© NL Beeld

'Battlefield Earth' (2000) -

Starring John Travolta, ‘Battlefield Earth’ (2000) is a sci-fi catastrophe deemed a "self-indulgent love letter to Scientology." Travolta personally contributed US$5 million from his own funds, out of the US$73 million budget.

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'Battlefield Earth' (2000) -

The movie was widely criticized and even received a Razzie award for its poor quality. It is known for its misplaced humor that fails to entertain. Franchise Pictures, the studio behind the film, faced legal issues for defrauding the film's investors, which ultimately led to their bankruptcy.

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‘It's a Wonderful Life’ (1946) -

‘It's a Wonderful Life’ (1946) remains one of the most cherished Christmas films, adored even 70 years after its debut. Additionally, it received five Academy Award nominations in 1947. However, upon its release in December 1946, it struggled to make a profit.

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‘It's a Wonderful Life’ (1946) -

The movie tells the tale of a man contemplating suicide who is presented with a parallel world without his presence. It is possible that audiences overlooked this movie, unaware of its ultimately heartwarming and beloved Christmas storyline. Liberty Films, a young studio, suffered greatly when the film failed to succeed financially. Consequently, they were compelled to accept an acquisition proposal made by Paramount Pictures.

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'Bangkok Dangerous' (2008) -

The movie 'Bangkok Dangerous' starring Nicolas Cage was able to reach the top position in the US box office in 2008, but quickly declined in popularity.

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‘Bangkok Dangerous’ (2008) -

The movie's global earnings amounted to only US$47 million, falling short of covering its budget. Consequently, Virtual Studios, the movie's co-production company, had to close down.

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‘Life Of Pi’ (2012) -

‘Life Of Pi’ (2012) was a visually impressive film that received recognition at the Oscars, winning in categories such as Best Director, Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score. Despite its success, Rhythm & Hues Studios faced financial difficulties.

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'Life of Pi' (2012) -

Following the completion of the film, the company unfortunately had to let go of 254 employees and declare bankruptcy. Despite the film's great success, the studio was unable to capitalize on its profits in time.

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‘Mars Needs Moms’ (2011) -

Released in 2011, 'Mars Needs Moms' was a costly performance-capture animated film, amassing a staggering budget of US$150 million, yet failing to recoup even a third of its expenses.

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‘Mars Needs Moms’ (2011) -

Disney co-produced the movie, resulting in their biggest financial loss to date. Additionally, it caused producer Robert Zemeckis’s digital production company to fail, leading to its closure after only two releases. Clearly, this outcome was far from what Zemeckis had anticipated.

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‘Heaven's Gate’ (1980) -

The film 'Heaven's Gate' (1980) was intended to be director Michael Cimino's masterpiece, but instead, it became a comedic failure in the film industry. Renowned film critic Roger Ebert labeled it “the most scandalous cinematic waste I’ve ever seen.”

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‘Heaven's Gate’ (1980) -

Production company United Artists had multiple blockbuster hits in the works at the same time, such as ‘Raging Bull’ (1980) and ‘Apocalypse Now’ (1980), but ‘Heaven’s Gate’ (1980) still managed to sink them. They were forced to sell to MGM.

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‘The Golden Compass’ (2007) -

New Line Cinema likely believed they had acquired a franchise with 'Harry Potter' potential when they obtained the rights to the 2007 film 'The Golden Compass.' This film was based on the first book of Philip Pullman's beloved 'His Dark Materials' trilogy.

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‘The Golden Compass’ (2007) -

Regrettably, it wasn't meant to be. The film, with a budget of US$180 million, managed to collect US$372 million, which seems quite impressive. However, in order to secure financing, New Line Cinema had relinquished the international rights. Consequently, they only gained US$70 million and faced dire financial consequences. In order to survive, they had no choice but to merge with Warner Bros. Pictures.

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‘Looney Tunes: Back in Action’ (2003) -

‘Space Jam’ (1996) achieved great success by successfully combining beloved animated characters with live-action stars. However, ‘Looney Tunes: Back in Action’ (2003) did not achieve the same level of success. Starring Brendan Fraser and Jenna Elfman, the film had an US$80 million budget but only grossed US$68.5 million at the box office. Unfortunately, this movie marked the end of Warner Bros. Feature Animation as Warner Bros. was forced to shut down the company.

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‘Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within’ (2001) -

The movie 'Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within' released in 2001 faithfully adapted the beloved video game. It involved a dedicated team of 200 individuals who worked diligently for four years, resulting in a commendable box office earning of US$85.1 million.

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‘Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within’ (2001) -

Unfortunately, the budget was a staggering US$137 million, largely due to the photorealistic animation, and vastly exceeded the earnings. Consequently, Square Pictures, the production company, incurred such substantial losses that it had to shut down the same year.

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'Cutthroat Island' (1995) -

Released in 1995, this pirate-themed drama featuring Geena Davis received harsh criticism from reviewers. The production was tumultuous, as lead actor Michael Douglas withdrew, Geena Davis tried to terminate her contract, and one producer resigned. The movie's fate as a failure seemed inevitable from the very beginning.

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‘Cutthroat Island’ (1995) -

The film had an extensive budget of US$98 million, yet it only managed to generate a meager US$10 million in box office revenue. Carolco Pictures, the production company, faced financial hardship in that year and ultimately had to sell their assets to 20th Century Fox.

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'One from the Heart' (1981) -

Francis Ford Coppola, the director renowned for 'The Godfather,' surprised audiences with 'One from the Heart' (1981). This whimsical romantic comedy set in Las Vegas did not attract the same following as his previous endeavors.

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'One from the Heart' (1981) -

Coppola utilized a significant portion of his US$27 million budget to incorporate innovative visual methods and replicate the Las Vegas airport. However, the film only generated a meager US$638,000 in box office revenue, leading to substantial financial losses for Coppola's production company. Ultimately, the company declared bankruptcy in 1992.

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'Raise the Titanic' (1980) -

The film 'Raise the Titanic,' released in 1980, was a massive undertaking. With a budget of US$40 million, the majority of funds were allocated to meticulously recreating the famous ship.

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‘Raise the Titanic’ (1980) -

Regrettably, the Cold War saga failed to captivate the public, resulting in a meager US$7 million in box office earnings. This setback plunged the studio ITC Entertainment into crisis, compelling them to sell their distribution arm in an effort to avoid complete bankruptcy.

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‘Superman IV: The Quest for Peace’ (1987) -

'Superman IV: The Quest for Peace' (1987) is often regarded as the worst superhero film ever made. The special effects are notably poor, especially considering its release in 1987. The villain was simply called "Nuclear Man.

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'Superman IV: The Quest for Peace' (1987) -

Lead actor Christopher Reeves was informed by Cannon Films that they had a budget of US$37 million, although in reality they had less than half of that amount. Consequently, the film failed and the company faced severe debt and eventual bankruptcy. In 1988, they were acquired by Pathé.

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‘The Fall of the Roman Empire' (1964) -

'The Fall of the Roman Empire' (1964) starring Sophia Loren, was a historical epic that was comparable to 'Cleopatra.' Samuel Bronston Productions invested a significant amount of money in constructing a set that replicated the Roman Forum, which was the largest outdoor set ever made at that time.

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‘The Fall of the Roman Empire' (1964) -

Only a quarter of the US$19 million budget was recovered at the box office, and Samuel Bronston Productions filed for bankruptcy within three months.

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‘Titan A.E.’ (2000) -

Released in 2000, 'Titan A.E.' is an animated sci-fi film set in a post-apocalyptic world. The star-studded voice cast includes Drew Barrymore and Matt Damon. Unfortunately, this movie marked the final production of Fox Animations, as it failed to recoup even a quarter of its US$37 million budget at the box office. As a result, the parent company 20th Century Fox made the decision to discontinue Fox Animation. 

Sources: (Mental Floss) (Screen Rant)

See also: Highest-grossing film industries in the world

© NL Beeld