Flop movies that you love

David Lynch’s Dune

What about his "1941," OP? Spielberg has a strong attraction to WW2.

Slither owns this thread.

The Star with Bette Davis

Clue

They Might Be Giants

"She Devil," Meryl was hilarious. "The Long Kiss Goodnight" - It has some of the best action sequences ever.

It was a major flop, but Valentine (2001) is one of my favorite slasher movies.

Howard the Duck

SHOWGIRLS

I remember all the hoopla and how anticipated this movie was. From the creators of BASIC INSTINCNT, which had been one of the biggest grossers of 1992 and made Sharon Stone a bonafide movie star. People were expecting the same for SHOWGIRLS and Elizabeth Berkley. It was supposed to push the enveloped even further than BI when it came to sex/nudity. But then the movie came out and the rest is history. It opened in the fall (as opposed to March like BI), no doubt in anticipation of some Oscar lovin', but by Christmas the movie had become a total joke. It's weird to think how hyped up the film was for most of the year and then it became a laughingstock pretty fast. Nevertheless, I rather enjoy it. It never fails to entertain me.

Furthermore, I have a soft spot for the version that aired on VH1, complete with cartoon bras! LOL

John Carter. Decent SciFi adventure story that suffered from lousy marketing and sloppy writing. The scene where a shirtless Taylor Kirsch shows off his ripped body and hairy pits is worth a view.

The 1973 musical version of Lost Horizon. Horrific, but I loved every minute of it.

What genius would ever cast Peter Finch, Liv Ullmann, Sally Kellerman, Bobby Van, George Kennedy, Olivia Hussey, and Michael York together? And in a musical no less?

Let It Ride - Stars Richard Dreyfus with a cast of great supporting actors. Budget $18 million, box office $4.9 million.

Robert Altman's "A Perfect Couple" from 1979. I'm not sure if it was a flop but it's rarely mentioned today. It's got everything. Funny Comedy, Drama, Good Music, Positive Representation of both Gays & Lesbians, etc. I even had the soundtrack on vinyl at one time.

'Showgirls' was only a theatrical flop.

It was a smash hit on video rental and is a cult classic.

I am icing my nipples as I type this.

I loved the Pagemaster when I was a kid, surprised to find out it was considered a flop.

Grease 2

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

The Nice Guys (Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe)

The Man From U.N.C.L.E ( Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer).

I haven't done the research to know it's commercial performance upon it's release but I love 1987's "Maid To Order" starring Ally Sheedy (with a horrible mullet), & Beverly D'Angelo. It's not the greatest movie but it's a fun 1980s time capsule.

An interesting sidenote, singer Merry Clayton (the voice behind The Rolling Stones' 'Gimmie Shelter') plays a successful R&B vocalist who becomes washed up and ends up working as a maid. That plotline actually mirrors what really happened to singer Darlene Love. She worked as a maid in the Late 70s/Early 80s when session/background singing work dried up. Miss Love's career was seeing a resurgence in the late 80s, around the time this film was made. I wonder if she was approached to appear in this film or was aware that Merry Clayton's character seems to be based on her life?

John Carter.

Despite the fact that I am just now realizing the film is only titled "John Carter" and not "John Carter of Mars", here's another vote for "John Carter". It's an epic film and I think Taylor Kitsch was wrongly pilloried for its failure.

Was “That Thing You Do” a flop? If so, then definitely that one. If not, then definitely “For the Boys.”

R13, I saw that plus Liv Ullman on Broadway in Richard Rodgers' last musical, a version of I Remember Mama. It flopped but I never miss a Liv Ullman musical. BTW, that Lost Horizon was written by Larry Kramer. Yes, our Larry Kramer.

Cats

Travels with my Aunt, starring Maggie Smith. 1972, based on a Graham Greene novel and directed by George Cukor. It's a very flawed film but when it's good, which is often, it's fabulous.

"You must learn to surrender yourself to extravagance, Henry. Poverty is apt to strike suddenly, like influenza."

Lucy's Mame, if only for the main song/dance routine.

"Return To Oz" (1985). $11 million return, on a $28 million budget.

Xanadu duh

I also loved Return to Oz.

Both BLADE RUNNER and BLADE RUNNER 2049.

I think Heaven's Gate is a genuine masterpiece

A lot of great dark comedies I love seem to have been flops like Heathers, Drop Dead Gorgeous, and Serial Mom. At least they've become big cult favorites since their releases.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

House of Games

Dick

R23 I know! Incredible, isn't it?

R32 Were "Heathers" and " Serial Mom" flops? I thought they did pretty well.

Can't Stop The Music.

The most WTF moment in the film is a group of young boys dressed up as the Village People for a milk commercial. Yes. Milk.

Brian De Palma's Femme fatale--very underrated.

R1, I was actually impressed by how NOT bad Dune was. It could have been an ammzzing movie but it's just a problem of trying to stuff too much into one movie.

R33 Dick is an overlooked treasure. That movie had me laughing non-stop.

This

Bad Santa with Zac and Robert De Niro. I thought it was hilarious, especially Aubrey Plaza.

Waterworld. I loved it,and watch it once a year. I also like Heavens Gate. It was a hell of a lot better than that Out Of Africa pile of shit.

Yet another vote for Dune. I don’t care what anyone (including Lynch) says, I love it. It has more genuine originality, weirdness and flavor than any sci-fi epic I can think of it. A genuine, if genuinely flawed, work of art.

R43, that's how I view it as well. It's not great but it stays with you.

Bonfire of the Vanities

Melanie Griffith’s magical massive tits halfway through (she got implants while filming) isn’t even the campest thing about this overblown DePalma travesty. I LOVE it.

[quote]Travels with my Aunt, starring Maggie Smith. 1972, based on a Graham Greene novel and directed by George Cukor. It's a very flawed film but when it's good, which is often, it's fabulous.

I watched "Travels With My Aunt" on TCM last week. I was always curious about it but had never seen it. Definitely flawed, but it does have some wonderful moments.

"Somewhere in Time," with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour.

The ultimate "flop movie" I love is 1938's "Bringing Up Baby" with Katherine Hepburn & Cary Grant. I've seen it 100 times and can watch it 100 or more times. Fucking BRILLIANT from beginning to end!

And somehow THIS slapstick masterpiece of all things is the straw that broke the back of Kate's career and got her labeled "Box Office Poison". I don't get it!

Katharine Hepburn was fired from Travels with My Aunt and presumably Maggie Smith who replaced her was too young for the character so they gave her this terrible aged makeup which makes the film unwatchable.

Another vote for Let It Ride. Just wonderful. So while I’m here, add Heaven Help Us (aka Catholic Boys). Great, great movie about 60s teenage angst.

Neon Demon

[quote]Katharine Hepburn was fired from Travels with My Aunt and presumably Maggie Smith who replaced her was too young for the character so they gave her this terrible aged makeup which makes the film unwatchable.

Weirdly, the movie also features flashback sequences with Maggie Smith's character, in which she isn't wearing old-age makeup and looks too old for the part.

The Stunt Man and Creator - both with Peter O'Toole

A modern Texas cheerleader version of "All About Eve" called "Slap Her, She's French" was slated to be released on Friday September 14th 2001, but yanked after 9-11. It is directed by Melanie Mayron and features an excellent lead performance by Piper Perabo.

It was retitled "She Gets What She Wants" and edited to be premiered on ABC Family Channel of all places. It is nicely done and very funny! I think you can watch it free on IMDb.

Nine (2009)

Francis Ford Coppola's One From the Heart. Not much in the story/script department, but it's beautiful to watch along with it's awesome Tom Waits/Crystal Gayle soundtrack.

"The Tourist" with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. The movie is okay and better than the critics would have you believe. But it will always be considered a flop because it did so poorly in theaters. Jolie is stunning throughout the movie.

[quote]The ultimate "flop movie" I love is 1938's "Bringing Up Baby" with Katherine Hepburn & Cary Grant. I've seen it 100 times and can watch it 100 or more times. Fucking BRILLIANT from beginning to end!

It may have, in its day, led to Kate being labeled "box office poison," but its long been considered an indisputable classic and one of the finest examples of screwball comedy. You often hear people talk about how "The Wizard of Oz" was a flop in 1939. In fact, it barely broke even, given its high production costs, and it didn't turn a profit until its 1949 re-release. But it can hardly be dismissed as a flop movie.

Xanadu with Gene Kelly and Olivia Newton-John, and an ELO soundtrack.

The Money Pit, with Tom Hanks and Shelley Long. Brilliant.

Travels with my Aunt begins when Smith's character, Aunt Augusta, is in her 70s or 80s. Over the course of the film, she tells her nephew the story of her life and her stories are shown as flashbacks. The first flashback portrays her as a young schoolgirl. This aspect of the film was always going to be a problem, no matter who played the part or whatever solution they tried.

John Carter and Battleship were a turning point for movies as they both flopped in the shadow of the Avengers, other than the occasional film, most blockbusters since 2012 have been superhero or comic based.

HOCUS POCUS

I watched it in theaters, then got it on VHS as a Christmas present. Loved it from the start, but whose bright idea was to release a Halloween movie in the middle of July? Of course, it also didn't help that it was released on the same day as FREE WILLY, which targeted the same demographics and was a huge hit.

[quote]Loved it from the start, but whose bright idea was to release a Halloween movie in the middle of July?

20th Century Fox had the brilliant idea to release "Miracle on 34th Street" on May 2, 1947, a date when Christmas is the furthest thing from anyone's mind. It still managed to become a holiday classic, somehow.

[quote]The Money Pit, with Tom Hanks and Shelley Long. Brilliant.

Ohmygawd, it's hilarious! Although I was dragged to it I laughed all the way through. It's really Shelly Long's movie.

"So I Married an Ax Murderer" is alo much better than they gave credit for at the time.

Steven Spielberg’s Always is the film that made me stop watching Steven Spielberg films.

Travels with my Aunt has several scenes that go on overlong and others where the direction and writing seem misguided. It's sometimes off putting.

But some posters don't seem to get that much of the story is told as a series of flashbacks with Maggie Smith shown at different ages. She carries that off with aplomb, in some sequences better than others, but I can't imagine anyone else who could have pulled all that together better than her.

Lots of ups and downs but when it's good, it's great.

I'm watching the [italic]Lost Horizon[/italic] musical on Tubi now. Loving Sally Kellerman's period pre-WWII attire of bell bottoms, granny dresses, and center-parted Marcia Brady hair.

Another vote for Dick.

The Chronicles of Riddick.

Vin Diesel looks so hot with shaved armpits.

Diabolique with Stone, Adjani and Bates. I found it fun.

[quote] Bad Santa with Zac and Robert De Niro.

I believe you meant Bad Grandpa. Bad Santa is the movie franchise with Billy Bob Thornton.

"Jupiter Ascending". I love this glorious mess of a movie.

"John Carter" was amazing, and should have been the start of a long franchise. It still pisses me off that it flopped. Totally unfair and undeserved.

^For some reason the studio went out of its way to bury this movie, including by titling it John Carter, rather than John Carter of Mars. If anyone here knows the inside story, I’d love to hear it, because it’s a good film and deserved better

Under The Silver Lake

JINXED! (1982)

Bette Midler, Ken Wahl (who infamously hated each other). The critics and behind-the-scenes rumors basically tanked it before it even entered theaters.

Fun "black-cat" comedy (as the trailer says) with some fantastic belly-laugh moments.

The Stuntman with Peter O'Toole, Barbara Hershey and Steve Railsback

R75: There's this

I thought John Carter was a great popcorn flick. Shame on Disney for letting it bomb.

Why are we even discussing anything else?

I mean, really

De Palma's Wise Guys, Femme Fatale & most especially Obsession

Spielberg's 1941 understandably gives most people a headache, but it's one of those bad movies I find fun to watch - and I'm talking about the longer (by a half hour) version

I saw At Long Last Love in NY a couple of years ago, and I found it to be totally charming. I believe it topped many critics' Worst Movie of the Year list when it came out in the 1970s.

Final Portrait (with Armie Hammer)

Exorcist II: The Heretic - don't ask me to explain why; I just do

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

With Peter Frampton and the BeeGees massacring Beatles songs.

I can’t defend it at all. It is a horrible piece of shit. Terribly conceived, designed, directed, and edited.

The only redeeming factor is Aerosmith covering “Come Together”. Unfortunately it is sung amid neon dollar signs and Boy Scout flag squad dancers.

I've always believed in Free Willy. So many good picks in this thread. I have a liking for Basic Instinct 2. It's David Morrissey that does it for me. Plus the design and cinematography are delicious.

Agree with r65 So, I Married An Axe Murderer is ridiculous but great fun. Featuring Charles Grodin in a typically droll cameo.

[quote]"John Carter" was amazing, and should have been the start of a long franchise. It still pisses me off that it flopped. Totally unfair and undeserved.

Agreed. I hoped that it would find an audience later, but it has faded away.

Other flops I've loved Guy Ritchie's "The Man From U.N.C.L.E", Edgar Wright's "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World", "Knight & Day" starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz.

The Tom Cruise led "The Mummy" was awful, but I could see where they were going with it to set up the Dark Universe and those elements really worked.

How bad is out of Africa?

Sheena starring Tanya Roberts.

R30 Another vote for both Bladerunner films, also loved them and rewatch once a year.

Oscar and Lucinda

My absolute favorite Spielberg film.

AI wasn't really a flop though, didn't it do well at the box office? It was very divisive though.

Relatively speaking. A. I. did 78 million in the US which was extremely underwhelming for a Spielberg sci-fi summer film.

I also like Spielberg’s The Terminal which was considered a box office and critical dud.

R83, I clicked on the thread to add Spielberg's 1941but you beat me to it.

A 1984 Debra Winger vehicle called Mike's Murder.

R91 I have seen most of Spielberg's movies, and I'm in agreement. I watched it again recently just to make certain. Beautifully haunting, even now.

OP, there are movie duds, and then there's....Always. The movie critic in the LA Times said it should have been called "Forever," because that's how long it lasts.

In my opinion, "The Invention Of Lying" is a near masterpiece.

Strangers With Candy (movie). I thought it was funny.

Grandma's Boy.

Kids in the hall Brain Candy is absolutely hilarious yet no one seems to remember it.

I did extra work on it r101 back in 1995 here in Toronto. It was a lot of fun. I think it's pretty funny.

XANADU

Mostly because of the music, though (and Matt Lattanzi...)

[quote]Edgar Wright's "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World"

This is LITERALLY my favorite movie ever. I've seen it at least 50 times. It's a work of art, every frame a masterpiece, ever transition brilliant, every line quotable, great characters, great story. I have the sound track and the movie on my phone, so it's always with me. LOVE the music.

This movie is criminally under-appreciated.

R78, The Stunt Man was a sleeper hit and was Oscar-nominated.

Always was so terrible I thought they should’ve played in Spielberg’s divorce proceedings in defence of Amy Irving.

I absolutely love "Jupiter Ascending", and it was a royal flop, and totally trashed by reviews, and has a seriously rotten RottenTomatoes score.

I don't get it. It's such a fun, visually stunning movie. Imaginative and original.

R105 It’s an amazing movie. It still holds up.

Masters of the universe and Burglar starring whoppie Goldberg.

Clara’s Heart starring Whoppie Goldberg and Neil Patrick Harris

R104 puddles so much MARY! pee in her insipid ("LITERALLY" "criminally under-appreciated") post that one wonders how she has avoided slipping in it and cracking her little head on the nuthouse floor.

The movie defended so unnecessarily is, of course, broadly recognized by critics and fans as a clever, worth-seeing film of considerable likability and viewing pleasure.

Waterworld.

Crazy Stupid Love.

R111, dumbass, it was also a box-office bomb.

Dick.

Hilarious, charming, goofy.