What makes a movie a box office hit? Extensive advertising, intriguing trailers? Star cast? Maybe the success of the film depends on the relevance of the plot? Judging by the films collected in today's selection, quality often does not matter much. Many film fans consider these works to be cult classics, and none of them made it to the box office. 
10. "The Big Lebowski", 1998 
It would seem that any film by the Coen brothers is doomed to success. Look at No Country for Old Men and Fargo. But one of the brothers’ funniest and most beloved films, “The Big Lebowski,” initially did not arouse much interest, even despite the star cast. The film about the misadventures of the Dude (Jeff Bridges), with a budget of $15 million, grossed only $18 million. And critics reacted to the comedy with restraint. Memorable dialogues, quirky humor and a ridiculous hero helped the film win the love of audiences upon its release.
9. "Treasure Planet", 2002 
Directors Ron Clements and John Musker, who gave us The Little Mermaid and Aladdin, have been proposing to create Treasure Planet since 1985, but were turned down three times by management. In the early 2000s, their idea was approved by the Disney studio. Unfortunately, the long-awaited cartoon grossed only $109.6 million against a budget of $140 million. It is difficult to say what is the reason for the failure. Probably, the film could not stand the competition with the film "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets".
8. "Scott Pilgrim vs. Everyone", 2010 
This pop culture hit about slacker musician Scott battling his girlfriend's exes didn't even come close to meeting financial expectations. With a budget of 60-80 million dollars, it did not gross even 50 million. Perhaps the unique comedic style of director Edgar Wright simply did not fit into the trailer. However, a decade later, the fantasy plot formed the basis of an anime series. And many of the film's actors, including Kieran Culkin, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Michael Cera, Brie Larson and Chris Evans, have had brilliant careers.
7. "Donnie Darko", 2001 
With its complex narrative, themes of politics, mental instability and wormholes, Donnie Darko has always been a film that's not for everyone. But unlike other films on this list, the reason for the failure of Richard Kelly's directorial debut is clear as day: the plot is centered on a plane crash, and the film was released in October 2001. A month after September 11th. Distributors simply did not invest money in advertising. Subsequently, viewers and critics appreciated the work.
6. "Deadly Attraction", 1989 
"Deadly Attraction" tells the story of outcast teenager Veronica (Winona Ryder), who finds herself in the most popular group at Westerberg High. She does not like the cruelty and bullying of her friends towards other students. Veronica meets Jason Dean, who suggests she end the company. It would seem like a great film about teenagers growing up. In fact, it's more of a dark parody of similar films. The cynical approach and original script brought Deadly Attraction many accolades and awards, but it grossed only £1.1 million against a budget of £3 million. Moreover, Winona Ryder's agent begged her not to accept the role.
5. "The Steel Giant", 1999 
Based on the 1968 book Iron Man by Ted Hughes, The Iron Giant tells the story of the friendship between a boy, Hogarth, and a giant alien robot that the US military wants to destroy. The film was directed by Brad Bird, best known for his work on the animated films Ratatouille and The Incredibles. The public liked the film, but at the box office it grossed only $31.3 million against a budget of $50 million. What went wrong? The cartoon deviated from the classic Disney model. Instead of musical numbers, princes and princesses, the war was shown. And Warner Bros did not want to invest a lot of money in advertising. Thanks to its release on DVD, the film achieved cult status.
5. "Fight Club", 1999 
Can you name the first two rules of "Fight Club"? I think with ease. This film is rightfully considered one of the best in modern cinema. However, it grossed only $37 million at the box office. It was all due to an unsuccessful marketing campaign: commercials were placed during breaks in matches. A 20th Century Fox executive told director David Fincher, "Men don't want to see Brad Pitt shirtless because they get a complex. And women don't want to see him bloody. So I don't know who you were making this movie for."
3. "How the coward Robert Ford killed Jesse James", 2007 
In 2007, Andrew Dominic directed a western based on the novel of the same name by Ron Hansen. The director initially conceived the film as a three-hour epic, but this was prevented by frequent edits on the part of the studio. After its release, the film received positive reviews from critics. Despite the star cast and awards, the film was a fiasco at the box office - only $15 million against a budget of $30 million.
2. "Blade Runner", 1982, and "Blade Runner 2049", 2017 
The original 1982 film reunited Ridley Scott and Harrison Ford, who had just starred in legendary sci-fi films (Alien and Star Wars, respectively). There was no doubt about success, but the slowness of Blade Runner, the influence of neo-noir and the dystopian setting did not appeal to audiences accustomed to laser battles and adventures. Like Blade Runner, Blade Runner 2049 failed miserably at the box office.
1. "Citizen Kane", 1941 
Citizen Kane marked the directorial debut of Orson Welles, for which he also wrote the screenplay and starred. Critics and film fans call it the best film of all time. The drama tells the life story of Charles Foster Kane, based on media mogul William Hearst. The film was a financial failure due to Hearst, who disagreed with the way it was portrayed. With the help of his media empire, he staged a real anti-advertising campaign. The film became profitable only a decade later after a series of re-releases.
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