Top 10 Cult Classic Animated Movies That BOMBED at the Box Office
#10: “The Black Cauldron” (1985)
Top 10 Classic Hollywood Movies That BOMBED at the Box Office
By far one of the darkest movies in Disney’s catalogue, “The Black Cauldron '' was a first for Disney in many ways. Its darker edge and grim imagery were sharp departures from what came before. Despite being re-edited to be less scary for kids, its mature themes were still a point of contention for critics and moviegoers. The more intense tale was also the most expensive animated movie of the time with a budget of $44 million. Unfortunately, it only earned $21.3 million at the box office. Its financial failure nearly put Disney off of animation permanently. But years after the company bounced back, fans came around to “The Black Cauldron”. Viewers now appreciate the dark tone for standing out in the catalogue.
#9: “The Thief and the Cobbler” (Unreleased)
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It took nearly thirty years for “The Thief and the Cobbler” to go from an idea to a finished film. However, it wasn’t exactly the movie it was originally intended to be. Over the years, the film was cut down and renamed twice. Neither version managed to steal the hearts or cash from moviegoers. Fortunately, dedicated artists spent time trying to edit the film so it more closely aligned with the original vision. The updated version was received warmly and gained a following of its own. Despite taking decades to get to the finish line, this troubled story finally got the audience it deserved.
#8: “Titan A.E.” (2000)
From “The Secret of NIMH” to “Anastasia,” Don Bluth has directed some incredible animated films. Sadly, not all gain the recognition they deserve. His most recent theatrical release, “Titan A.E.” follows the last remnants of humanity trying to establish a new planet. Its ambitious blend of traditional animation with CGI supported a unique space opera story. While both elements certainly stood out, the scope and look of the story caused the budget to get to over $70 million. It only brought in around $36.8 million and lost Fox $100 million. Since Fox Animation was already struggling, this massive loss caused the studio to close for good. Despite its rough opening, the movie’s marvelous visuals and narrative are still appreciated today.
#7: “Balto” (1995)
In the mid-90s, computer-generated animation quickly became an exciting new trend. Many speculate that the revolutionary new visuals spelled doom for “Balto”. The film was based on the true story of a sled dog that helped deliver a life-saving serum in 1920s Alaska. Although it featured live action segments, it mainly stuck to hand-drawn animation. Unfortunately, a little movie by the name of “Toy Story” premiered the month before “Balto.” Industry experts speculated that the novelty of the new animation took attention away from Balto. On a budget of $31 million, it only made $11 million. However, the kids who did see it loved it. Positive word-of-mouth and strong home video sales led to two direct-to-video sequels. “Balto” was clearly beloved in the end.
#6: “A Scanner Darkly” (2006)
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Combine the talented direction of Richard Linklater, a story from sci-fi master Philip K. Dick, and striking rotoscope animation, and you’ve got the brilliant and unique “A Scanner Darkly.” Taking place in the near-future, the story revolves around a massive surveillance network that was developed to try and stop the spread of an illegal substance. The dystopian tropes were out in full force, and the movie looked unlike anything else in theaters at the time. Although its budget was only $8.7 million, it only brought in a comparatively meager $7.7 million. But many new fans have discovered it since then. It probably helps that “A Scanner Darkly” actors like Keanu Reeves and Robert Downey, Jr.,have gone through excellent career revivals since then.
#5: “Flushed Away” (2006)
The partnership between DreamWorks and the traditionally stop-motion Aardman Features led to some great movies. It’s just too bad that their final co-production wasn’t a hit. Following a pet rat after he’s flushed into the sewers, “Flushed Away” used CGI while keeping Aardman’s charm. On a budget of $149 million, it earned $178 million. Despite exceeding production costs, the high price of marketing caused DreamWorks to lose around $109 million. Aardman also stepped away from the company after this financial disaster. In the midst of the negative fallout for the movie, audiences and critics still liked it upon release. That positive reception has since spread and given it new life. It’s now considered an underrated classic in DreamWorks’ repertoire.
#4: “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” (2001)
With a unique cast of characters led by Michael J. Fox’s lovable Milo, viewers delighted in an undersea adventure to the famed city with charming characters and stunning animation. However, competition from movies like DreamWorks’ “Shrek” was stiff. “Atlantis” ended up making $186.1 million on a budget somewhere between $90 and $120 million. That wasn’t good for this major Disney release after they had marketed it heavily. When “The Lost Empire” is discussed today, most have nothing but positives to say. With crisp art direction and a highly engaging plot, it’s easy to see why.
#3: “The Road to El Dorado” (2000)
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After earning a map to the famed golden city, conmen Tulio and Miguel are whisked off on a life-changing journey. With gorgeous animation, songs co-written by Elton John, and just the right amount of risque jokes, “The Road to El Dorado” should’ve been a major hit. At least that’s how we feel. In reality, it only made $76.4 million against its $95 million budget. Critics were also split on the plot and co leads. Regardless, those who saw it carried their love for it into the modern era. It’s now beloved for its humor and characters, with several of its scenes even becoming popular memes [show “Both is Good” clip].
#2: “Treasure Planet” (2002)
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Based on the novel“ Treasure Island,” and with the same directing duo behind “Hercules” and “The Little Mermaid,” “Treasure Planet” should’ve been much more popular than it was. With a steep budget of $140 million, it brought back only $109.6 million. It was trounced by both “Chamber of Secrets” and “The Santa Clause 2”. Coupled with marketing costs, it became one of the biggest animated bombs ever. It’s a shame because the retelling offers the same yearn for adventure that the novel does while carrying you along thrilling and divinely animated set pieces. Ask any fan about it today, and they’ll gush over their love for it. We should know, we’re some of them.
#1: “The Iron Giant” (1999)
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The story of the misunderstood Hogarth and his robot friend during the Cold War is one of the most touching tales ever committed to screen, let alone animation. It’s universally beloved today. But on release, it only earned about $23 million against a $70 million budget. According to several sources, Warner. Bros. didn’t spend enough time spreading awareness for the film. And by the time the shining reviews came rolling in, it was too late. The studio aimed to make up for it by pushing the movie hard during its home release. Thanks to their support and positive word-of-mouth, “The Iron Giant’s” reputation improved. The big robot is now a larger-than-life pop culture icon.
