The Top 10 Sneaky-Good Flops of the ’00s
These are movies that “flopped” at the box office (i.e. made less money than was spent to make them). Some were spectacular flops, and some only barely missed making it out of the red. However, I really liked them all. Usually, financial flops that people like are labelled “underrated” or “cult classics.” You’ll find some of those here. You’ll also find some “overrated” films or films critics thought were just “bad,” and not deserving of the little money they did make. I’ll be interested to know your reactions and thoughts. Without further ado, they are here listed, the top 10 sneaky-good flops of the ’00s.
#10 Le Pacte des Loups (2001)
Christophe Gans directed this piece of eye candy (released as The Brotherhood of the Wolf in the U.S.) and did not skimp. Every dollar of the $29 million budget is on the screen. The film is beautiful, the colors pop, and the action is pretty freakin’ great. In a wise move, Mark Dacascos (Iron Chef America’s “Chairman”) was given no lines. Le Pacte des Loups grossed a meager $11 million, less than half of what was spent to make it.
#9 The Island (2005)
One of the more profound flops of all time, The Island suffered from severe Michael Bay backlash. Bay probably could have directed Citizen Kane as a follow-up to Pearl Harbor (which, incidentally, netted $60 million), and it would have flopped at the box office. The Island cost a whopping $126 million to make and grossed an embarrassing $35 million. Bay blamed his insistence on Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson (who was only just becoming the bombshell she is now…) and the curious lack of marketing for the flop. He might as well have blamed Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett. The Island‘s first forty minutes is a pretty smart and sleek biotech thriller, followed by the standard Michael Bay chase extravaganza. Good popcorn fun.
#8 I Heart Huckabees (2004)
Grossing only $12 million from a budget of $22 million, I Heart Huckabees is an odd duck. Directed by David O. Russell on the heels of his Three Kings success, Huckabees boasts an all-star cast: Mark Wahlberg, Jason Schwartzman, Dustin Hoffman, Jude Law, Lily Tomlin, and Naomi Watts. The problem with Huckabees is one of classification: Just what the heck IS this movie? “A local poet and activist hires existential detectives to investigate the meaning of three coincidences that could hold the key to life.” Uh, what? And that’s from the DVD box! By far the most original comedy of that year, and maybe the decade, and a great movie that no one got…except us!
#7 Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Shane Black is the writer behind such popcorn schlock as the Lethal Weapon series, The Last Boy Scout, The Last Action Hero, and The Long Kiss Goodnight (the script for which Black was famously paid $4 million). This could be another case of over-saturation, but I don’t know that people knew or know who Shane Black was or is. Who pays attention to screenwriters except us Mockingbird at the Movies nerds? In his directorial debut, Black’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a great little mystery thriller starring the always wonderful Robert Downey, Jr. and a hilarious Val Kilmer. It’s smart, well-written, and an unexplainable flop. It cost the very resonable $15 million to make but still only grossed the does-that-even-count? sum of $4 million (which, if you’ll recall, was the sum Black was paid for the relatively awful Long Kiss screenplay). This is one of my favorite movies to show friends. They invariably say, “I’ve never even heard of that!”
#6 Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)
An adaptation of Chuck Barris‘ “unauthorized autobiography” (get it?), George Clooney‘s directorial debut is really very good. Sam Rockwell is just awesome as Barris, the creator of The Dating Game, The Newlywed Game, and The Gong Show, and who just might have been a CIA assassin. Clooney proves that he knows what to do behind the camera as well as in front of it, starring alongside Rockwell and Drew Barrymore. Another probable victim of overwhelming quirkiness, Confessions foundered because no one could figure out how to market a film about a man no one had ever heard of and who had possibly killed dozens of people. This is a must-watch, if only for Rockwell’s stunning performance and for the killer of an opening line: “When you’re young, your potential is infinite. You might do anything, really. You might be Einstein, you might be DiMaggio. Then you get to an age where what you might be gives way to what you have been. You weren’t Einstein, you weren’t anything. That’s a bad moment.” Clooney got the studio to give him $29 million to make Confessions, but the silly public only shelled out $16 million to see it.
#5 Mission: Impossible 3 (2006)
This one, ultimately, was not that much of a flop. It grossed $133 million from a budget of $150 million. It was released soon after Tom Cruise‘s jumping-on-Oprah’s-sofa episode, when people were in full-on “Tom Cruise is REALLY freaking weird” mode, and with an opening weekend gross of only $47 million, MI:3 was proclaimed a flop immediately. And compared to the other two entries in the franchise, which grossed $180 million from a budget of $80 million and $215 million from a budget of $125 million, respectively, MI:3 was a flop. But MI:3 is a great movie. It is everything you want in a Mission: Impossible film, headlined by an amazing villain, played with great aplomb by
Philip Seymour Hoffman. It’s the best of the three, without question, and anyone who tells you differently is watching the first Mission: Impossible with “Before Tom Cruise got weird” wistful glasses. No less an august source than the A.V. Club called MI:3 “a very fine film.” Done and done.
#4 Dirty Pretty Things (2002)
Again, not much of a flop, but as we get higher on this list, movies get better, and therefore tend to make more money. Stephen Frears‘ dark-as-hell thriller about the seedy London underworld is really not to be missed. But, as you can tell from the $8 million gross, many people did indeed miss it. Costing only $10 million to make, Dirty Pretty Things made Chiwetel Ejiofor (Inside Man, American Gangster) a star, at least to the extent that he is a star. His performance completely overshadows Audrey Tautou (of Amelie fame). It’s the kind of performance that will keep coming back to you, and the kind of movie you’ll never forget. Also watch out for Sergi Lopez in one of the creepiest roles of all time. Do not miss this film, but think twice before deciding to watch it by yourself.
#3 Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
Paul Thomas Anderson is in a class by himself as a filmmaker. The only reason he wasn’t my Desert Island Director a few weeks ago is that he’s only made five feature films. It’s just not enough for me to survive for the rest of my life. But the reason he’s only made five is that each one is a total labor of love and an absolute masterpiece. Hard Eight, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love, and There Will Be Blood. Wow. Made for $25 million, the reason Punch-Drunk Love flopped is simple: “Adam Sandler in a serious movie? NO WAY!” But he did it. Unequivocally. His performance is thoughtful, esoteric, and in turn subtle and grandiose. In layman’s terms: really, really, good. Love only grossed $18 million, likely due to Little Nicky blowback. Sandler typecast himself with Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison, and then abused our goodwill with Nicky. The clue? Punch-Drunk Love came out just a year after Little Nicky. America was not ready to forgive. Now that the decade is over, let’s proclaim it an Adam Sandler Jubilee Year: Watch Punch-Drunk Love, and enjoy.
#2 25th Hour (2002)
The aforementioned A.V. Club named 25th Hour the second best movie of the decade…period. And it is that good. But this, of course, is a personal list, so it only gets as high as #2 here. To call 25th Hour a flop is almost mean: it’s just small. It grossed $13 million from a budget of $15 million. Directed by Spike Lee (jointed by Spike Lee?) and starring Edward Norton, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Barry Pepper, the movie follows a man taking care of loose ends on the day before he has to begin serving a prison sentence. Norton is the soon-to-be-jailbird and Hoffman and Pepper are his friends, trying vainly to help him “deal” with his situation. Brian Cox and Rosario Dawson play wonderful smaller parts, as well. It’s the best thing Lee has ever done, and the relationship he develops (in one day, showing no friend-related flashbacks) between the three men is an astounding achievement, with the help of screenwriter David Benioff (adapting his own novel). A depressed post-9/11 New York movie, 25th Hour is, like Dirty Pretty Things, a movie you will not soon forget. It deals in friendship, betrayal, and love, and the lengths we go to for each.
#1 Wonder Boys (2000)
The best of the flops of the ’00s, Wonder Boys is an adaptation of a Michael Chabon (winner of the Pulitzer Prize for The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay) novel. Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential, 8 Mile) directs and Michael Douglas, Frances McDormand, Tobey Maguire, and Robert Downey, Jr. star in a story about academics, writing, repression, and failure. The thing to watch for here is the powerful melancholy of the characters and the honesty that each of the actors bring them. Grossing only $19 million from budget of $35 million, Wonder Boys was and remains terribly under-appreciated. Chabon’s specialty is writing real people, and this film is stocked with them. These people find happiness, after a fashion, in romantic and unexpected ways. Wonder Boys will warm your heart, but it won’t do it cheaply…it earns tears, and ultimately smiles.
Until next time…and remember, don’t let the box office tell you what’s good!
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COMMENTS
7 responses to “Mockingbird at the Movies: Another Top Ten”
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Once again, Mockingbird at the Movies shows my movie knowledge for the farce it is, with some movies that never made it to my radar screen. Judging from the "flops" I did see and are listed here, I'm watching the rest.
Huckabees secured Mark Wahlberg as a underestimated comic actor. I really enjoyed Confessions — Rockwell was so seedy. You're right about MI3 — I couldn't agree more.
And then there's Wonder Boys. Wedged between the Game, a Perfect Murder, and Don't Say a Word, Wonder Boys reminded me that Douglas can really act. Because around that time, I felt like he was the same character in every movie. Not in Wonder Boys — he is delightful.
Nick, you've out done yourself with this one. Your movie knowledge is deep. I always wanted to see The Brotherhood of the Wolf, now I will. Totally agree on The Island, by the by; I really liked that movie.
Also, your devotion to Tom Cruise is admirable, and at the same time kind of disturbing…just kidding buddy!;) I'm right there with you!
Amazing list Nick. Thank you for this! I'm with you on all of these, even The Island. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is such a gem (why doesn't Kilmer do more comedy?! he's a, um, real genius at it).
I think Wonder Boys may be Michael Douglas' greatest performance… And Brotherhood of the Wolf – the greatest French kungfu-western-horror movie all time. And Phillip Seymour Hoffman's Romans 7 moment in The 25th Hour may be the most powerful example put on film.
again, thanks so much for these Nick. I'm going to go rewatch them all.
I agree Mission Impossible 3 was the best of the three. MI2 was probably one of the reasons John Woo went back to making films in China (I hear Red Cliff is actually a decent flick and a return to Hong Kong form for those of us who liked Woo's work before he came to the States). In my opinion the people who would say MI1 was best are probably just holding a torch for Emannuelle Beart.
… but Brotherhood of the Wolf? That was like some kind of French arthouse action variation on a parlor mystery. In other words a three hour long Scooby-doo episode!
Hey Nick. At 9am this morning I posted something telling you (at length) how much I loved your piece — only to have Google's blog editor eat it and give me an error message. A good opportunity to get in touch with some profanity that even I was surprised I knew.
I minute ago I tried again only to have Microsoft's browser freeze and crash.
It's as if the powers and principalities don't want me to give you some love.
So I'll try one more time. This is what I think I remember I said this morning.
===================
Great piece, Nick. Love your idea for this week’s column. And I am also very fond of most of these movies, and it was nice to hear you mention them.
About “Punch Drunk Love”… I think you are on to something, in your guesses about why it failed at the box office. But I’d say it a bit differently. I don’t think it owed to moviegoers being hurt or angry, and as you suggest unwilling to forgive Sandler (for being in a recent bad movie). After all, Sandler was in a lot of bad movies before that and Sandler actually had a pretty good fan base. Maybe their tastes were pretty coarse, but he did have fans.
What I think happened in Punch Drunk was that his fans and detractors alike were faced with punctured expectations. His detractors already knew enough to classify this as “another dumb Adam Sandler movie” and stayed away. Those of his fans who went at first were scandalized because they expected another dumb Adam Sandler movie and got instead a strange complex character in a work of art – which was not what they were coming to see. My guess is that they gave the movie a lot of bad press in its first couple weeks.
It’s a lot along the line of what happened to Woody Allen when he made Interiors. People expected another zany movie by Woody and got instead a cross between Chekhov and Bergman.
Thanks so much for the special love you give to Wonder Boys at the end of your piece. I feel bad now that I didn’t mention it myself. You’re right: it really is lovely.
Brotherhood of the Wolf — the movie was fair and not sure why it gets all the Lannon love that it does. I would remove it from the list.
The Island — terrible, should not be on the list. It can't be good popcorn fun as it makes me want to throw up.
I heart Huckabees — easily the worst film on the list. Instead of passing me the popcorn, pass me an icepick to gouge out my eyes.
Kiss, Kiss Bang, Bang — a fair film though I would kick it off the list as well. I also do not understand the Lannon fetish for Val.
Confessions — excellent choice, laud, praise, magnify.
MI3 — you are correct that this movie is redeemed by PSH — but what movie isn't. This movie demeans us as Keri Russell (yes from Felicity) is in it as a secret agent. I would kick it off the list.
Dirty Pretty Things — beyond an excellent choice, laud, praise, magnify. I would move this up.
Punch Drunk Love — praise again. A very, very good underrated film. Would also move up.
25th House — praise again, excellent choice.
Wonderboys — loved the book, thought the movie was ok. I would probably kick off the list and give it an honorable mention.
Possible replacements for those kicked off:
Charlie Wilson's War (Cost: $75 million; Made: $66 million)
Enemy at the Gates (Cost: $85 million; Made: $51 million)
Tears of the Sun (Cost: $75 million; Made: $43 million)
Ali (Cost: $110 Million, Made: $85 million)
Donnie Darko (Cost: $4.5 million, Made: $1.25 million)
Children of Men (Cost: $76 million; Made: $36 million)
21 Grams (Cost: $20 million; Made: $16 million)
Dang Michael…that's what makes horse races, I guess. I liked Charlie Wilson, Children of Men, and Enemy at the Gates. Were the list longer, they may have made it. I HATED Donnie Darko, 21 Grams, and Tears of the Sun. To borrow a phrase, they're my "icepick" movies. Ali was all right, but it didn't float my proverbial boat.
I can't believe that Huckabees was the worst movie on this list for you! Was the acting, the story? I really thought it was great.