10 cinema classics that flopped
26.09.11
(1939). It is very hard to believe that some of the best films ever made were commercial flops when they were first released. Were they too complex? Were the too arty? Or were they released at the wrong time? The reasons vary but there’s no denying these classics have survived better than many more successful movies of the day.
So what makes a movie classic? I think it has a lot to do with enduring appeal. Some have achieved cult status when released many years later while others were re-discovered after a lengthy period in obscurity. Art-house and underground cinema has also enhanced many a film’s reputation. Certainly the big nostalgia boom of the seventies coupled with TV, video and DVD have added a great deal to their popularity. Because there are so many brilliant films that failed at the box office, a comprehensive list would be endless. So as someone who likes his movies a little more offbeat, here are ten movie classics that stood out for me. They are not all faultless (and in one case not even very good), but they have survived the decades and remain a unique record in cinema history.
Source: Shadowlocked