Top Ten Biggest Box Office Bombs

We published a similar list during our first Worst Film Week, so we thought it was about time to bring back the infamous list of the biggest box-office bombs of all time.

We published a similar list during our first Worst Film Week, so we thought it was about time to bring back the infamous list of the biggest box-office bombs of all time. Based on earnings (or lack thereof) compared to their cost to produce, these films are the biggest wastes of money to date. The below list is adjusted for 2008 dollars, with the most costly being the film that bankrupted Carolco Pictures, Cutthroat Island.

FilmYearTotal cost (production+marketing) (USD)Worldwide theater gross (USD)Net losses (USD)Net losses inflation adjusted (2008 USD)
Cutthroat Island1995115,000,00010,017,322-104,982,678-146,947,958
The Alamo2004145,000,00025,819,961-119,180,039-134,784,016
The Adventures of Pluto Nash2002120,000,0007,103,973-112,896,027-134,396,524
Sahara2005241,000,000119,269,486-121,730,514-133,141,605
The 13th Warrior1999160,000,00061,698,899-98,301,101-125,887,312
Town & Country2001105,000,00010,372,291-94,627,709-115,352,672
Speed Racer2008200,000,00093,945,766-106,054,234-106,054,234
Heaven’s Gate198044,000,000*3,484,331-40,515,669-104,542,449
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within2001167,000,00085,131,830-81,868,170-99,798,592
Inchon198246,000,000*5,200,986-40,799,014-89,870,942

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3 thoughts on “Top Ten Biggest Box Office Bombs

  1. Sahara isn't a good film but it has some redeeming qualities. What I can't understand is that it cost SO much to make! That's incredible, no wonder it made a huge loss.

    1. From what I understand, the majority of Sahara's budget was swallowed up by Matthew McConaughey's personal training bill… 🙂

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