Top 10 Unexpected Blockbusters
#10: “Home Alone” (1990)
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On paper, a Christmas slapstick comedy about a little boy fending off home invaders doesn’t sound like a guaranteed hit. Warner Bros. actually shut down production when “Home Alone” went over budget, allowing Fox to pick up the project. WB couldn’t have fathomed that they were letting a fortune slip through their fingers. Opening in mid-November 1990, “Home Alone” remained at number one at the domestic box office until early February. Its Christmas theme may have helped “Home Alone” stay on top for 12 weeks, but the film’s comedy and heart kept audiences coming back well into April when it finally fell out of the Top 10. On an $18 million budget, “Home Alone” became the highest-grossing live-action comedy ever at the time.
#9: “The Hangover” (2009)
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“The Hangover” didn’t inspire much confidence leading up to its release, and that’s not just because the premise sounded eerily familiar to “Dude, Where’s My Car?” The film only had a modest budget of $35 million and its stars, while not complete unknowns, hadn’t proven themselves as box office draws. Meanwhile, “The Hangover” was opening up against “Land of the Lost,” which had a massive marketing campaign and a certified comedy star in Will Ferrell. Where “Land of the Lost” bombed with critics, though, “Hangover” brought in unexpectedly strong reviews. Positive word-of-mouth resulted in it opening #1 at the box office with $44 million. For a period, “Hangover” was the highest-grossing R-rated comedy in the US, ultimately making $277 million domestically and $467.5 million worldwide.
#8: “Borat” (2006)
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Despite popping up in a few blockbusters like “Madagascar” and “Talladega Nights,” Sacha Baron Cohen was far from being a household name prior to 2006. Perhaps that’s because he rarely gave interviews as himself, being better-known for his eccentric TV personalities like Ali G. Considering that the film “Ali G Indahouse” only made $25.9 million worldwide, people weren’t anticipating much from “Borat” at first. Even with overwhelmingly positive reviews, the controversial mockumentary was restricted to 837 screens during its opening weekend. “Borat” sold out across North America, however, and the numbers only increased when it was expanded to more than 2,000 cinemas the following weekend. Grossing $262.6 million against an $18 million budget, it was a true American success story.
#7: “Paranormal Activity” (2007)
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“Paranormal Activity” didn’t come out of nowhere, as “The Blair Witch Project” had a similar ascension to financial glory. Both were found-footage films made for less than $1 million that, through ingenious viral marketing, emerged as two of the most profitable horror films ever produced. What made “Paranormal Activity” especially surprising was the public’s insistence on seeing it. With the film initially screening in only 12 theatres, director Oren Peli announced online that to see his movie, you had to “demand it.” And demand it people did! The film expanded to 33 screens the following weekend, 160 the next, and eventually received a wide release. Its $193.4 million worldwide total was only the beginning, as “Paranormal Activity” inspired a string of sequels.
#6: “The Sixth Sense” (1999)
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Disney executive David Vogel knew that “The Sixth Sense” would be a success, but he was alone in this regard. He bought the script for $3 million and gave writer M. Night Shyamalan the go-ahead to direct. The company wasn’t pleased that Vogel took such initiative without approval, however, contributing to his eventual exit. Disney had so little faith in the picture that they let Spyglass Entertainment pick up the production rights, only holding onto the distribution rights and 12.5% of box office revenue. They were likely kicking themselves when “Sixth Sense” became the number one movie in the US for five weeks in a row. With a twist ending that encouraged people to see the film multiple times, this sleeper hit grossed $672.8 million.
#5: “The Matrix” (1999)
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Between “The Sixth Sense” and “The Matrix,” 1999 was truly the year of surprise blockbusters. To think, going into that year, we all thought “The Phantom Menace” would be the sci-fi extravaganza that would change cinema. While “Phantom Menace” was the highest-grossing film of 1999, the overwhelming buildup made it too big to fail. “The Matrix,” meanwhile, came out of nowhere. It wasn’t based on an established property and the Wachowskis had only directed one indie feature prior to its release. After opening #1 at the box office, however, “The Matrix” quickly exploded into a cultural phenomenon thanks to its philosophical themes and revolutionary special effects. Taking in $171 million domestically and $465.3 million worldwide, “The Matrix” proved that originality can pack theaters.
#4: “The Terminator” (1984)
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“The Matrix” wasn’t the first R-rated sci-fi film that exceeded expectations. “The Terminator” came out only four months after Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in “Conan the Destroyer,” which didn’t perform as well as its predecessor. James Cameron was also still establishing himself, with his previous feature being “Piranha II: The Spawning.” On top of that, many critics panned the film at the time for being too violent. Yet, audiences not only connected with the film’s gritty action, but also its performances, romance, and mythology. “The Terminator” made $78.3 million worldwide on a meagre $6.4 million budget, cementing Schwarzenegger and Cameron as Hollywood giants. The film also laid the groundwork for a franchise, with its 1991 sequel grossing $520.8 million, dominating that year’s box office.
#3: “Jaws” (1975)
As strange as it sounds now, there was a time when wide releases were primarily reserved for low-quality films. Prestige pictures were typically released in major cities first, allowing them to accumulate buzz before expanding across the nation. So, when “Jaws” opened in 409 American cinemas, some expected a B-movie. It didn’t help that the film endured a strenuous production due in part to an often inoperative mechanical shark. A strong marketing campaign helped the film open to a record-breaking $7 million, however. This was only a small splash compared to its eventual gross, which surpassed “The Godfather” as the biggest domestic release of the time. Its success inspired Hollywood to rethink its distribution model, giving birth to the summer blockbuster as we know it.
#2: “Titanic” (1997)
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Speaking of bigger boats, “Titanic” initially looked like it might go down as one of the biggest flops in cinema. Originally slated for a summer release, the film fell behind schedule and got pushed back to December. Far over budget at $200 million, it was the most expensive film made at that time. As “The Terminator” demonstrated, though, James Cameron is one name that you should never underestimate. “Titanic” opened at number one with $28.6 million, a modest number that didn’t scream blockbuster. The film remained at number one the next week, however, this time making $35.5 million. “Titanic” sat atop the box office for fifteen straight weeks and went on to secure its place in the record books with more than $1.8 billion worldwide. Unsinkable, indeed. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “The Greatest Showman” (2017) This Musical Stayed in Theaters Far Longer Than Anyone Imagined “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” (2002) $368.7 Million on a $5 Million Budget? Not Bad! “March of the Penguins” (2005) Who Knew Penguins Plus Morgan Freeman Added Up to Box Office Gold? “Pulp Fiction” (1994) The Indie Film that Hit the Big Time “Elf” (2003) Had to Compete with “The Matrix Revolutions” & Was Still a Huge Success
#1: “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” (1977)
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Today, “Star Wars” is synonymous with the words “blockbuster franchise.” Much like the Rebel Alliance, though, Georgia Lucas’ 1977 space opera was seen as an underdog upon release. With a modest budget of $11 million, Fox didn’t see much potential in “Star Wars.” As a matter of fact, they let Lucas hold onto the sequel and merchandising rights. Lucas had his own doubts about the picture, fearing that he had made a kids movie that wouldn’t have wider appeal. With all eyes on “Smokey and the Bandit” to be the summer’s runaway hit, “Star Wars” crept up on audiences and became a sensation. The film would make $775 million over the years, but that’s pennies compared to the multibillion-dollar franchise it created.
