Has a film ever done so poorly at the box office ... ?

[esc]

Speed Racer's far lower than expected box office take and the studio dropping a lot of the support for the film, judging by the complete lack of commercials on TV this last week got me wondering,

has a film ever one so poorly at the box office that a studio has totally dropped everything to do with it and not even given it a home video release?

I know, there is probably stuff from the 70's and 80's that has still not seen the like of even Beta or VHS, but what about now, in the days when a good home video launch can give a film new life and spawn a sequel or at least get a film to break even?

[Wirehed]

OH, make no mistake, there will be a huge DVD package when this comes out. They'll attempt to make up the losses with the DVD, which is typical. They can also claim they lost money on it at the same time.

[Pirate]

Poor Speed Racer.

[limacharliewhiskey]

Originally Posted by esc

Speed Racer's far lower than expected box office take and the studio dropping a lot of the support for the film, judging by the complete lack of commercials on TV this last week got me wondering,

has a film ever one so poorly at the box office that a studio has totally dropped everything to do with and not even given it a home video release?

I know, there is probably stuff from the 70's and 80's that has still not seen the like of even Beta or VHS, but what about now, in the days when a good home video launch can give a film new life and spawn a sequel or at least get a film to break even?

Well, the first Austin Powers movie was considered a failure at the box office, but it picked up a huge following on DVD, which resulted in 2 sequels being made.

There will assuredly be a DVD release, but the poor box office performance might mean a relatively barebones release instead of a loaded special edition version. Warner Bros. usually does the 1- and 2-disc versions, so it's possible that there could only be a 1-disc release. But Warner Bros. usually does a 1- and 2-disc for their big budget releases, even if there is a poor box office performance. I think Poseidon had a 2-disc version, and that bombed in theaters.

For most movies, DVD revenues usually at least equal the movie revenues, so even if it only makes $40 million total domestically, they will at least make another $40 million from DVD, and another $10-15 million from cable & broadcasting TV rights. There is also overseas revenues, which can sometimes double for action-oriented films.

Speed Racer did fail to become a blockbuster film, but it did still take in $20 million in the first weekend, which would still be considered a decent take for any other non-blockbuster film.

[raptors661]

Yep.

[Son of Nothing]

How about Inchon (1981)?

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by limacharliewhiskey

Well, the first Austin Powers movie was considered a failure at the box office, but it picked up a huge following on DVD, which resulted in 2 sequels being made.

Austin Powers cost less than $20 million to produce and grossed $55 million, so it wasn't anywhere near a "failure" on a cost-to-return ratio. Besides, no one at the time expected that film to spawn a franchise. It's only when a film that's expected to be a giant hit and potential sequel-spawner underperforms can it be considered a failure.

[Khan]

I'm far more curious why anyone would expect Speed Racer to be a blockbuster??

Because it had a massive budget???

Just me but I have pretty much zero interest in this despite some seemingly nifty effects.

[Iguana Man]

Pluto Nash anyone?

[WAID]

"Howard the Duck?"

[Maximum Jonah]

I know John Carpenter's "Ghosts of Mars" got a DVD release date from the studio on its opening Friday night...

[Monrozombi]

Originally Posted by Khan

I'm far more curious why anyone would expect Speed Racer to be a blockbuster??

Because it had a massive budget???

Just me but I have pretty much zero interest in this despite some seemingly nifty effects.

Because of the nostalgia factor

Cool SFX

Waschowski Bros. name attached to it

Those are the reasons people thought it would be a hit

[ganthc]

What about Cutthroat Island? That was a massive bust.

[jbat31]

From Justin to Kelly, nothing more to say

taken from a movie numbers site

Date Rank Gross % Change Theaters Per Theater Total Gross Days
6/20/2003 11 $2,715,848 2,001 $1,357 $2,715,848 3
6/27/2003 17 $625,469 -76.97% 1,969 $318 $4,584,577 10
7/4/2003 52 $23,745 -96.20% 185 $128 $4,877,351 17
7/11/2003 62 $12,676 -46.62% 29 $437 $4,908,956 24
7/18/2003 74 $5,573 -56.04% 21 $265 $4,922,166 31


did not copy and paste well, but this turkey only made a little more than 4 million and if i remember correctly, the dvd hit the stores in the summer it came out to help try to recoup losses

[jbat31]

Originally Posted by Monrozombi

Because of the nostalgia factor

Cool SFX

Waschowski Bros. name attached to it

Those are the reasons people thought it would be a hit

The visual style of this film reminds me of Batman and Robin. Way too cartoony, people just don't like that

I think the Waschowski Bros are overated. I loved the Matrix, but the follow ups blew chunks

[Pirate]

Originally Posted by jbat31

The visual style of this film reminds me of Batman and Robin. Way too cartoony, people just don't like that

It's based on a cartoon, though. Granted, it would've probably made more money if the Wachowskis had made a serious, fully-live action film. But that's not what they wanted to do.

[jbat31]

Originally Posted by Pirate

It's based on a cartoon, though. Granted, it would've probably made more money if the Wachowskis had made a serious, fully-live action film. But that's not what they wanted to do.

They should team up with Joel Shumacker. The moment i saw he put nipples on the batsuits, I knew the end was near

[Khan]

Well I guess I didn't get Speed Racer then because I thought it was not a good toon at all.

There's other Anime I would've much rather seen waaaaaaaaay before this.

Originally Posted by Monrozombi

Because of the nostalgia factor

Cool SFX

Waschowski Bros. name attached to it

Those are the reasons people thought it would be a hit

[iluvalex]

I remember something about Heaven's Gate and Ishtar were major flops

[limacharliewhiskey]

I was reading an article about the latest Indy Jones movie, and it mentioned some sequels that have flopped. They said one of the biggest flops ever was Basic Instinct 2, which had a production budget of $70 million, and the domestic gross was $6 million. It did do better worldwide, earning $40 million, but no mention if DVD sales were good enough to help the movie break even.

[DVDdetective]

"KEN PARK"(Larry Clark directed - also did "BULLY" and "KIDS") was shown at some US film festivals and then never got a US theatrical or home video release. I think it was released internationally, at least on DVD.

I've seen it and parts made it KIDS look tame. I saw it at a film festival with the producer present, the first question in the Q&A was "Is this really the final cut?" from some film school student.

DVDD

[chlngr1970]

Battlefield Earth

Nuff said

j

[billnye97]

Originally Posted by chlngr1970

Battlefield Earth

Nuff said

j

Isn't that part of the Scientology Bible or something?

[cherno]

Beyond Rangoon Still has never had a DVD release and was a pretty underrated but mostly ignored film. Not sure if its lack of release has to do with lack of interest, rights issues, subject matter or what but it still surprises me that it isn't out yet.