In the motion picture industry, a box-office bomb or box-office flop
is a film that is considered highly unsuccessful or unprofitable
during its theatrical run. Although any film for which the production
and marketing costs exceed the combined revenue after release can be
considered to have "bombed", the term is more frequently used on major
studio releases that are highly anticipated and expensive to
produce.Although this may occur in conjunction with mixed or poor
reviews, negative critical reception does not necessarily result in a
negative box-office performance.Occasionally, films may underperform
because of issues unrelated to the film itself. These issues commonly
relate to the timing of the film's release. This was one of the
reasons for the commercial failure of Intolerance, D. W. Griffith's
follow-up to The Birth of a Nation. Owing to production delays, the
film was not released until late 1916, a time when the widespread
anti-war sentiment it reflected had started to shift in favor of
American entry into World War I.Another example of external events
sinking a film is the 2015 docudrama about FIFA entitled United
Passions. It was released in theaters in the United States at the same
time FIFA's leaders were under investigation for fraud and corruption,
and the film grossed only $918 at the US box office in its opening
weekend.
is a film that is considered highly unsuccessful or unprofitable
during its theatrical run. Although any film for which the production
and marketing costs exceed the combined revenue after release can be
considered to have "bombed", the term is more frequently used on major
studio releases that are highly anticipated and expensive to
produce.Although this may occur in conjunction with mixed or poor
reviews, negative critical reception does not necessarily result in a
negative box-office performance.Occasionally, films may underperform
because of issues unrelated to the film itself. These issues commonly
relate to the timing of the film's release. This was one of the
reasons for the commercial failure of Intolerance, D. W. Griffith's
follow-up to The Birth of a Nation. Owing to production delays, the
film was not released until late 1916, a time when the widespread
anti-war sentiment it reflected had started to shift in favor of
American entry into World War I.Another example of external events
sinking a film is the 2015 docudrama about FIFA entitled United
Passions. It was released in theaters in the United States at the same
time FIFA's leaders were under investigation for fraud and corruption,
and the film grossed only $918 at the US box office in its opening
weekend.
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