From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love
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All art is subjective, of course, but movies are generally judged by two groups: critics and the public. Ultimately, it’s the ticket-buying audiences who decide whether a movie was a hit or a miss. You might be surprised, however, to learn that many films which we now consider classics were initially swept out of cinemas after failing to attract attention. Join us for our list of movies that were simply too good to be ignored forever, and eventually became part of Hollywood history… [Photo: National Telefilm Associates/Wikimedia Commons]

By Victoria Luxford

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – Now regularly listed as one of the finest films ever made, The Shawshank Redemption is a prime example of how movie fans determine what becomes a classic. Frank Darabont’s adaptation of the Stephen King prison tale bombed on its release in 1994 – a strong year for movies – with many blaming factors such as the vague title and lack of star power for its failure. Awards voters noticed, however, and Oscar nominations combined with people discovering the film on VHS rental led to the film getting a re-release, and the attention it deserved.

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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Missing Link (2019) – This is a recent entry, but a film we believe is already beginning to win retrospective fans. Animation studio Laika told the story of an explorer (voiced by Hugh Jackman) who discovers the fabled ‘missing link’ (Zach Galifianakis), in an adventure that’s a feast for both the eyes and heart. It didn’t win over audiences on its release, possibly due to an unfamiliar story and suspect marketing, however those who caught the film on streaming services have begun to spread the word about this humble masterpiece.

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – Incredible as it may seem, this Christmas staple just didn’t land with 1940s America. Audiences craved something lighter as they recovered from the Second World War, while critics dismissed what they viewed as an over-reliance on sentiment. A copyright lapse in the 1970s meant the film was repeatedly aired on local TV stations at Christmastime, ushering it into the homes and hearts of millions across the globe. Director Frank Capra, who lived to see his film get the recognition it deserved, remarked: “I’m like a parent whose kid grows up to be president.”

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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The Wizard of Oz (1939) – Seven years earlier, another Hollywood classic did win over critics, but cinema fans stayed away as Judy Garland fantasy The Wizard of Oz lost money for studio MGM. Like It’s a Wonderful Life, the film was saved by TV reruns and shown as a special event in 1956 (prior to the advent of home video). It was a hit on the small screen, becoming one of the most well-known and beloved stories of all time. Despite originally being cast out, the film’s revival exemplifies its hopeful message about finding your way home in the end.

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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Dredd (2012) – Modern action films are a high-stakes game. Studios pour millions into productions, in the hope that the level of spectacle will pay off in ticket sales. Just about earning back its budget of $45 million, the sci-fi comic book adaptation has nevertheless gained a cult following that still pleads with star Karl Urban for a sequel. The film is also rumoured to be the real directorial debut of Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation), who reportedly stepped in to replace credited director Pete Travis (Urban himself has confirmed the reports in interviews).

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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Children of Men (2006) – Prior to his hits Gravity and Roma, Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón crafted this thoughtful science fiction story, set in 2027 when society is crumbling due to pervasive infertility and conflict. The film, starring Clive Owen and Julianne Moore, is a remarkable and prescient piece that underscored many issues to come (particularly attitudes toward immigration in Western countries). The film’s dark tone resulted in a loss for the filmmakers in cinemas, but it has since been heralded as one of the best films of this century.

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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Fight Club (1999) – The style. The catchphrases. Brad Pitt’s washboard abs. Everything about Fight Club seems iconic, but David Fincher’s anti-capitalist fable was one of the most controversial films of the ‘90s. Fears of fans emulating Brad Pitt’s character, charming anarchist Tyler Durden, as well as controversy over dialogue meant the film had to wait until its release on the new DVD format to gain traction. The rest is history, but of course, the first rule is that we don’t talk about it…

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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The Master (2012) – What happens when three of the finest actors of their generation enter a tense mind game? You get Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master, about a reckless sailor (Joaquin Phoenix) who forms a dangerous bond with a cult leader (the late Philip Seymour Hoffman). Amy Adams rounds out a trio of great performances that deserve to be seen by more than those who attended on its theatrical run. Thankfully the rise of streaming services have meant this acting showcase is never more than a click away, and Anderson’s drama has been re-evaluated by the masses.

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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Heathers (1989) – A black comedy that skewered the squeaky-clean image of American high school movies, Heathers has served as inspiration for almost every nightmarish clique in a teen movie ever since. Despite its subversive take on the high school experience, the tale of Winona Ryder’s murderous revenge on a group of popular girls was deemed too morbid by critics, earning back just a third of its $3 million budget. Happily, it became a staple of high school sleepovers and late-night TV repeats, finally making its way to the top of the class.

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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Showgirls (1995) – Paul Verhoeven’s erotic drama stands out from this list because every other entry is remembered as a great film. Showgirls is not a great film, crammed full of unrealistic scenarios and melodramatic performances. However, it has won the affection of a devoted fan base thanks to its high camp and ludicrous plot twists. Becoming a hit with midnight movie crowds, the film wasn’t the gripping morality tale that was initially intended, but it has found its place as a so-bad-it’s-good favourite.

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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Hocus Pocus (1993) – Disney recently greenlit a sequel to this camp ‘90s spooktacular about three 17th-century Salem witches who are accidentally summoned back to life by a teenager. It’s a mark of how the comedy has endured, with stars Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker professing their love for the movie that enjoyed more success over the years on Disney’s TV networks than it initially did on the big screen. Filled with witty dialogue, loud outfits and a hell of a musical number, it’s the Halloween movie of choice for those who want something fun but not too scary.

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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The Fast & Furious Franchise (2001-) – We know what you’re thinking: the Fast & Furious films are among the most financially successful flicks of all time. And that’s true, but while most of the movies on this list found success despite financial failure, Fast & Furious films were box-office triumphs that took a while to gain a pop-culture following. Starting out as a grungy, niche car race drama, the first few movies were modest hits with low budgets. However, around the arrival of the fourth film in 2009, the series stepped up its ambitions and became a blockbuster tradition, with the ninth instalment on the way this year. A series that has grown on audiences, the budgets and effects only ever seem to get bigger.

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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Wet Hot American Summer (2001) – Sometimes a film grows in stature as its cast becomes more successful. A spoof of American summer camp movies, Wet Hot American Summer cast suspiciously older actors as teenagers, and was adored by all who saw it. The problem? Not that many people saw it. Stars Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper and Elizabeth Banks were not quite as famous as they are now, but as their fortunes rose over the years, more and more film fans began seeking out this earlier work. The fan base became so large that a prequel and sequel TV series was ordered from 2015-17, hilariously disregarding the aging of the actors.

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) – A decade on, this remains a head-scratcher for many. A vibrant, witty story about a young man (Michael Cera) who must defeat the evil exes of his new girlfriend (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) has action, cultural references and a hilarious appearance from Chris Evans (just before he became Captain America). It seemed to have everything going for it, but despite rapturous applause at San Diego Comic Con, those outside of the geek community didn’t really warm to Edgar Wright’s film. With most of the cast (Brie Larson, Anna Kendrick, Kieran Culkin) going on to great things, it remains a beloved story of romance… and extra lives.

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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Tron (1982) – If there’s a movie that defines the term ‘ahead of its time’, it’s Tron. Disney’s high-concept story about a world within a computer system baffled critics and audiences, but over time, Steven Lisberger’s movie has been heralded as almost prophetic, envisioning the digital revolution that was to come. A sequel, Tron: Legacy, emerged in 2011, followed by an animated series that continued the lore of the ‘80s cult classic. The film has proven so culturally significant that a ride based on the film is coming to Disney World in Florida this year. Not bad for a nearly 40-year-old film many dismissed as “incoherent”.

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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Blade Runner (1982) – 1982 was a big year for misunderstood sci-fi. You can chalk the initial failure of Blade Runner up to studio wrangling: the first cut of the Philip K. Dick adaptation was far from Ridley Scott’s vision, but 10 years later, the infamous Director’s Cut fulfilled its potential as a visionary classic that has inspired practically every science fiction film since. 2017 sequel Blade Runner: 2049 is an equally unappreciated work of art, in our humble opinion, gracefully building on the legacy of the original.

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) – For many, Gene Wilder’s portrayal of Roald Dahl’s charismatic Willy Wonka is the definitive version of the character. The 1971 adaptation was a modest success, but picked up steam over the years as new generations discovered Dahl’s work, and subsequently the film itself. The brightly coloured, unusual fantasy is what many think of when the story is mentioned, despite Dahl himself (a credited screenwriter on the film) disowning it.

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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The Big Lebowski (1998) – It’s hard to explain what The Big Lebowski is about, per se. No exact synopsis seems to fit the bill for the Coen Brothers’ psychedelic tale of the adventures of The Dude (Jeff Bridges), a perennial stoner caught up in a kidnapping plot. Given this vagueness, it’s probably no surprise that contemporary late-‘90s critics hated it, and the film didn’t make much money. Yet over time, reviews have been re-evaluated, and The Dude has ascended to the ranks of the most beloved movie characters ever. Like the hero himself, the movie’s quirky genius took its time to win us over.

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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Donnie Darko (2001) – Sometimes real life takes precedence over the movies. Richard Kelly’s apocalyptic mystery was released in October 2001, six weeks after the September 11^th attacks in New York. The quirky, sombre film was already a risky proposition commercially, but a plot involving a crashed plane meant people simply weren’t ready for this kind of story. They would be a few months later, with the film’s word-of-mouth success in the UK combining with strong DVD sales to revive interest in the movie and give rise to a 2004 Director’s Cut. It remains a gloomy but brilliant independent gem.

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love.
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The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) – “It’s not easy having a good time” laments Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), the villain of this chaotic tribute to 1950s pulp science fiction. It’s also not easy to become a cult classic. Taking a satirical laser beam to sexuality and gender, the mainstream simply wasn’t ready for the Richard O’Brien-penned comedy. The film is technically still in its first cinema run, having constantly played in cinemas since 1975. However it was the midnight screening circuit, which developed dress-up showings and singalongs, that made it into a pop culture phenomenon.

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From Bomb To Boom: 20 Movies We Learned To Love

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