Link The stories behind movies are often packed with "what-ifs" you'd never expect. Script changes, roles that almost went to different actors, and entire scenes that were cut at the last minute are often super interesting things to learn about the movies we love. But something I find truly surprising is when the films we now treat as beloved classics actually turned out to be box office bombs. Below are 17 iconic movies I was actually very shocked to find out were box-office flops: 1. Fight Club (1999) TM and Copyright (c) 20th Century Fox Film Corp/ Everett Collection The movie had a rough start when it was released in theaters. The studio wasn't sure how to market it, so the ads leaned on dark humor and slick visuals without really explaining what the movie was about. Critics were split, and audiences didn't rush out to see it, which led to a disappointing box office run. But the movie itself had a sharp point of view about consumer culture, identity, and anger that stuck with the people who did see it. Fight Club became a huge hit when it came out on DVD. The disc became a must-own item, helped by its packed special features and the strong home-video market of the time (as owning large collections of DVDs was a flex). It was the DVD that made the film into a cultural touchstone. 2. Citizen Kane (1941) Courtesy Everett Collection It's wild to think that the film considered the greatest movie ever made bombed at the box office , but there is a good reason! Critics praised it right away, and its writer-director-producer-star, Orson Welles. However, the film was a roman à clef, based on the life of newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst. Hearst was outraged at how the movie negatively portrayed him, and he used his power to block ads and coverage that might help the movie. Many theaters were scared to screen it because they didn't want to upset him or were bribed by him not to. The movie was re-released into theaters — which was championed by critics in the US and particularly in France — 15 years later, in 1956, where audiences finally got to see it, and its reputation as the greatest movie ever made was cemented. 3. Blade Runner (1982) ©Warner Brothers / courtesy Everett Collection Even with Harrison Ford as the lead, one of the most influential sci-fi films ever made didn't click with audiences right away. It arrived the same summer as the blockbuster E.T., which made its slow, moody style a tougher sell. Early reviews were mixed, and many viewers weren't sure what to make of its blend of sci-fi noir, corporate dystopia, and philosophical questions. The studio also pushed for a voiceover and a more upbeat ending, which didn't match director Ridley Scott's original tone and confused some critics. As a result, the movie earned only modest box office returns. However, over time, re-releases and director's cuts allowed people to see the version Scott intended, and its influence began to grow. Today, it's considered one of the most important sci-fi films ever made and has shaped the look and feel of countless movies that have come out since. 4. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection The now-classic film, produced by Tim Burton and directed by Henry Selick, grossed a so-so $50 million at the box office and received mixed reactions from audiences. Disney even released it under its Touchstone Pictures label, as the studio was worried the film was too dark and would hurt its brand. Critics praised its creativity and animation upon its release, but it didn't attract a huge following at first. In fact, the film slowly disappeared for a minute after its initial release, and Selick assumed that would be its fate. But over time, the movie gained a cult following thanks to VHS and DVD releases, as well as annual Halloween TV airings. By 2001, Disney fully embraced the movie and started doing its (also) now-classic The Nightmare Before Christmas layover in the Haunted Mansions in Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland. Jack Skellington and Sally also became major presences in the parks through character meet-and-greets and merchandise. 5. The Iron Giant (1999) ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection The movie struggled to find an audience , even though it earned strong reviews. Warner Bros. didn't put much money or direction into the marketing, partly because the studio was dealing with internal shake-ups at the time. Without a clear push, most families didn't realize how heartfelt or ambitious the movie was. It also arrived during a busy year for animated films, so it got overshadowed by bigger studio releases, like Tarzan and Toy Story 2. The movie was also released around the same time of The Blair Witch Project and The Sixth Sense hit theaters. After its weak box office run, it slowly built a loyal following through TV airings and home video. It's now considered a beloved modern classic and one of the most praised animated movies of its era. 6. Hocus Pocus (1993) ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection The movie is considered such a classic now that it's hard to believe that this movie was not a hit . A big reason for the film doing poorly was that Disney released the movie in the middle of summer instead of around Halloween (reportedly because they realized The Nightmare Before Christmas was also being released around Halloween and they didn't want to compete with themselves), which made it a tough sell for kids and families. It also faced stiff competition from bigger summer movies (like Jurassic Park and The Fugitive), so ticket sales stayed low. However, once cable networks began running it every October, more people discovered it. That yearly ritual transformed the once-nearly-forgotten movie into a holiday staple and a major cult favorite that now even has a sequel. 7. Dazed and Confused (1993) ©GramercyPictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Universal hoped that Dazed would spark the same kind of nostalgia that American Graffiti had created 20 years prior. However, the studio wasn't sure how to sell it, since it didn't have a big plot and instead followed a group of teens on the last day of school in 1976. Without a clear hook, the film wasn't properly marketed, and the film opened quietly. When it was released on home video, the movie took off, and steady word of mouth turned it into a cult favorite and one of the defining coming-of-age films of the '90s. 8. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) Columbia / courtesy Everett Collection The movie had great reviews but very weak ticket sales . Part of the problem was its title , which many people found confusing or uninviting. It also came out between Forrest Gump and Pulp Fiction, two of the biggest and most praised movies of that year. Like Hocus Pocus, things changed once it hit home video and began airing on cable, especially on TNT, where it played constantly. People discovered it there, and its reputation grew year after year. 9. The Princess Bride (1987) ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection It's hard to imagine this iconic '80s classic was not a huge hit, but the truth was the studio struggled to market it, unsure whether to pitch it as a romance, a comedy, or a fantasy adventure. It was also unsure who to market it to: kids or adults. They even made a trailer so bad that it got pulled from theaters. Despite the film's weak theatrical run, its witty dialogue, memorable characters, and clever storytelling slowly gained traction through home video and cable TV. Over time, it became a beloved classic and is now widely regarded as one of the most quotable and charming films of the 1980s. 10. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) Herbert Dorfman / Corbis via Getty Images Despite it having alright reviews and five Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture, It's a Wonderful Life lost money because audiences were more drawn to lighter films after World War II. The movie was produced by Frank Capra's Liberty Films and distributed by RKO Pictures; however, despite having heavy hitters behind it, it failed to recoup its budget. For years, the movie was mostly forgotten…well, until a legal oversight changed everything. In 1974, the studio failed to renew the film's copyright, which meant it fell into the public domain. Because of that, TV stations could air it for free, and they started showing it constantly during the holidays. The repeated broadcasts introduced the film to new generations, turning it into one of the most beloved Christmas classics of all time. Funny enough, after it became a holiday classic, the film's director, Frank Capra, said in an interview with Life that he never set out to make a Christmas movie, saying, "I didn't even think of it as a Christmas story when I first ran across it. I just liked the idea." 11. Donnie Darko (2001) Newmarket Releasing /Courtesy Everett Collection Donnie's mix of psychological thriller, science fiction, and teen drama made it hard to market. Audiences didn't quite know what to make of it either, as it was too cerebral . Not helping matters was the fact that the movie — with a plane crash-related plot — was released about a month after 9/11, and audiences were looking for movies that weren't dark. The movie's real momentum came from DVD releases and midnight screenings, where viewers began dissecting its themes of time travel, fate, and mental health. Over time, Donnie Darko became a cult classic. 12. Labyrinth (1986) ©TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection The film had an impressive pedigree; it was directed by Jim Henson, produced by George Lucas, and starred David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly. However, the movie was released against bigger summer blockbusters, such as Top Gun and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which overshadowed its release and led to a weak box office. Critics also gave the movie bad reviews, which Henson's son, Brian, has said was what really hurt the film. While it flopped at the box office, its home video release was a huge success, selling lots of copies, while also being a very popular rental at places like Blockbuster. The movie has since gone on to become a cult classic with a Robert Eggers-directed sequel in the works. 13. Josie and the Pussycats (2001) shane Harvey/ © Universal / courtesy Everett Collection The movie was likely too ahead of its time , as it took a sharp, satirical approach to pop music and marketing, which confused some people who expected a simple teen comedy based on the cartoon. It also landed during a crowded year for teen-focused films, which made it easy for audiences to overlook. Once it came out on DVD, more people started to appreciate how smart and funny its take on consumer culture really was, and over time, it gained a loyal following and became a cult classic. 14. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) Courtesy Everett Collection The film earned only modest ticket sales and received mixed reviews from critics. For a while, it seemed destined to fade into obscurity despite being based on a beloved book series. In the years that followed, television networks began airing it regularly, especially around holidays. These repeated broadcasts and various VHS releases introduced the movie to a new generation of children and families, and slowly transformed it into the iconic beloved classic it's known as today, with even its own prequel film ! 15. The Big Lebowski (1998) ©GramercyPictures/Courtesy Everett Collection The Coen brothers' quirky mix of comedy, crime, and surrealism made The Big Lebowski hard to market to a wide audience. As a result, its advertising struggled to capture the movie's unique tone, leaving many potential viewers unsure of what to expect. Additionally, critics didn't particularly like it and gave it negative reviews. Home video and repeated cable airings introduced people to the movie. The film also has a cult-like following and a devoted fanbase that calls itself " achievers ." 16. The Shining (1980) ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection Now, The Shining wasn't a flop, but it also wasn't a huge hit movie either — it was a moderate success. Directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on Stephen King's popular novel, the film received negative reviews from critics. While fans of the book were disappointed by the changes to the story, which made initial reactions mixed. Also, many viewers were polarized by its psychological horror aspect because they went in expecting a more conventional horror movie. The film also got no Oscar or Golden Globe nominations; instead, it was nominated for two Razzie Awards: Worst Director for Kubrick and Worst Actress for Shelley Duvall (which has since been rescinded ). Over the years, the film has been reevaluated by critics and viewers, and today, it's considered a landmark in horror cinema and one of Kubrick's most iconic films. 17. And lastly, The Wizard of Oz (1939) Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images The Wizard of Oz was not a success when it hit theaters. It had been an incredibly expensive movie to make at the time, and it had a hard time recouping its money (only doing so after it was re-released in 1949 ). It really didn't become a cultural touchstone until the late 1950s, when it began airing on network television. For many families, the annual broadcast became a major event, which helped introduce the film to a new generation year after year. Also, being able to see the movie at home made the movie more accessible than a theater re-release ever could. Remember, this was a time before VHS, DVD, etc., so the only way anyone could watch a film was if it aired on TV or if it was re-released into theaters, which popular movies only got limited re-releases into theaters about once a decade, not yearly. So, over time, those yearly TV showings transformed The Wizard of Oz from a well-liked movie into one of the most beloved films in history. Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/classic-movies-that-were-box-office-flops