10 Box Office Flops Despite High Rotten Tomatoes Scores

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Ever since its debut in 1998, Rotten Tomatoes has significantly influenced our perspective towards movies. It’s now commonly used by viewers as a guide, helping them decide which films merit their attention and resources. A movie with a low Rotten Tomatoes rating might persuade you to postpone watching it until it’s available for home viewing. Conversely, a high Rotten Tomatoes score can make a film seem like an unmissable cinematic experience, prompting viewers to prioritize seeing it in theaters.

Due to its influence, Rotten Tomatoes holds significant power in Hollywood and can greatly impact a movie’s success or failure at the ticket sales. However, it’s important to note that this isn’t the only factor. There are numerous films out there that didn’t benefit from positive critical reviews, yet still flopped at the theater box office.

Here are 10 films that have high Rotten Tomatoes scores but very low box office numbers.

10
‘The Fall Guy’ (2024)

81% on Rotten Tomatoes

This movie, titled “The Fall Guy,” revolves around a stuntman who finds himself in the midst of a mysterious plot while working on a film being helmed by his former lover, his ex-girlfriend. Starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, both fresh off their triumphs from the previous year’s “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, this film also boasts David Leitch as co-director, known for his success with action films like “John Wick” and “Deadpool 2.” Critics lauded it, giving it an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Surprisingly, even with outstanding ratings, The Fall Guy didn’t resonate much at the ticket counters. It managed to earn $181 million globally, but its production cost was between $125–150 million. This means that the producers ended up losing approximately $50 million on their investment.

9
‘The Last Duel’ (2021)

85% on Rotten Tomatoes

The Final Clash”

“The Final Clash” is a historical drama that unfolds the tale of one of the last actual duels in Medieval France. Two knights, Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) and Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver), share camaraderie until a shocking allegation arises: Jean’s wife, Marguerite (Jodie Comer), accuses Jacques of a heinous crime – rape. This narrative is divided into three distinct parts, each offering a glimpse from the perspective of its characters, and ultimately weaving their stories together seamlessly.

The movie received praise for its accurate portrayal of a medieval era (despite omitting French accents) and its distinctive narrative style. On Rotten Tomatoes, it scored 85%. Unfortunately, The Last Duel flopped at the cinema, with some of the blame attributed to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on society. Despite this, it managed to earn just $30.6 million, while its production cost was a staggering $100 million.

8
‘Donnie Darko’ (2001)

88% on Rotten Tomatoes

The movie titled “Donnie Darko” narrates the story of a teenage boy named Donnie who endures a peculiar accident and subsequently encounters uncommon visions that foretell an upcoming catastrophe. Jake Gyllenhaal, in his debut performance, plays the lead character in this film.

Donnie Darko is the type of movie that an independent studio could produce uniquely, as it’s offbeat, unconventional, and somewhat peculiar. Unfortunately, these qualities may have contributed to its poor performance at the box office, with viewers not flocking to see it, possibly due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks happening a month and a half before its premiere. Despite this initial underperformance, Donnie Darko has since grown into a cult favorite, garnering significant appreciation in the years following its 2001 release.

7
‘The Shawshank Redemption’ (1994)

89% on Rotten Tomatoes

According to Stephen King’s novel, The Shawshank Redemption tells the story of Andy Dufresne (played by Tim Robbins), who is falsely convicted and given a life sentence for a crime he didn’t commit: the murder of his wife and her partner.

Though often hailed as one of the best movies ever produced, The Shawshank Redemption, surprisingly, only holds an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, its audience score aligns more with expectations, sitting at a high 98%. It’s worth noting that this iconic film didn’t perform well financially during its initial release, earning just $16 million against a budget of $25 million. Despite this underperformance, The Shawshank Redemption managed to recoup some losses during the awards season, with several Oscar nominations. However, it became notorious for missing out on all those nominations.

6
‘The Suicide Squad’ (2021)

90% on Rotten Tomatoes

In 2016, the movie titled “Suicide Squad” gathered a band of infamous supervillains and assigned them with the mission of saving the world. Fast forward five years, Warner Bros. released a follow-up film, not just a sequel but also a sort of reboot: “The Suicide Squad“. Despite sharing many similarities in title, plot, and characters, these two films elicited completely contrasting responses from viewers.

Speaking of films, let’s contrast two different versions of “The Suicide Squad”. The 2016 release was a financial triumph, earning approximately $750 million globally despite being panned by critics. Conversely, the 2021 version garnered a more positive response from critics, boasting a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it struggled at the box office due to ongoing COVID-19 impacts and perhaps some residual association with its earlier counterpart.

5
‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ (2024)

90% on Rotten Tomatoes

In 2015, the film “Mad Max: Fury Road” was both critically and financially successful. It received praise from critics, multiple Oscar nominations, and raked in hundreds of millions at the box office. Warner Bros. aimed to duplicate this success with a spin-off prequel titled “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga“, set for release in 2024. The film boasts an impressive cast including Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth.

Just like its previous version, the movie titled Furiosa was highly praised by critics, earning a remarkable 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, despite positive feedback, the film struggled financially at the box office. It earned only $173 million globally, which was more than its production budget of $168 million. Yet, Furiosa eventually managed to thrive on streaming platforms, becoming one of the most watched movies on Max.

4
‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ (1971)

92% on Rotten Tomatoes

I had the pleasure of experiencing the enchanting world of “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” a cinematic adaptation inspired by Roald Dahl’s timeless tale, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” As luck would have it, I was one of five fortunate individuals to discover a golden ticket, granting me an exclusive tour of Willy Wonka’s fantastical chocolate factory. The legendary Gene Wilder brought the quirky and unforgettable chocolatier to life in what remains one of his most iconic roles.

You might find it intriguing to know that “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” didn’t initially achieve commercial success. It earned only $4 million, which was less than its production cost of $3 million. However, its popularity and profitability grew significantly over time due to repeated television broadcasts and home video sales. Since its 1971 debut, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” has taken on a timeless quality, much like the book it’s adapted from. This could be one reason behind its impressive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, currently standing at 92%.

3
‘In the Heights’ (2021)

94% on Rotten Tomatoes

As a movie buff who loves musicals, I can tell you that “In the Heights” takes me on a journey through the lives of residents in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood, all striving for a brighter future. This film is an adaptation of the stage play by Lin-Manuel Miranda, with him penning both the lyrics and music that bring the story to life.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the movie “In the Heights” struggled at the box office, earning just $45.2 million compared to its production cost of $55 million. Despite this financial setback, it was highly praised by critics, receiving a Golden Globe nomination and an impressive 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Since then, “In the Heights” has been hailed as one of the finest musical films of the 21st century.

2
‘The Iron Giant’ (1999)

96% on Rotten Tomatoes

In the context of the Cold War in 1957, the movie titled “The Iron Giant” portrays an extraordinary bond between a young boy and an extraterrestrial robot from space. This film garnered acclaim from critics for its stunning visuals, heartfelt narrative, and exceptional acting performances.

Despite flopping at the box office with a meager $31 million revenue compared to its $50 million budget, The Iron Giant eventually found success. Nowadays, many Millennials view it as an iconic animated masterpiece, a film that defines their generation. Furthermore, it has been acclaimed as one of the best animated films ever produced.

1
‘Citizen Kane’ (1941)

99% on Rotten Tomatoes

The movie “Citizen Kane” chronicles the life of publishing magnate Charles Foster Kane, portrayed by Orson Welles, as a journalist seeks to understand the significance of his last uttered word, “Rosebud.” The character is inspired by William Randolph Hearst, whose influential newspaper business reigned supreme in the early 1900s. Notably, Hearst restricted the film’s initial theater showings, which ultimately affected its box office performance.

Back then in the 1940s, there was no Rotten Tomatoes or even the internet to share opinions about movies like we do today. Yet, the timeless masterpiece that is Citizen Kane, has been reevaluated and celebrated by modern audiences. And guess what? It’s currently sitting pretty with a 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the most highly-regarded films in cinematic history from my perspective as a movie enthusiast.

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2025-05-31 19:35