Top 20 80s Movie Flops That Got Popular Again

Top 20 Movie Flops From the 80s That Got Popular Again

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the biggest cult classics from the 80s that originally bombed or underperformed at the box office.

Released in 1982, The Dark Crystal was a bold and ambitious fantasy film created by puppet masters Jim Henson and Frank Oz. Featuring groundbreaking puppetry and a richly detailed world, it stood apart from other family films of the time. However, therein lay the problem. The movies dark tone and complex mythology confused audiences and critics alike, and it underperformed at the box office with just $41 million. This greatly disappointed Universal Pictures, who had high expectations. But over time, the film gained a devoted cult following, with fans coming to appreciate its unique artistry, innovative special effects, and rich lore. And thanks to home video, conventions, and the internet, The Dark Crystal was eventually recognized as a visionary work far ahead of its time.

Playwright Douglas Carter Beane once said, When you watch Xanadu, you can see the cocaine up on the screen. Its about as succinct a review as one can make. With a budget of $20 million, Xanadu barely broke even with a gross of just $23 million. Critics panned the film for its incoherent plot, cheesy special effects, and ridiculous dance sequences powered by early 80s disco - cocaine personified. But thats exactly why people love it. Xanadu eventually developed a cult following due to its unique style, vibrant visuals, and catchy soundtrack by Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra. Its campy, and its definitely flawed, but its also ambitious, and people have come to appreciate that.

There are many reasons why Buckaroo Banzai bombed at the box office, least of all its silly title. The movie had virtually no mainstream marketing, with Fox instead going after the nerd audience by promoting the film in comic books and at Star Trek conventions. It also faced very stiff competition, going up against movies like Ghostbusters and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Unsurprisingly, it grossed just $6 million on a $17 million budget. Bomb city. But the movies quirky tone, quotable dialogue, and imaginative world building have transcended time, and it later found popularity through home video and fun midnight screenings. The oddness that once killed the movie became its greatest strength in cult circles.

Jim Henson flopped with The Dark Crystal, so he tried again with Labyrinth. It fared no better. Audiences were unable to appreciate the film, with its offbeat tone, unusual characters, and strong fantasy style alienating many mainstream viewers. So, despite the star presence of David Bowie, Labyrinth also underperformed. According to his son, Henson entered a dark period following its disappointing release, and he died four years later without directing another movie. But, like The Dark Crystal, fans were later drawn to the movies imaginative world and brilliant practical effects, not to mention Bowies gloriously campy performance. Before long, nostalgia combined with a growing appreciation for Hensons artistry, transforming Labyrinth into a cult classic.

Star Wars came out in 1977, changing how science fiction was done. Unfortunately, Flash Gordon did not adhere to its new rules. Unlike Star Wars, which took itself seriously while still telling a fun and pulpy story, Flash Gordon was the opposite - it was campy, flamboyant, and over-the-top. It was exactly what sci-fi critics hate, and it was exactly what Star Wars tried to kill. In the end, it grossed just $46 million - an enormous disappointment, considering the record-shattering money that Star Wars made just a couple years earlier. But over time, divorced from the expectations of the period, Flash Gordon gained cult status. And for the very reasons it was dismissed - its bold colors, the grandiose soundtrack from Queen, and its campy, self-aware humor.

For a long time, Legend was considered one of Ridley Scotts lesser efforts. Critics were divided over the film, praising its stunning visuals and Oscar-worthy makeup while calling out its thin plot and uneven pacing. Mediocre reception aside, its performance was also hindered by a confusing marketing campaign and the release of different versions in the U.S. and international markets, which left audiences confused. But its unique fantasy atmosphere soon gathered legions of fans, and Tim Currys performance as The Lord of Darkness became a defining aspect of 80s cinema. Various directors cuts and home video releases also helped clear up the confusion and cemented its legacy as a misunderstood fantasy that was ahead of its time.

George Romeros Dawn of the Dead was a huge hit and is widely regarded as the quintessential zombie movie - not to mention the most influential. Hype was quite high for Day of the Dead, but Romero was unable to recreate the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of its predecessor. Gone was the goofy, comic book joy of Dawn, replaced with a very dreary and apocalyptic tone and violence that was more grotesque than fun. It was not what people were expecting, especially in the fun, neon-soaked summer of 1985. But hardcore zombie fans and Romero aficionados now recognize Day as a misunderstood masterpiece, and Tom Savinis gore effects are widely regarded as some of the best in movie history.

Transformers was all the rage in the 1980s, so this movie should have been an easy slam dunk. So imagine the faces on the studio execs when it grossed less than $6 million. A lot of soul searching and industry analysis was performed, and most people blamed the movies failure on its dark tone that alienated young viewers. This included a surprisingly mature storyline and the haunting deaths of some beloved characters, most notably Optimus Prime, who disappears within the first half hour. But like many subversive films, it came to be appreciated over time, with fans reacting positively to its risky storytelling and fantastic production values, including some brilliant music and animation.

When it comes to the films of Martin Scorsese, The King of Comedy is not often brought up - if at all. Before 2019, most people had never even heard of it. It was a huge bomb at the time, grossing just $2.5 million with a budget of $19 million. And while it received good reviews, it was considered a disappointment following the cinema-shaking masterpiece that was Raging Bull. But like we said, this was before 2019. Thats when a little movie called Joker came out, and many people compared its story and themes to The King of Comedy. And with this connection, the movie found a new lease on life, and a new generation came to appreciate its timeless qualities.

Today, Clue is considered one of the quintessential whodunnits, a wild romp through an old mansion featuring a dead body, kooky characters, and lots of clever guess work. There is no Knives Out without Clue. But this certainly wasnt its reputation in 1985. Clue was a huge box office disappointment and tended to generate confusion rather than awe, with audiences raising their eyebrows at the movies campy tone. Furthermore, the decision to release three different endings was met with widespread confusion, and it only fueled the movies poor word of mouth. Luckily, home video helped clear up this confusion, and audiences finally got the clue that this actually a pretty darned good movie.

Fantasy is tricky to pull off, but one fantasy film that should have gotten more love is this one, directed by Matthew Robbins. Dragonslayer is set in a medieval fantasy kingdom that sacrifices a virgin by lottery to a ferocious dragon. Its up to young wizard apprentice Galen and Valerian, a young girl disguised as a man, to end the dragons reign of terror. Although critics were impressed by the special effects and dark themes, audiences were not as enthused. In time, however, it became a cult film, proving that a really good sword-and-sorcery flick is always appreciated. Eventually.

Its martial arts and John Carpenter. What else could you possibly need? This fantasy action film may have had a tough time at the box office, but Big Trouble in Little China is a wild adventure from start to finish. The film follows two friends, truck driver Jack Burton and Wang Chi as they descend into Chinatowns underworld to rescue Wang Chis fiancée. There, they must contend with gangs, fierce warriors, and ancient curses. Although Carpenter was disappointed in the low box office reception and mixed reviews, Big Trouble eventually found new life on TV and home video. The result is a fun, quirky film with undoubtedly wuxia influences.

Sometimes great films can be ruined by poor editing. Thats the case with this Italian-American gangster film directed by Sergio Leone. The movie follows the rise of two Jewish American mobsters, David Noodles Aaronson and Maximilian Max Bercovicz. Based on a novel by Harry Grey, it is an epic tale of friendship, crime, love, and betrayal. While the original almost four-hour-long version that premiered at Cannes received raves, an edited-down two-hour-plus version released in regular theaters was a complete flop. Some of the violence proved so controversial these scenes were censored. But epics are epics, and Leones operatic Once Upon a Time proves that some stories need the extra length.

Disneys failures are rarely this mind-boggling or this risky. Based on the novels by Lloyd Alexander, the film follows young Taran as he attempts to stop the evil Horned King from conquering the world by taking possession of the titular black cauldron, full of ancient magic. Taran succeeds with the help of his friends and Gurgi, a creature who sacrifices himself to defeat the cauldron. The films darkness and lurid scenes scared children when it came out, making this a hard sell to audiences. Still, the movies beautiful animation, as well as its rich and charming rendition of Welsh mythology, is a clear winner.

With Count Dracula, Frankensteins monster, and the Mummy teaming up, how did this film flop?! This horror comedy follows a group of kids as they try to stop Count Dracula and his fellow monsters from taking over the world. The kids eventually get their hands on a magical amulet, which opens a portal through which the monsters are safely cast into Limbo. Unfortunately, audiences felt the Ghostbusters-for-kids vibes were unwarranted, and it underperformed at the box office. In hindsight, however, the monster-versus-monster aspect of the film is loads of fun and is just as good as any 80s tween adventure.

We can see how this unique premise may have gotten lost in translation. Highlander follows Scottish Highlander Connor MacLeod, who discovers he is part of a race of immortals after surviving a deathly duel. Trained by Ramírez, a Spanish-Egyptian swordsman played by Sean Connery, MacLeod must fight against the Kurgan, a fellow immortal, in a gathering in New York City in 1985. While the film charmed European audiences, U.S. audiences found it incomprehensible due to its dense lore. Most people now praise Highlanders excellent fight scenes, good performances, and epic score.

Step into this candy store. Before Clueless and Mean Girls, there was Heathers. This teen film follows Veronica Sawyer as she gets involved with a clique of mean girls, all named Heather. Unlike the cheery teen comedies of the time, Heathers is a dark take on high school, as Veronicas quest for revenge against Heather Chandler ends in her death. What follows is even more black comedy as Veronica and her boyfriend-accomplice J.D. obtain a high body count. Perhaps all that blood and gore was too much for American audiences, for the film bombed at the box office. Heathers eventually found recognition and appreciation, even becoming adapted into a popular stage musical by the same name.

Yet another John Carpenter-directed misfire that proved to have staying power. Its hard to believe this seminal sci-fi horror classic did so poorly with audiences and critics at the time. Based on a novella which had already been filmed in the 1950s, The Thing concerns a chameleon-like alien creature that wreaks havoc at a base in Antarctica. American pilot R.J. MacReady leads the hunt for this creature, eventually destroying both it and the station. The Things dark themes and ambiguous ending were unfortunately not to audiences tastes. Having to compete with Steven Spielbergs classic E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was also tough. Today, it is considered one of the most influential horror films of all time. Now thats no small thing.

Science fiction can be a tricky genre. Even so, Blade Runner may be the best sci-fi film to have bombed in the theaters. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film follows the titular blade runner Rick Deckard, whose job is to terminate replicants, humanoid androids gone rogue. A foundational cyberpunk work, Blade Runner delves into themes about the nature of humanity, morality, and dystopian bureaucracies. The film received mixed critical reviews for its slow pacing and lack of action, although its cinematography was praised. Blade Runner nevertheless won a slew of awards and is now considered one of the greatest films in its genre.

It doesnt seem possible that such an arthouse dystopian film could have been conceived by Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame. But he is indeed responsible for this satirical film about a bureaucratic, authoritarian government. The movie follows dissatisfied government employee Sam Lowry, who tries to escape his polluted, brutal future world through daydreams. A minor bureaucratic error sets off a chain of events that leads to Sams arrest. Interrogated unto insanity, Sam disappears into his pleasant fantasies, accompanied by the beautiful strains of Ary Barrosos classic Aquarela do Brasil. Darkly funny and serious at turns, the film could not please general audiences with its downer ending. But Gillams vision of totalitarian reality versus idealistic fantasy is more relevant than ever.

Are there any other 80s bombs that you love? Let us know in the comments below!