Box Office Flops That Destroyed Careers and Cost Hollywood Millions

Heaven’s Gate (1980)

This western film chronicling the Johnson County War changed the film industry forever, irreparably damaging director Michael Cimino’s career. Heaven’s Gate lost around $123 million at the box office after Cimino’s “vision” for the film quadrupled the production budget. The studio, United Artists, was driven to bankruptcy. The film itself was subject to allegations of animal abuse on set and had also been described by critics as “one of the greatest injustices of cinematic history.”

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The More You Know

  • The director of Cannibal Holocaust had to prove in court that the actors were still alive and didn’t get killed during the movie.
  • While Titanic holds the record for consecutive weeks at the top spot (15), E.T. beats it by one in total weeks at Number One.
  • Original drawings for Iron Man’s suit contained roller blades!
  • They designed E.T.'s face by combining Albert Einstein, Carl Sandburg and a pug dog.
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