10 Times Legendary Movie Directors Made Huge Box Office Bombs, From Francis Ford Coppola To Steven Spielberg

The abysmal opening weekend gross of Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis has proven that not even the most legendary filmmakers in the world are immune to the occasional box office bomb. Even the promise of a new movie from the director of The Godfather and Apocalypse Now isn’t enough to get audiences to theaters. No movie is guaranteed to find success at the box office. Some of the most iconic, grandfathered-in filmmakers in Hollywood, from Martin Scorsese to Steven Spielberg, have suffered commercial flops (with some of their best movies no less).

Of course, sometimes a director gets too ambitious, and their own vision trumps the need to entertain the audience. This was the case with Oliver Stone’s Alexander, Michael Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate, and, indeed, Megalopolis. In some cases, a director’s chances at the box office were hurt by the lingering effects of the pandemic, like Christopher Nolan’s Tenet — which arrived in theaters at the height of lockdown — or Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel. And sometimes, a movie just fails to connect with a wide enough audience to turn a profit.

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10 Francis Ford Coppola – Megalopolis

Megalopolis Has Grossed $4 Million Against A $120 Million Budget

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The latest movie from a legendary director to bomb at the box office is Francis Ford Coppola’s epic sci-fi drama Megalopolis. Megalopolis is a passion project that Coppola has been dreaming about since the 1970s.Coppola self-financed Megalopolis’ $120 million budget by selling off a chunk of his winery business. Despite its star-studded cast, raft of controversies providing free publicity, and the director of The Godfather trilogy at the helm, Megalopolis grossed a measly $4 million in its opening weekend (via Deadline).

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8/10 8.3/10 Megalopolis DramaSci-Fi

Megalopolis, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is a visionary 2024 film exploring the ambitious dream of reconstructing New York City into a utopia, following a devastating disaster. The narrative delves into the clash between the architect’s utopian vision and the political and personal turmoil that ensues. With a star-studded cast, the film examines themes of ambition, power, and the human spirit’s resilience against the backdrop of a futuristic metropolis.

Director Francis Ford Coppola Release Date September 27, 2024 Writers Francis Ford Coppola Cast Adam Driver , Forest Whitaker , Nathalie Emmanuel , Jon Voight , Laurence Fishburne , Aubrey Plaza , Shia LaBeouf , Jason Schwartzman , Grace VanderWaal , Kathryn Hunter , Talia Shire , Dustin Hoffman , D. B. Sweeney , Giancarlo Esposito Runtime 138 Minutes Main Genre Drama Expand

The writing was on the wall for Megalopolis’ box office struggles. When Coppola initially screened the film for distributors, not a single studio wanted to pick it up because they thought it had no chance of turning a profit (and they were right). But since Coppola made the movie for the sake of the art itself with money he could afford to lose, this box office bomb isn’t as financially devastating as it sounds.

9 Martin Scorsese – Hugo

Hugo Barely Recouped Its Production Costs

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Martin Scorsese usually makes low-budget character dramas like Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, which don’t need to gross a ton of money to turn a profit. But in 2011, Scorsese tried his hand at a big-budget blockbuster with Hugo, a fantasy adventure set in 1930s Paris. It marked his first foray into making a family film (aside from his self-referential cameo in Shark Tale), as well as his first foray into 3D filmmaking. All told, Hugo cost around $180 million to produce.

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10/10 Hugo PGAdventureDramaFamilyMystery

Based on The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, Hugo follows the titular character, a young boy living alone in a train station in Paris. While working to restore an automaton found by his late father, Hugo becomes involved in a mystery surrounding the automaton and filmmaker Georges Méliès. Asa Butterfield stars as Hugo, with Chloë Grace Moretz, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Jude Law as part of the main cast. 

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*Availability in US Director Martin Scorsese Release Date November 23, 2011 Studio(s) Paramount Pictures Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers John Logan , Brian Selznick Runtime 126 minutes Budget $150 million Main Genre Adventure Expand

When it arrived in theaters, it made back its production budget almost to the penny with a worldwide total of $180,047,784 (via The Numbers). But since that figure doesn’t take marketing costs or the exhibitors’ cut into consideration, it was considered a box office bomb. Although Hugo is a great film, it struggled to find an audience, since it’s too family-friendly for Goodfellas fans and too lofty and intellectual for kids.

8 Oliver Stone – Alexander

Alexander Grossed $167 Million On A Budget Of $155 Million

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In 2004, Oliver Stone stepped outside his comfort zone to helm a mega-scale three-hour biopic of Alexander the Great. With a $155 million budget, Alexander was one of the most expensive movies ever made at the time. But its box office receipts didn’t match its ambitions, as it went on to gross just $167,298,192 worldwide (via Box Office Mojo). Although the film performed well in European markets, it failed to find an audience in America.

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Alexander (2004) RDramaActionBiography

Alexander chronicles the life and conquests of Alexander the Great, played by Colin Farrell. Directed by Oliver Stone, the film traces Alexander’s rise to power, his military campaigns across various continents, and his quest to unite the known world. Angelina Jolie and Val Kilmer co-star as his parents, Olympias and King Philip II, respectively. The historical epic delves into the complexities of Alexander’s relationships and his ambitions.

Director Oliver Stone Release Date November 24, 2004 Writers Oliver Stone , Christopher Kyle , Laeta Kalogridis Cast Anthony Hopkins , David Bedella , Jessie Kamm , Angelina Jolie , Val Kilmer , Fiona O’Shaughnessy , Connor Paolo , Patrick Carroll Main Genre Drama

At the time, similar swords-and-sandals epics like Gladiator and Troy had found box office success. But the difference was that those movies were well-received, whereas Alexander was universally panned by critics. Alexander was unfavorably compared to those movies for being dry and academic, whereas they were action-packed and entertaining. It was also criticized for its historical inaccuracies and lack of emotional engagement.

7 Michael Cimino – Heaven’s Gate

Heaven’s Gate Was A Historic Flop

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Michael Cimino had perhaps the fastest rise and fall in Hollywood history. In 1978, Cimino’s second directorial feature, The Deer Hunter, was lauded as one of the greatest war movies ever made, winning Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director. Cimino was instantly catapulted to the A-list and given carte blanche for his follow-up movie. Then, his very next movie, Heaven’s Gate, was panned by critics and became one of the biggest box office bombs in film history.

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Heaven’s Gate RWesternAdventureDrama

Sheriff James Averill tries to protect immigrant farmers from wealthy cattle barons in 1890s Wyoming. Conflict intensifies as Averill and a mercenary, Nathan Champion, both vie for the affection of Ella Watson, a local madam. The escalating tensions culminate in a brutal battle that questions their roles and the harsh realities of the American frontier​.

Director Michael Cimino Release Date November 18, 1980 Studio(s) Partisan Productions Distributor(s) United Artists Writers Michael Cimino Cast Kris Kristofferson , Christopher Walken , John Hurt , Sam Waterston , Brad Dourif , Isabelle Huppert , Jeff Bridges , Joseph Cotten Runtime 219 Minutes Budget $44 Million Main Genre Western Expand

Heaven’s Gate cost $44 million to produce and grossed a paltry $3,484,331 at the box office (via Box Office Mojo). According to Peter Biskind’s book Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, the failure of Heaven’s Gate is credited with singlehandedly ending the New Hollywood movement. American studios stopped giving auteurs like Cimino so much artistic control and focused on more commercial projects throughout the 1980s.

6 Christopher Nolan – Tenet

Tenet Grossed An Admirable $359 Million Mid-Pandemic (But Still Lost Money)

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After Inception, Interstellar, and The Dark Knight trilogy, it seemed as though Christopher Nolan could do no wrong. He’s one of the few filmmakers whose name alone can draw blockbuster crowds to movie theaters.

Nolan insisted on giving his spy-fi thriller Tenet a traditional pre-pandemic-style theatrical release.

But even Nolan isn’t a miracle worker. In the summer of 2020, when big-budget movies like Black Widow and A Quiet Place Part II were being sent to streaming or delayed indefinitely, Nolan insisted on giving his spy-fi thriller Tenet a traditional pre-pandemic-style theatrical release.

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8/10 6.3/10 Tenet PG-13ThrillerAction Sci-Fi

Armed with only one word—Tenet—and fighting for the survival of the entire world, a nameless Protagonist journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time.

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*Availability in US Director Christopher Nolan Release Date September 3, 2020 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Christopher Nolan Cast Kenneth Branagh , John David Washington , Michael Caine , Robert Pattinson , Elizabeth Debicki , Dimple Kapadia , Aaron Taylor-Johnson , Clemence Poesy Runtime 150 minutes Franchise(s) Tenet Budget $200 million Expand

Considering it arrived in the midst of lockdown when governments around the world were advising people to stay in their homes, Tenet made an impressive haul at the box office. It grossed $359,518,466 (via The Numbers), which is more than some of 2024’s most expensive films have made. But it wasn’t enough to recoup its $205 million budget and the marketing costs on top of that.

5 Orson Welles – Citizen Kane

Before It Was A Renowned Classic, Citizen Kane Was A Box Office Bomb

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Today, Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane is a revered masterpiece regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made. But when it was released in 1941, it wasn’t an immediate hit. Welles based the character of Charles Foster Kane not-so-subtly on media magnate William Randolph Hearst, who wasn’t too pleased that a cinematic critique had been produced in his honor.

Related 20 Best Directors Of All Time, Ranked

As one of the oldest of the most popular entertainment mediums, the film industry has built an impressive catalog of legendary directors.

According to the books Orson Welles, A Biography by Barbara Leaming, The RKO Story by Richard B. Jewell and Vernon Harbin, and The Making of Citizen Kane by Robert L. Carringer, Hearst used his widespread influence to bury Citizen Kane.

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10/10 Citizen Kane PGDramaDocumentaryMystery

Directed by and starring Orson Welles in his feature film debut, Citizen Kane tells the life story of Charles Foster Kane, a self-made business tycoon partially based on William Randolph Hearst. The film tells the story of Kane’s rise and fall from power, narratively framed by the sensation caused by death at the beginning and end of the film. Besides Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Ray Collins, Agnes Moorehead, and Ruth Warrick also star. 

Director Orson Welles Release Date April 17, 1941 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures , Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Herman J. Mankiewicz , Orson Welles , John Houseman , Roger Q. Denny , Mollie Kent Cast Orson Welles , Joseph Cotten , Dorothy Comingore , Agnes Moorehead , Ruth Warrick , Ray Collins Runtime 119 minutes Budget $840 thousand Expand

A theater chain with more than 500 theaters had the option to screen Citizen Kane, but refused to show it out of fear of Hearst’s retaliation. As a result of Hearst’s petty disruptions, Citizen Kane lost $160,000 during its initial theatrical run. It would ultimately turn a profit in re-releases, but it took a while for it to be recognized as a classic.

4 Quentin Tarantino – Death Proof

Death Proof Was Released As Part Of A Double Feature

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Like Nolan, Quentin Tarantino is a one-man hit factory whose name alone can turn even the most experimental film — like a blood-soaked, darkly comedic spaghetti western about American slavery— into a blockbuster hit. But, like Nolan, Tarantino also has a notable box office bomb to his name. In 2007, Tarantino teamed up with fellow filmmaker Robert Rodriguez to helm the double feature Grindhouse.

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6/10 9.5/10 Death Proof RActionThriller

Mike McKay, a Hollywood stuntman, murders young women via “stunts” he performs with his vehicles — but he makes a mistake when he targets another stunt performer.

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*Availability in US Director Quentin Tarantino Release Date May 22, 2007 Studio(s) Dimension Films Distributor(s) Dimension Films Writers Quentin Tarantino Cast Kurt Russell , Rosario Dawson , Vanessa Ferlito , Jordan Ladd , Rose McGowan , Tracie Thoms , Mary Elizabeth Winstead , Zoe Bell , Sidney Poitier Runtime 113 minutes Budget $ 30 million Expand

Rodriguez directed the first film on the bill, the zombie comedy Planet Terror, while Tarantino directed the second, the genre-blending carsploitation slasher Death Proof. Although it was a cool idea to recreate an old-school B-movie double feature, Grindhouse was a box office bomb, grossing just $25,422,088 against its $67 million budget (via Box Office Mojo).

Although it was a cool idea to recreate an old-school B-movie double feature,
Grindhouse
was a box office bomb

If anything, Planet Terror and Death Proof replicated the scratchy, amateurish feel of those old exploitation movies a little too well. The audience that shared Tarantino and Rodriguez’s nostalgia for those drive-in double features turned out to be pretty limited.

3 David Lynch – Dune

The Original Dune Adaptation Wasn’t A Blockbuster

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Although Denis Villeneuve would eventually turn Dune into a blockbuster franchise, David Lynch’s original adaptation wasn’t so successful. Lynch’s films are so bizarre and transgressive that they’ve never made much of a splash at the box office. However, movies like Eraserhead and Blue Velvet are relatively cheap to produce, so that’s never been much of an issue.

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Dune (1984) PG-13

In a distant future ruled by intrigue, power, and the coveted spice melange, House Atreides faces betrayal on the desert planet Arrakis. Led by young Paul Atreides, they forge an alliance with the native Fremen, preparing for a showdown against their enemies. As Paul’s destiny unfolds, he discovers his extraordinary abilities and leads a daring rebellion against the Emperor and his forces. In this epic tale of survival and prophecy, Paul emerges as a transformative figure amidst the shifting sands of Arrakis.

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*Availability in US Director David Lynch Release Date December 14, 1984 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Writers David Lynch Cast Kyle MacLachlan , Francesca Annis , Brad Dourif , Richard Jordan , sting , Virginia Madsen , Everett McGill , Patrick Stewart , Kenneth McMillan , Jurgen Prochnow , Sean Young Runtime 137 Mins Expand

Dune marked Lynch’s first (and last) time making a big-budget tentpole for a major studio. Lynch’s Dune cost a whopping $40 million to produce (equivalent to about $120 million today) and only grossed $30,928,421 at the box office (via Box Office Mojo).

Related What is the best director for Dune 4 with Denis Villeneuve out?

Denis Villeneuve said that the third Dune movie, his adaptation of Dune: Messiah, will be the director’s final film in the franchise. Still, he plans to leave the story open for another director to possibly step in and continue the adaptation of the popular book saga. The first Dune movie would be a difficult one to make. As such, I believe that directors like The Green Knight’s David Lowery, Steven Spielberg, and The Maze Runner & Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes director Wes Ball could be great choices.

The movie was hurt by the fact that it tried to cram the entire novel into one movie — a mistake that Villeneuve mercifully avoided — which didn’t give the rich themes of Frank Herbert’s opus enough room to breathe. Despite its underperformance at the box office and initial mixed reviews, Lynch’s Dune has since been reevaluated as a cult classic.

2 Ridley Scott – The Last Duel

The Last Duel Only Grossed $30 Million Against Its $100 Million Budget

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In the months leading up to its release in 2021, The Last Duel seemed to have everything going for it. It marked Ridley Scott’s return to the historical epic genre, and it was Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s first screenwriting collaboration since their Oscar-winning work on Good Will Hunting. It was based on the fascinating true story of the last official duel in French history, told from three different perspectives in a Rashomon-style structure.

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7/10 9/10 The Last Duel RHistoryDrama

The Last Duel is a historical epic drama set amid the Hundred Years War, and explores the ubiquitous power of men, the frailty of justice, and the strength and courage of one woman willing to stand alone in the service of truth. Based on actual events, the film unravels long-held assumptions about France’s last sanctioned duel between Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris; two friends turned bitter rivals.

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*Availability in US Director Ridley Scott Release Date October 15, 2021 Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers Ben Affleck , Matt Damon , Nicole Holofcener Cast Adam Driver , Michael McElhatton , Harriet Walter , Ben Affleck , Matt Damon , Sam Hazeldine , Nathaniel Parker , Jodie Comer Runtime 2h 32m Budget 100 million Expand

But The Last Duel arrived as one of the biggest box office bombs in history, grossing just $30,080,003 against its $100 million budget (via The Numbers). There are a couple of factors involved in The Last Duel’s failure. It was overbudgeted, it deals with the challenging subject of sexual assault (and shows it twice), and it arrived at the tail end of the pandemic, when audiences were still cautious about coming back to theaters.

1 Steven Spielberg – West Side Story

Spielberg’s West Side Story Suffered From Post-Pandemic Blues

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Steven Spielberg, the originator of the summer blockbuster, finally realized his lifelong ambition to remake West Side Story in 2021. But despite being hailed as one of the director’s best films of the 21st century, Spielberg’s West Side Story bombed at the box office. It grossed just $74,826,329 against its $100 million budget (via The Numbers).

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6/10 8/10 West Side Story PG-13DramaCrimeMusical

Based on the 1957 Broadway musical, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story is the second feature-length film to adapt the musical for the big screen. Starring Rachel Zegler and Ansel Elgort, the film tells the story of the forbidden love between a young couple on opposite sides of a conflict between two rival gangs in 1950s New York City.

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*Availability in US Director Steven Spielberg Release Date December 10, 2021 Studio(s) 20th Century Distributor(s) 20th Century Writers Tony Kushner Cast Mike Iveson , Ansel Elgort , Ariana DeBose , Yassmin Alers , Iris Menas , Rachel Zegler , Annelise Cepero , Corey Stoll , Josh Andrés , Josh Andrés Rivera , Rita Moreno , Jamila Velazquez , Brian D’Arcy James , David Alvarez , Rory Curtiss Cook , Jamie Harris Runtime 156 minutes Budget $100 million Expand

Like The Last Duel, West Side Story suffered from its post-pandemic release window. But that wasn’t the only reason for West Side Story’s underperformance. The musical genre hasn’t been doing well at the box office in recent years. Modern musical movies like In the Heights and The Color Purple have similarly struggled to make their money back. Even though West Side Story is one of Spielberg’s best films, there wasn’t much of an audience for it.

Source: Deadline, The Numbers, Box Office Mojo, Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Orson Welles, A Biography, The RKO Story, The Making of Citizen Kane

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