This 33%-Rated Period Drama That Made Studio Lose $243M Is the Biggest Box Office Flop Ever
The movie was helmed by the director of Die Hard, based on a book by Michael Crichton, and starred Antonio Banderas. What could possibly go wrong? As it turns out, everything.
Making movies is a risky business, especially financially. Even seasoned Hollywood analysts can't always predict what movies the viewers will ignore.
That's why studios often invest huge amounts of money in producing and promoting films and end up with... well, nothing – it's good if they don't go broke.
The 13th Warrior Was an Ambitious Project Based on a Michael Crichton Novel
The 13th Warrior was an ambitious movie based on Michael Crichton's novel Eaters of the Dead. It seemed like a perfect formula: an adaptation of a bestseller, Die Hard director John McTiernan, the spirit of a medieval saga in the style of Akira Kurosawa.
By the end of the 90s, adaptations of Crichton's works had become a gold mine. After the phenomenal success of Jurassic Park, Hollywood took on adaptations of his other books: Rising Sun, Twister, Timeline. Touchstone Pictures decided to take on The 13th Warrior.
The Movie Went Through Production Hell With Numerous Reshoots
Problems began when the film's production budget, originally announced at $85 million, quickly ballooned to $100 million, and then, as reshoots and re-edits progressed, to a whopping $160 million, including marketing. This was a disaster for the studio.
But the real panic began after the first test screenings. Viewers gave the movie a lukewarm reception, forcing the studio to consider some serious changes.
This is where Michael Crichton himself stepped in. As not only the author of the original novel, but also a man with Hollywood experience, he decided to take the initiative.
The 13th Warrior Became the Biggest Box Office Flop in History
Crichton, who was not listed as director in the credits, organized reshoots, re-edits and significantly changed the final version of the film. This led to an even bigger delay of the premiere: instead of 1998, The 13th Warrior was released in 1999 – on the same day as The Sixth Sense.
In the end, The 13th Warrior became the biggest commercial failure in movie history – with a budget of approximately $160 million, the film grossed $61 million. The studio, taking inflation into account, lost $243 million – again, adjusted for inflation, no one has ever surpassed that amount.
What Did Viewers & Critics Think of The 13th Warrior?
The 13th Warrior failed to live up to expectations at the box office or with critics, although it later found some popularity on home video – it was a hit on the VHS market.
However, the film still holds a 33% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
One of the most influential film critics in the world, Roger Ebert, gave the film 1.5 stars out of 4, noting that the film is “lumbering from one expensive set-piece to the next without taking the time to tell a story that might make us care.”
Ordinary viewers were more gracious giving it a 66% score on Rotten Tomatoes. One of the Reddit users wrote:
“6.6 on IMDB, and 33%/66% on Rotten seems outrageous to me. This movie was pretty great in pretty much every respect.”
Over time, The 13th Warrior has achieved cult status thanks to devoted fans who still consider it underrated.
