Hollywood Financial Bombs

[August1991]

What a business! As William Goldman wrote, "No one knows anything."

I disagree - on two points. I happen to think that Goldman made Damon and Affleck. 

Second point? I'm talking of Goldman - on the Internet. Point made.

======

Here's my initial list:

-Waterworld

-Heaven's Gate

 

 

 

[August1991]

The Sorcerer - 1977 - Imdb Cost: 22 million, Revenue: 9 million.

It's available on Youtube. I reckon that this bomb is due to casting, and the third act. 

[August1991]

Bonfire of the Vanities

Read: Salamon

She describes the money spent for a shot of an airplane arriving.

====

Why a bomb?

Bad casting.  

[August1991]

At Long Last Love

Heaven's Gate

===

Why a bomb? Directors with name - and too much money.

[August1991]

Waterworld.

-You will see zillions of dollars on the screen and Kevin Costner is correct: the tech people knew what they were doing.

-The problem is the characters: who is whom.    

[Michael Hardner]

56 minutes ago, August1991 said:

What a business! As William Goldman wrote, "No one knows anything."

I disagree - on two points. I happen to think that Goldman made Damon and Affleck. 

Second point? I'm talking of Goldman - on the Internet. Point made.

======

Here's my initial list:

-Waterworld

-Heaven's Gate

 

 

 

I read Goldman's book.  He was a miracle.  I would see films and love then, then find out he was script doctor.

[Michael Hardner]

50 minutes ago, August1991 said:

The Sorcerer - 1977 - Imdb Cost: 22 million, Revenue: 9 million.

It's available on Youtube. I reckon that this bomb is due to casting, and the third act. 

You're Francophone.

Vous devez voir "Le Salaire de la Peur" the original.  Once it gets going... your fists will tighten.

Edited September 22, 2023 by Michael Hardner

[Michael Hardner]

I suspect that your diagnoses are correct.  I only saw Bonfire... funny how they thought things had declined so much 32 years ago.

 

This one I also never saw.  I read about it and it's listed as the biggest bomb ever.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cutthroat_Island

[August1991]

If you're crazy enough, watch this movie. In 1975, according to data that I could find, it cost $6 million (roughly the same production cost as The Godfather made in 1972). But this bomb only generated $3 million in revenue.

It has Burt Reynolds and Cybill Shepherd (neither can sing) in a musical:

 

Edited October 15, 2023 by August1991

[August1991]

I've heard of Cutthroat Island. Pirates....

It was filmed in Malta - like Popeye, another disaster 

====

I recall walking around the remnants of the Popeye set in Malta. 

 

Edited October 15, 2023 by August1991

[August1991]

On 9/22/2023 at 6:11 AM, Michael Hardner said:

I suspect that your diagnoses are correct.

Michael, there's a broader point.

I've been watching this trial of FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried

[Michael Hardner]

1 hour ago, August1991 said:

Michael, there's a broader point.

I've been watching this trial of FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried

Another bomb...

They all seem to be endeavors that wealthy and powerful people believed others would take to, and therefore they bet a lot of resources on that prospect.

 

[August1991]

OK.

You don't get my connection to FTX.

The Godfather - Part III

[August1991]

The BonfIre of the Vanities (such a good novel, such good actors):

 

Edited November 27, 2023 by August1991

[sharkman]

Here's a list that proves Disney has lost it's mojo.  All big flops and money losers.

 

Haunted Mansion  -  projected to lose 100 million.

 

Lightyear  -  lost 106 million.

 

Strange World  -  lost 147 million.

 

Mulan (2020)  -  lost 150 million.

 

Jungle Cruise (2021)  -  lost 151 million.

 

Turning Red  (2022)-  lost 167 million.

 

Then there are movies like The Lone Ranger and John Carter.  But as of late, Disney has more misses than hits, and their stock price has suffered for it.

[August1991]

On 12/3/2023 at 4:01 AM, sharkman said:

'''''

Haunted Mansion  -  projected to lose 100 million.

....

 

Good example. What a costly disaster.

(Imagine if Disney had got it right... Eddie Murphy would be, uh, Indiana Jones.)

=====

Modern Disney? "Put a chick in it. Make her gay!"

[August1991]

On 12/3/2023 at 4:01 AM, sharkman said:

Here's a list that proves Disney has lost it's mojo.  All big flops and money losers.

''''

I have nothing against Disney.

I was simply curious about "bombs". Very costly movies to make that lost alot of money.

Movie-making is a weird business: Deep Throat cost about $20,000 to make. Ticket sellers made several million in its first six months.

Or how about Blair Witch Project  

 

 

Edited December 8, 2023 by August1991