. Yes, we are aware of the contradiction. But that’s how classics are made despite the box-office numbers. How many times have you watched a movie and felt it was underrated? Well, many cult classics suffered a terrible fate in theatres, but became beloved through the passage of time.
These films were considered failures—creatively and financially, but are revered today for their impact on cinema and culture. So, this list is for the lost blockbusters that eventually carved a strong legacy.
15. Children Of Men (2006)
Based on P. D. James’ 1992 novel, ‘The Children Of Men‘ thrusts viewers into a future where no kids are born, and life is as precious as it’s destructive. There is a chase scene for the ages, but maybe all that chaos made it a box-office dud. Some felt it represented real-world upheaval, others didn’t buy the dystopian setting. But years on, Alfonso Cuarón’s film has become a haunting achievement.
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14. Brazil (1985)
Terry Gilliam’s garish satire of bureaucracy showed us a world where the combination of paranoia and paperwork reigned supreme. Of course, it repulsed some people, and very few could digest the film’s tone. However, ‘Brazil‘ became a statement against corporate control in the subsequent decades.
13. Dazed And Confused (1993)
From the man who gave us the ‘Before‘ trilogy, Richard Linklater’s coming-of-age cultural touchstone didn’t find many takers in the ’90s. It had teens wavering on the precipice of carving their own identities and lives. Alas, no one cared. But just like the characters of ‘Dazed and Confused,’ the film’s rise was slow and glorious.
12. Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971)
Back in the ’70s, this much-loved movie turned only a minor profit, making barely a ripple. But Gene Wilder’s Wonka, who is equal parts charming and terrifying, endured. Today, he’s part of the cultural DNA, and the film is regaled as a cautionary tale dipped in candy.
11. The Big Lebowski (1998)
‘The Big Lebowski’ didn’t seem like a movie that would draw a huge footfall in theatres, but it was surprising to see even critics shrugging clear of the film. Naturally, everyone was baffled by the outcome. Cut to the present time, it’s like a rite of passage that was ahead of its time, “Dude!”
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10. The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’ was a grotesque, nightmarish sci-fi offering that was released the same year Steven Spielberg introduced us to the cute alien in ‘E.T.’ Of course, the former movie tanked at the box office, receiving scorching reviews. But now, its scares, paranoia, and spine-chilling nihilism have made the movie a horror classic.
9. Citizen Kane (1941)
‘Citizen Kane’ is regarded as one of the best movies ever made and features on must-watch lists frequently, but when this Orson Welles debut first hit theatres, no one was impressed. It made little money and lost the Best Picture Oscar, too. Yet, the film’s political impact was undeniable, and looking back, we know it changed conventional storytelling on screen.
8. Donnie Darko (2001)
Perhaps timing was the biggest crime of ‘Donnie Darko.’ Released weeks after 9/11, this Jake Gyllenhaal gem never stood a chance due to its portrayal of plane crashes and omnipresent apocalyptic tone. Thankfully, the movie gradually found its tribe in lost youth, philosophers, and dreamers, who embraced the theme and saved the story from fading away.
7. Mulholland Drive (2001)
David Lynch’s daring, surreal mystery was a puzzle that people didn’t appreciate. Without the understanding, ‘Mulholland Drive‘ was deemed unmarketable. But, with a cult following building up over the years, cinema lovers realized its ingenuity as one of the best films of the 21st century. It still teases fans with its masterful ambiguity. If that’s not a modern classic, what is?
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6. Blade Runner (1982)
When Ridley Scott joined hands with Harrison Ford to make ‘Blade Runner,’ science fiction fans rejoiced. They expected an action-fuelled utopia, but what they got instead was poetry in motion. The film turned out to be quite bizarre and contemplative, and the ’80s audience wasn’t ready for it. But it set the groundwork for not just a franchise, but also provided the blueprint for newfangled concepts on screen.
5. Fight Club (1999)
‘Fight Club’ couldn’t land the box-office knockout. Adapted from Chuck Palahniuk’s 1996 book, the film was condemned for being too violent and too complex. So, the box office turned away from it. But its reckoning came in the form of DVD sales, catapulting Brad Pitt to superstardom.
4. It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)
Can you believe this all-time-favorite Christmas classic was a box office flop? Director Frank Capra was utterly disheartened, but after three decades, the film became a holiday staple, showing everyone that even one life was a miracle. Capra reflected on the film’s fate in 1984, saying, “I’m like a parent whose kid grows up to be president. I’m proud… but it’s the kid who did the work.” This ‘rising from the ashes’ story is for a lifetime!
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3. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Hope surely is a dangerous thing, but the payoff through perseverance can be life-changing. ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ showed us that, through its story and its legacy. Today, it sits at the top of IMDb’s best films list, but back in the ’90s, it was discarded as a prison drama with a clunky title. But cable TV, VHS, and word-of-mouth uplifted it from obscurity to ultimate glory.
2. Vertigo (1958)
Many believe ‘Vertigo‘ is Alfred Hitchcock’s best film. More than the twist of this thriller, what’s shocking is that no one liked the film upon release. Yeah, critics and viewers thought the Hitchcock mojo was gone. Today, it’s a masterpiece that has spawned many other works of art about obsession and madness, both on and off the screen.
1. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Who doesn’t know about ‘The Wizard of Oz’ or hasn’t been influenced by its magic? Well, even if you haven’t watched the 1939 classic, its significance as a cinematic and cultural revolution is set in stone. But the film’s torrid history isn’t just about the horrors endured by the cast and crew behind the scenes; it almost bankrupted MGM. Yet, it trickled onto achieving late triumph, becoming the most-seen Hollywood movie ever.
