Despite being stock full of bloody good laughs, some horror comedies just didn't land right with moviegoers when they are released. Even when critics are impressed by a dark and sardonic comedy, audiences may not pay them much attention at the theatres. Fortunately, subsequent releases on VHS, DVD, and streaming services keep the best horror-comedy box office flops from falling into obscurity.
Now, many of these films maintain huge cult followings replete with legions of fans who don't understand why they never big hits. Maybe it's because it was the off-season in theatres. Maybe it's because these titles lost out to blockbusters with better marketing. Or maybe it's because these funny fright films were just ahead of their time.
The Monster Squad (1987)
This '80s picture revives all the classic Universal Monsters, pitching them against a group of kids who want to thwart the fiends in their attempt to take over the world. Count Dracula teams up with the Wolf Man, Gill-man, and the Mummy in what's now considered one of the best horror-comedies of all time.
When The Monster Squad was released, though, its theatrical run was lackluster to save the least. It only earned $3.8 million against its $12 million budget.
Feast (2005)
Feast is the subject of Project Greenlight's third season - a televised contest for burgeoning filmmakers trying to make their first features. Directed by John Gulager, Feast is a gory, hilarious comedy that follows a group of bar patrons under attack from a group of hideous monsters.
Even though critics praised the acting and humor, Feast did nothing to wow audiences at movie theatres. It earned less than $1 million worldwide after being produced for over $3 million.
Parents (1989)
Parents is an underrated gem directed by comedic actor Bob Balaban. Set in 1958, It stars Randy Quaid and Mary Beth Hurt as a suburban couple with a dark secret: they are cannibals - and it's time for their son Michael to follow suit.
Unfortunately, this unique feature failed to produce any commercial success. It made back just a third of its $3 million budget.
Braindead (1992)
Before Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson started his directing career making a series of splattery, gory horror-comedies. Known as Dead Alive in the United States, Braindead is an extremely violent romp about an infectious disease that transforms people into deformed, murderous zombies.
When a heavily edited version of Braindead made it to America in 1993, it was not sought after by moviegoers despite its rave reviews from horror movie critics. It only earned about $250,000 in US theatres - a pittance compared to its $3 budget.
Assassination Nation (2017)
Before he stirred up controversy with the HBO series Euphoria, Sam Levinson released the dark satire Assassination Nation. It centers around a group of high school students who band together after their town erupts into chaos due to private details released by an anonymous hacker.
Socially aware commentary combines with exploitation vibes to produce one quirky horror film. While critics dig Assassination Nation's style, it earned less than half of its $7 million budget back at the box office.
John Dies At The End (2012)
This fantastical cross-genre never received a wide distribution, making it impossible for director Don Coscarelli to surpass his $1 million budget. John Dies at the End tells the story of two college students who try to save the world from an interdimensional street drug with heinous side effects.
Based on David Wong's novel of the same name, the movie stars Chase Williamson and Rob Mayes. Over-the-top and edgy, John Dies at the End's narrative style matches the convulsive nature of drug-induced hysteria.
Slither (2006)
A small town in South Carolina is invaded by a horrid alien parasite in James Gunn's Slither. This homage to gross-out B-movies stars Elizabeth Banks, Michael Rooker, and Nathan Fillion.
Critics loved it, but Slither proved to be too intense for moviegoers who were confused by its unique blend of laughs and gasps. The film made $12.8 million against its $15 million budget.
Serial Mom (1994)
Cult director John Waters rarely breaks into the mainstream with his features, and a prime example of a Waters movie that never received the theatrical run it deserved is Serial Mom. Set in suburban Baltimore, Serial Mom stars Kathleen Turner as the titular character - a stay-at-home mother of two who is secretly a serial killer.
Critics praised Turner's top-notch performance for its campy believability. That being said, it bombed at the box office and only received $7 million of its $13 million budget.
Behind the Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon (2007)
As with John Dies at the End, Behind the Mask failed to obtain a large enough distribution to recoup its production budget. This homage to the slasher movie is a meta-horror experience that dissects all of the tropes that make this subgenre so memorable.
Framed as a mockumentary, Behind the Mask sees a film crew documenting the trials and tribulations of a budding serial killer working on his legacy. Made for a mere $250,000, this gem only gained about $70,000 in theatres.
Heathers (1989)
“Chaos is what killed the dinosaurs, darling.” Heathers is a macabre teen comedy about two high school students who engage in a murderous rampage targeting popular students. Winona Ryder and Christan Slater play the '80s Bonnie and Clyde here, and their characters reside in suburban Ohio.
Now known as a cult classic, Heathers did not receive a warm reception when it debuted. In fact, it only made a third of its $3 million budget during its box office run.