This one may be the most surprising movie featured on this list, as it’s now arguably one of the greatest films in cinema history. But when “The Wizard of Oz” made its debut, it was far from the box office hit you’d expect it to be. Naturally, this was quite disappointing to MGM, as it was their most expensive production at the time.
It wasn’t until the movie’s re-release in 1949, 10 years after its initial release, that this musical fantasy film was widely received, and earned MGM an additional $1.5 million (which is around $16 million today). Later, in 1956, it aired on television and won over new viewers, becoming an instant sensation and an overall classic. This just goes to show you that the box office doesn’t always get it right, and sometimes, it’s all about having the right timing.
Estimated loss: $1.1 million
Bucky Larson: Born To Be A Star (2011)
One of the truly most awful comedy films ever made is, without a doubt, "Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star." The film was directed by Tom Brady, who is responsible for various films starring popular comedy actor, Rob Schneider. The film was released just two days before the annual 9/11 memorial day. It was viscerally hated by most critics and moviegoers.
It's described by many critics as one of the most boring, awkward, and humorless comedy films ever made. The film was co-produced by Adam Sandler, which is a huge stain on his resume. Its main "star" (if you could call him that) is Nick Swardson. The actor defended "Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star," claiming that he thinks journalists and film critics are just "negative morons" and attributed that as the reason the film received such low ratings and lost millions of dollars.
Estimated loss: $7.5 million
Mac and Me (1988)
1988's "Mac and Me" was just such a film, as it attempted to copy the success of 1982's masterpiece, "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," by director Steven Spielberg. The film was littered with product placements for McDonald's and Coca-Cola, which made it even worse than it already was.
"Mac and Me" was a box-office flop, and reportedly lost a few million dollars after being released. It's considered one of the worst films to ever have been made. The film actually won a few awards, including Worst Director and Worst New Star. It was actually so bad that it built a cult following over the years, which just goes to show that people will watch anything if it's bad enough.
Estimated loss: $6.6 million
Evan Almighty (2007)
Big on comedy legends, “short on laughs,” according to Rotten Tomatoes. Stunning special effects helped it register 23%. Those special effects, CGI in order to animate an ark-load of Noah’s species-protected beasts during the flood made it the most expensive movie at the time it was produced.
Evan (Steve Carell) who is a newly elected congressman of fictional town Prestige Crest, chills with God (Morgan Freeman) hoping the Almighty will answer the congressman’s prayers. He just won an election on a campaign promise to save the world and now the difficulties are piling up. The official production budget was $175 million. However, according to rumor, it likely looked more like $210 million. The box office grossed at $173.4.
Estimated loss: $104 million
Battleship (2012)
Universal strangely agreed to produce a movie based on the childhood-favorite Hasbro board game — Battleship. The songstress Rihanna, who made her acting debut in the film, was the most familiar face featured, but she alone wasn't enough to attract moviegoers.
As if "Battleship" hadn't received enough negative criticism, the film about an alien invasion that was halted by the U.S. Navy was called one of the worst Naval war films ever. Fans and Men in Uniform alike, felt as though the film made a mockery of how the military really functions. Ultimately, the film was a bit too "dumbed down" to appeal to the adult audience it desperately needed to help fill theater seats. Perhaps this will make screenplay producers hesitate when the next screenplay-writer comes to them with a "brilliant" idea of a movie based on Monopoly.