Box-office bomb facts for kids
A box-office bomb is a movie that doesn't make enough money to cover its costs. It's also called a box-office flop or failure. This means the movie didn't earn back what it cost to make, advertise, and show in theaters. The term is often used for big studio movies that everyone expected to be a hit but ended up losing money.
Contents
Why Movies Bomb
Movies can fail for many reasons. Sometimes, it's about what people say. Other times, outside events play a role. High costs can also make a movie a bomb.
What People Say
Today, social media like Facebook and Twitter help news spread fast. This includes what people think about new movies. If many people say a movie is bad, others might not go see it. This can really hurt how well a movie does, especially when it first comes out. Good buzz can help a movie. Bad buzz can make it a bomb.
Outside Events
Sometimes, a movie doesn't do well because of things not related to the film itself. For example, when a movie is released can matter. The film Intolerance came out in 1916. At that time, many people in the United States were starting to support joining World War I. But the movie showed anti-war feelings. This might have made it less popular.
Another example is the 2015 movie United Passions about FIFA. It came out when FIFA leaders were being investigated for fraud. This bad news likely hurt the movie's success. It only made $918 in the US on its first weekend.
Big events like the September 11 attacks in 2001 or the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2020s can also stop people from going to theaters. This can cause movies to underperform.
High Costs
Making movies is very expensive. A film's budget includes making the movie, advertising it, and sending it to theaters. Not all the money a movie makes in theaters goes back to the studio. Theaters and distributors keep some of it. Studios usually get about half of the money earned.
A huge budget can make a movie a bomb even if it earns a lot. The 1980 film Heaven's Gate cost $44 million to make. But it only earned $3.5 million in theaters. This was a big loss.
The movie Sahara (2005) had costs of over $281 million. It earned $119 million in theaters. Even with other earnings, it lost about $78 million. In 2012, Disney lost $200 million on John Carter. The movie made $234 million worldwide. But this wasn't enough to cover its $250 million budget plus advertising.
The Golden Compass (2007) cost $200 million to make. To pay for it, the studio, New Line Cinema, sold the rights to show the movie in other countries. The movie didn't do well in the US. But it was a big hit internationally. However, New Line Cinema didn't get money from those international earnings. This was a major reason why New Line Cinema later became part of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Movies Can Recover
Some movies that are first called "flops" can make money later. A movie might not do well in its home country but succeed in other countries. Movies can also earn money from being shown on TV or sold on home media like DVDs.
The 1995 movie Waterworld was very expensive to make. It had many problems during filming. It did okay in the US. But it didn't make a profit at first. People called it a box-office flop. However, money from international sales and video sales helped it eventually make a profit.
Other movies become popular much later. They might become cult films or be seen as great movies over time. Examples include Vertigo, Blade Runner, and The Wizard of Oz. These movies first lost money. But they are now very famous and loved.
Studio Problems
Sometimes, a movie's failure can cause big problems for the studio that made it. In extreme cases, a bomb can even cause a studio to go out of business.
For example, Heaven's Gate caused major issues for United Artists. Cutthroat Island led to problems for Carolco Pictures. As mentioned, The Golden Compass did not do well in North America. This was a big reason why Warner Bros. took control of New Line Cinema.
In 2001, Square Pictures made its only movie, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. It cost $145 million but didn't make enough money back. After this, Square Pictures stopped making movies. It is now part of Square Enix.
In 2011, Mars Needs Moms was the last movie from ImageMovers Digital. Disney, which had a share in the company, lost almost $140 million on the film. This was one of the biggest box-office bombs ever. Even so, the decision to close the company had been made before the movie came out.
Independent Films
Independent films are made outside of big studios. They often have much smaller budgets and releases. The 2006 independent movie Zyzzyx Road made only $30 in the US box office. This was because it was shown for just six days in one theater. This was done to meet certain rules, not because no one wanted to see it. According to one of the actors, only six tickets were sold. Two of those were to cast members!
The 2000 British film Offending Angels earned less than £100 (about $150). It had a budget of £70,000 (about $105,000). Critics called it "truly awful." In 2011, The Worst Movie Ever! opened to just $11 in the US. It also played in only one theater.
See also
In Spanish: Fracaso de taquilla para niños
- List of biggest box-office bombs
- List of highest-grossing films
- List of films considered the worst
- List of films considered the best
