Orson Welles co-wrote, directed and stars in “Citizen Kane” (1941), thought-about to be among the many greatest films ever made. RKO Radio Footage
Reaching huge success on the field workplace doesn't essentially converse to the standard of a film. These 9 films primarily broke even or misplaced cash on the field workplace, however all went on to obtain Academy Award nominations — and lots of even took dwelling Oscars.
For reference earlier than stepping into the record beneath, the highest-grossing film of 2022 was “Avatar: The Approach of Water.” It made almost $700 million domestically and greater than $2.3 billion worldwide, per Field Workplace Mojo.
Listed below are 9 films that failed to achieve monetary expectations on the field workplace however nonetheless earned vital acclaim. (All stats are taken from Field Workplace Mojo).
9. ‘Hugo’ (2011)
Orphaned Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield) lives within the partitions of a Paris practice station. Hugo’s job is to take care of the clocks on the station, however he begins to spend extra time wrapped up in a thriller involving his late father and an automaton.
“The movie’s craft and technical achievements are of the very best order, combining to create an immaculate current to movie lovers all over the place,” The Hollywood Reporter stated in reward of the Martin Scorsese-directed movie.
“Hugo” acquired 11 Academy Award nominations and took dwelling 5 Oscars for: Greatest visible results, greatest cinematography, greatest sound mixing, greatest dound rditing and greatest manufacturing design.
Price range: $150 million.
U.S. field workplace earnings: $73,864,507.
8. ‘Advert Astra’ (2019)
Greater than a decade in the past, Clifford McBride (Tommy Lee Jones) left on a daring voyage via house and by no means returned. Now his son (Brad Pitt) should set out on a mission to Neptune to uncover the reality behind his father’s mysterious disappearance.
“‘Advert Astra’ is gorgeous, contemplative, and loaded with which means — not an motion film, however one which leaves you with loads to ponder,” wrote Vox.
“Advert Astra” was nominated for a number of awards, together with the Academy Award for greatest achievement in sound mixing.
Price range: $90 million.
U.S. field workplace earnings: $50,188,370.
7. ‘Battle Membership’ (1999)
A depressed insomniac (Edward Norton) meets a peculiar cleaning soap salesman named Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt). Collectively, the boys create an underground membership the place males who're bored of their mundane lives combat one another.
“An outrageous combination of good method, puerile philosophizing, trenchant satire and sensory overload, ‘Battle Membership’ is essentially the most incendiary film to return out of Hollywood in a very long time. It’s a multitude, however one value combating about,” lauded Newsweek.
Now thought-about by many to be one of many greatest films of all time, “Battle Membership” earned recognition after its preliminary launch. It was nominated for an Academy Award in greatest sound modifying.
Price range: $63 million.
U.S. field workplace earnings: $37,030,102.
6. ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ (1994)
Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is sentenced to 2 life phrases in jail for murders he didn't commit. Over the course of a number of years in a brutal jail, Andy befriends Purple (Morgan Freeman). Collectively, the boys overcome cruel jail life.
“‘The Shawshank Redemption’ creates a heat maintain on our emotions as a result of it makes us a member of a household. Many films provide us vicarious experiences and fast, superficial feelings. ‘Shawshank’ slows down and appears,” praised Rogerebert.com.
“The Shawshank Redemption” was nominated for seven Academy Awards, together with: Greatest image, greatest actor, greatest unique rating, greatest tailored screenplay, greatest cinematography, greatest sound mixing and greatest movie modifying.
Price range: $25 million.
U.S. field workplace earnings: $28,767,189.
5. ‘The Fablemans’ (2022)
Sammy Fableman falls in love with movie after his dad and mom take him to see a film within the theater. All through adolescence, Sammy practices his filmmaking expertise as his he grapples with a sophisticated dwelling life.
“This can be a film so masterfully made, you may glide alongside its floor with out fairly realising all it’s asking of you,” wrote Metro.
Though “The Fablemans” didn't take dwelling any Oscars, the movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards in 2023, together with: Greatest image, greatest unique rating, greatest director, greatest actress, greatest supporting actor, greatest unique screenplay and greatest manufacturing design.
Price range: $40 million.
U.S. field workplace earnings: $17,348,945.
4. ‘Lacking Hyperlink’ (2019)
Mr. Hyperlink (Zach Galifianakis) — an eight-foot creature lined in fur — desires to depart his life within the Pacific Northwest behind to trace down his long-lost family in Shangri-La. With assist from two exploring consultants, Mr. Hyperlink units off on the daring journey.
“Amid the noisy, epic motion of most kid-oriented options, this movie’s story is obvious and efficient: a sweet-hearted narrative of how friendship can broaden one’s horizons,” The Atlantic shared.
“Lacking Hyperlink” gained an Academy Award for greatest animated function movie — making it one among few noncomputer-generated films to win in that class.
Price range: $100 million.
U.S. field workplace earnings: $16,649,539.
3. ‘Girls Speaking’ (2022)
Based mostly on a real story, the ladies from a spiritual colony uncover a horrible secret concerning the colony’s males — for years, the boys have drugged the ladies and raped them. The ladies start to speak amongst themselves as they grapple with the fact of their religion.
“A exceptional ensemble of performers unite for this flamable, well timed chamber-piece that hails the return of Polley as an bold and empirical filmmaker,” Empire Journal praised the Sarah Polley-directed movie.
The Academy Award for greatest tailored screenplay went to “Girls Speaking” in 2023. It was additionally nominated for greatest image.
Price range: $134 million.
U.S. field workplace earnings: $5,456,531.
2. ‘Citizen Kane’ (1941)
A reporter is assigned to interpret newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane’s dying phrases. His investigation sheds gentle on Kane’s life, however he fears he could by no means study the true which means behind Kane’s final phrase: “Rosebud.”
“It's a two-hour present, stuffed to the final minute with good incident unreeled in technique and results that sparkle with originality and invention. Inside the commerce, ‘Kane’ will stimulate keener artistic efforts by Hollywood’s high administrators,” lauded Selection.
Though largely thought-about one of many best movies of all time, “Citizen Kane” took dwelling simply one of many 9 Academy Award nominations it was given — greatest unique screenplay. The movie was additionally nominated for: Greatest image, greatest director, greatest actor, greatest unique rating, greatest sound mixing, greatest movie modifying, greatest cinematography and greatest artwork path.
Price range: $839,727.
U.S. field workplace earnings: $1,627,530.
1. ‘It’s a Fantastic Life’ (1946)
It's Christmastime and George Bailey (James Stewart) is so pissed off with life he's considering ending all of it. A guardian angel is distributed to indicate George what the world would seem like with out his good deeds.
“A real American basic,” praised the Guardian in 2007.
“It’s a Fantastic Life” was nominated for 5 Academy Awards together with: Greatest actor, greatest director, greatest sound mixing and greatest movie modifying.
Price range: $3.2 million.
U.S. field workplace earnings: $1,483,643.