Streaming services like Along for the Ride, and their success isn't judged by box office the same way traditional Hollywood films are. Back in the day, and even now, theatrical releases live and die by their box office.
That being said, there are plenty of great films that did not get their financial due, but which were incredible films in their own right. Some were known to be great at the time, while others took years to be appreciated. Which are the best of this high-quality but unlucky bunch?
The Wizard of Oz - 8.0
Despite rightfully being considered one of the all-time classics in film history, The Wizard of Oz was actually a box-office bomb when it was released initially in 1939, having made only $3 million against a $2.7 million budget, according to Collider, which meant the film lost money in the end.
However, thanks to increasing appreciation for the film in the decades since its release, and thanks in no small part to The Wizard of Oz's likable characters, and at-the-time innovative use of Technicolor and special effects, the movie overcome its initial financial woes and went on to become a profitable classic in the end.
The Big Lebowski - 8.1
Even though The Big Lebowski's best quotes have become staples of pop culture, and the movie as a whole is a highlight of the Coen Brothers' stellar career, it bombed at the domestic box office, and was only barely saved thanks to its international release, leaving it a disappointment.
Still, Star Wars can claim similar feats, and they're much more financially successful than this cult hit.
Blade Runner - 8.1
Adapted from the Philip K. Dick novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the 1982 film Blade Runner was not a critical hit when it was released, with even director Ridley Scott displeased with the original cut. That general dislike definitely translated into its box-office performance, and kept it from being appreciated for years.
Yet, not only did the film come around in the critical consciousness but Blade Runner 2049, which carried on the franchise curse of also being a bomb despite its excellence. Both films are definitely worth checking out for any cinephile if they haven't done so already.
Warrior - 8.1
A mixed-martial arts movie starring Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton, 2011's Warrior had plenty going for it, and deserves all the acclaim it received. It's just a shame that its acclaim didn't translate into more viewers heading to theaters for it.
Against a budget of $25 million, the film only made $23,308,615 worldwide, leading to a massive financial loss for the studio. It isn't as if star Tom Hardy hadn't seen success before, as he'd appeared in Venom level, meaning he wouldn't have drawn as much attention from movie-goers.
The Thing - 8.1
John Carpenter made his name as one of the best horror directors of all time with classics like The Thing. While the first two were hits, The Thing was far from it, box-office-wise, even though it's one of the most innovative horror movies of all time when it comes to its premise.
Released in 1982, the movie follows a group of researchers in Antarctica who encounter a being that can copy the appearance and actions of humans, meaning any one of them could actually be the monster. It combines Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None with horror to create a truly terrifying watch. Anyone could be the monster, so even among others, each character is alone.
Raging Bull - 8.2
Maybe there's a trend when it comes to boxing/fighting movies and how they fare financially versus how great they are, since Raging Bull has found itself in the exact same situation as Warrior, although Raging Bull is based on real events.
From an $18 million budget, the film made only $23.4 million, and was controversial in its time for how violent the film was; that may have had an impact on its revenue. Still, Martin Scorsese's fourth of ten collaborations with Robert De Niro has rightfully gotten its just due in the decades since its 1980 release, with De Niro shining in his method-like role as Jake LaMotta.
Citizen Kane - 8.3
If you thought celebrities today were prickly about movies inspired by their lives, Citizen Kane will take it to a whole other level. The media mogul prevented his newspapers from discussing it, and began a campaign to tarnish the film's success.
Hearst was only one of several inspirations for Charles Foster Kane, but he singlehandedly helped tank the film's box office because of the perceived insult. Still, not even one of the world's wealthiest men could keep the film hidden from public appreciation forever; even at the time, those who saw it appreciated it. It's gone on to influence film through its innovative cinematography especially.
It's A Wonderful Life - 8.6
Ever wonder how It's a Wonderful Life became the perennial best Christmas movie? It's not actually because of its greatness; it's in fact directly related to its financial failure and how little it was initially ed after release.
Because the movie was so forgotten, its copyright wasn't renewed, which was required at the time, meaning that it went into the public domain. That allowed TV stations to play it for free, and that is actually how it gained the exposure it needed to be beloved and ed. It still contains a heartfelt story about how much one person's life matters to others, though; without this heart, it wouldn't have ever succeeded.
Fight Club - 8.8
Although Fight Club's bad marketing on the part of the studio. As happens quite a bit, the studio didn't understand what they had, and placed the focus on its fighting elements as opposed to its character drama.
While not an outright failure, the film was a disappointment on its release, but thanks to how quickly it entered pop culture, it didn't remain that way for long. Now, Fight Club has entered the lexicon with phrases like "the first rule of [blank]: don't talk about [blank]."
The Shawshank Redemption - 9.2
As it turns out, the highest-rated movie of all time on IMDb, The Shawshank Redemption, was also a box-office bomb when it was initially released in 1994, making on paper only $3 million more than its $25 million budget, despite being beloved by critics and the audiences who did go and see the film.
This Stephen King adaptation provided an incredible story, showed Morgan Freeman's narration chops, and marked Frank Darabont's feature-film directorial debut. Almost anyone can find something to love in this movie.
