Here's the thing about movies — they can be spectacular and generate a lot of revenue, or they can be terrible and be relegated to the box-office trash can. But there are also films that are so brilliant that they seem almost magical, even if they never managed to sell enough tickets during their theatrical runs.
Some of these films have cult followings, never really reaching the mass market, but many of them only received the recognition they deserve long after they fell out of popular consciousness. Whatever the reason might be, it would be a great folly to disregard the works of art in this list simply because of their financial failings.
Children Of Men (2006)
Although Children of Men is categorized as a sci-fi dystopia, it's more a story of human excess and the destruction that results from our unsustainable practices. The world population has been dropping for several years, spurred on by a universal form of infertility that prevents anyone from having children. In response, the British governments have moved towards totalitarianism, re-establishing concentration camps for non-citizens and "illegal" immigrants.
Disillusioned freedom fighter Theo finds purpose again in this dying world when for, some inexplicable reason, a woman becomes pregnant. He must guide Kee and her unborn child out of Britain if the world is to have any hope. Children of Men made $70 million against a budget of $76 million, but the critical praise it has received more than makes up for any loss.
It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
As Christmas films go, Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life is generally praised as one of the best ever made — the gentle discussion between Man and Guardian Angel helps people see that a life does not belong to one person, but rather helps bolster others.
Sadly, moviegoers at the time did not appreciate the message for whatever reason, as the film barely broke even upon release, receiving a meager profit of $120,000. The fact that this very Christmas movie was released when the holiday season was almost over probably helped tank It's a Wonderful Life's numbers, though constant reruns on TV and a widely successful video release helped redeem it.
Brazil (1985)
Terry Gilliam may have started his career with Monty Python's Flying Circus, but many of his films have become classics in their own right. Interestingly, most of his work takes on dark themes, especially Brazil: a partial ode to Nineteen Eighty-Four that considers society from a techno-dystopian perspective.
Although today it is largely accepted to be a British cinematic treasure, it nevertheless obtained lukewarm reception from audiences, generating a pittance at box-office. This might have been because of the super-complicated narrative structure, to be honest, which has a tendency of alienating most viewers.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)
Nerd culture is probably responsible for the iconicity that is Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, but the movie was a massive flop in theaters, losing almost $40 million in comparison with production and marketing costs.
The eponymous hero is an awkward musician who falls for a woman almost exactly like him; both of them have romantic partners unwilling to break up and let go. Over time, the film's exceptional brand of comedy and genre-twisting cinematography have made it a must-watch treat. Many view Scott Pilgrim vs. The World as one of the best comic book adaptations ever made that was just too ahead of its time.
Clue (1985)
The cinematic adaptation of a board game might not work with something like Monopoly, but Clue is a different story, altogether. The audience experiences the game's characters come alive, each of whom are named after their respective in-game roles, as they try to solve a classic whodunit situation.
Clue was not successful in the eyes of either critic or layperson when it first came out, but it currently has a horde of fandoms dedicated to it. The best part of this movie are the three alternative conclusions, which were randomized while distributing it to theaters. Though the gimmick was great on paper, it actually led to confusion that may have played a part in its failure.
The Iron Giant (1999)
Not even animated movies are spared the box-office curse since, for example, Warner Bros.' The Iron Giant spent $50 million while earning only $31.3 million. This result was unexpected, and criticism was largely directed towards the producers for their lack of effort in promoting their film. Time has since turned The Iron Giant into a modern-day animated classic, thanks to a successful video release, an undying fanbase, and the infamous 24-hour marathon of the movie on Cartoon Network.
The story takes place in a sleepy little town in New England, where a small boy befriends a lonely space robot, a relationship that rapidly develops into a deep bond. A truly impressive subversion of the classic underdog concept, indeed.
Matilda (1996)
This Roald Dahl classic is one of the most beloved films of the '90s, but it unfortunately bombed at the theaters, incurring a loss of at least $3 million.
Matilda is an adorable child with a genius mind who just so happens to possess telekinetic power. However, evil forces conspire to keep her away from learning about the world around her, including the vile Principal Trunchbull and her own parents. Luckily, Matilda possesses the gene for empathy, which apparently skipped a generation in her case, and uses it to show her bullies that they can't push her around anymore.
Under The Skin (2013)
While she's best known for being Black Widow, Scarlett Johansson is superbly eerie in this uncomfortable body horror film, which is so convoluted and lacking in dialogue that audiences found it objectionable. This clarifies its failure at the box office, grossing barely more than half its original budget, but Under the Skin simultaneously obtained incredible praise from critics.
Johansson plays a mysterious woman with a van, taking innocent men to a secret location with the promise of sex but, being an alien, transports them to some kind of digestive dimension, instead. It's hard to explain without watching it, and it's harder to explain after seeing it.
Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas (1998)
The kaleidoscopic vision that is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is presently regarded as a great film, but it received none of this love when it first released. Raoul Duke and his drug-addled lawyer Dr. Gonzo take a road trip through the Mojave Desert in the name of journalism. They do so with a massive stash of drugs in tow, and use up nearly half of it before the film's halfway point.
The storyline is far from straightforward and is incredibly surreal but if anything, the fault for its initial panning lies in it being just a little ahead of its time. Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas has since become a cult classic that ingrained itself into the popular consciousness. In fact, Johnny Depp's character, Duke, also appears in Rango (2011) as a short cameo.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
In a purely technical sense, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was a mega-hit, raking in $140 million on a production budget a hundred times smaller. However, this is because it has been running continuously in select theaters since its release, with many fans watching and rewatching it over and over again even decades after its initial opening. Helping its case is that the movie became an icon in the LGBTQ+ community, with many identifying with the characters' sexual liberation and loving the fashion sense on display.
It certainly was not recognized for its revolutionary style 45 years ago, that's for sure. Interestingly, the songs are what make this film a cult masterpiece: a concoction of rock and roll and glam with just a hint of jazz in the right places.