Some of the most loved films of all time were not immediate successes. In fact, some of them collapsed downright at the box office when they hit theaters for the first time. But the good news? Many of these films take a second life as a deep and cult classic cuts. The 1980s in particular were full of films which had trouble finding an audience at the exit, to develop massive cult suites in the years that followed.

From fantastic epics to bizarre horror films, the 80s were a reproductive ground for poorly understood masterpieces. Although criticisms and the public may not have appreciated them at the time, these films found redemption thanks to dedicated fans, sales of home videos and the re-evaluation of pop culture. From midnight film to favorite worship, these films have survived many of their most successful peers.

10

There can only be one … but no one showed up to Highlander

1986

Highlander Had all the shows of great fantastic success: sword fights, immortal and an emblematic queen soundtrack. But despite its ambitious premise, the film failed to capture the public at the box office, making only $ 12.9 million against a budget of $ 19 million. The criticisms found it too convoluted, and the general public was simply not interested in a battle covering centuries between the immortal warriors.

However, the weather was nice to Highlander. The film has found a second life on home video, where its unique performance of the world and from the world conquered the fans. Today, it is a classic cult in its own right with several suites, a television series and a dedicated fandom which will never let him die (a bit like his hero, Connor Macleod.)

Highlander

Release date

March 7, 1986

Execution time

116 minutes

Director

Russell Mulcahy

9

Large problems in Little China have seen small feedback but a greater cult status

1986

John Carpenter’s comedy-comedy hybrid was honestly ahead of his time. With Jack Burton, in charge of Kurt Russell, without any idea, the chaos of supernatural martial arts and constantly dialogue, Big problem in little China had all the theoretical compositions of a blockbuster. Instead, he barely raised half of his $ 25 million budget.

The public did not know what to do with his wild man mashup, but the film found a second life on cable television and domestic video. Today, he is celebrated as one of Carpenter’s best films, influencing countless directors and even the follow -up of inspiring comics. Jack Burton was perhaps an unlikely hero, but the legacy of this film is now undeniable.

8

The black cauldron boiled too late

1985

Disney took a major risk with The black cauldronA dark and ambitious animated film that did not look like everything the studio had done before. The bet has not paid. Based on a book from the Dark Fantasy series by Lloyd Alexander, it may have been a little too dark and different for the public. In addition, the fact that they have chosen to adapt the second book in the series and jumped the first may have added a certain confusion.

The film bombed at the box office, not having recovered its massive budget and almost killing Disney’s animation service in the process. But over time, The black cauldron won a dedicated cult, especially among Dark Fantasy fans. His strange animation, his terrifying villain (the horned king) and his atmosphere of bad mood distinguish him from the usual price of Disney. Although he was always considered a oddity in the Disney cannon, he finally found the public he still deserved.

The black cauldron

Release date

July 24, 1985

Execution time

80 minutes

Director

Ted Berman, Richard Rich

7

Labyrinth turned out to have the stay of stay of a classic cult

1986

Despite the star of David Bowie in all his glory of glam rock and featuring the revolutionary puppets of Jim Henson, Labyrinth was a disappointment at the box office. The public in 1986 did not know what to do with his fanciful and dreamlike tone and his bizarre creations. And although they are one of the greatest advantages of the film today, the surrealist story of visuals and fairy tales of the film was not connected with the consumer public, which led to its commercial failure.

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But thanks to the world of domestic video, Labyrinth has become a beloved classic, especially among fantasy fans. Sarah by Jennifer Connelly, the emblematic King Goblin of Bowie, their intense fantastic chemistry and the dreamy aesthetic of the film cemented her as a favorite among the generations of viewers. Today, it is not only a classic cult – it is a cultural touchstone.

Labyrinth

Release date

June 27, 1986

Execution time

101 minutes

Director

Jim Henson

6

The possession found its target audience until well after the release

1981

Possession is one of the most disturbing horror films of all time, but when published, the public was put off and disconcerted. This psychological horror film, directed by Andrzej żuławski, was rejected as too strange, too disturbing and too incomprehensible for the public public. He barely had an impact on the box office, largely because of his uncomfortable mixture of horror, psychological drama and surrealism.

Despite its initial failure, Possession has become a classic beloved cult, especially among horror aficionados. The performance of Isabelle Adjani is legendary, and the intense emotional themes of the film resonate with viewers in search of something beyond traditional horror. NOW, Possession is widely considered one of the greatest horror films ever made. Sometimes the public just needs time to catch up.

Possession

Release date

May 25, 1981

Execution time

124 minutes

Director

Andrzej Zulawski

5

The index was a mystery to the box office

1985

Based on classical board games, Hint was a mystery of ambitious comic murder which should have been a success. It included a stellar distribution, executed only in multiple purposes and a Sharp Razor script. However, its unique structure – where different theaters have shown different endings – ended up confusing the public. The film failed to break even at the box office, rejected as a gadget rather than a big comedy.

Fortunately, the weather was nice to Hint. The home video allowed fans to appreciate all the ends, and its quoted endless script made it an essential cult favorite. Today, Hint is recognized as one of the best mysteries of comic murder ever made, with the performance of Tim Curry a favorite of well -deserved fans, while the humor slapstick of the film and the intelligent word play continue to draw new fans to date.

Hint

Release date

December 13, 1985

Execution time

94 minutes

Director

Jonathan Lynn

4

The thing remains faithful to the legacy of John Carpenter of underestimated films

1982

There is a little model with John Carpenter’s films that were not fully appreciated at the beginning. John Carpenter’s The thing is now praised as one of the greatest horror films of all time, but in 1982, it was a bit of a flop. Released the same year as And the alienThe public was not in mood for nihilistic paranoia and the horror of the grotesque body with regard to foreign films. The criticisms were hard, rejecting him as too bloody and lacking in heart. He failed the box office, apparently condemning Carpenter’s visionary remake of the 1951 film that he loved so much.

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But fortunately, The thing I found a new life on the video and overhaul them, where horror fans ate it. Its masterful practical effects, its suffocating tension, its isolationist framework and its paranoid atmosphere were finally appreciated. Over the years, he has won a massive cult, with a lot, considering him now one of the best science fiction horror films ever made.

3

Heathers was too mean for the dominant current

1989

Moors took the high school film formula and twisted it in something dark, satirical and deeply biting. With his shaved dialogue, his black humor and his flawless gaze on the cruelty of adolescents, in a realistic way, he was never intended for consumer success. The film barely made a breach at the box office, fighting to find an audience in the midst of the most traditional adolescent comedies of the decade. Despite rising talents like Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, Moors was simply too cynical and subversive for the majority of moviegoers in the late 80s.

But time has turned Moors In one of the most loved cult films ever made. His acerbic spirit and his dark themes shamelessly have no longer become relevant, cementing it as a definitive satire of the life of the school. The citability of the film (“What are your damage, Heather?”) And his approach committed and often violent of subjects such as intimidation, clicks and power dynamics makes it constantly rewatchable. He has since inspired a musical, a television adaptation and countless tributes in pop culture. Although it may not have been a success in his own time, Moors is now the gold stallion for dark comedies that refuse to play well.

Moors

Release date

March 31, 1989

Execution time

103 minutes

Director

Michael Lehmann

2

The princess wife was inconceivable underestimated

1987

The princess’s bride Had everything that was going on: a fanciful fairy tale frame, a true story of fairytale love, a distribution of stars and one of the most spiritual scripts of all time. However, for reasons that still confuse today, it simply did not perform well at the box office. Despite glowing criticism and the charm of its tracks, Cary Elwes and Robin Wright, the public simply did not flocate to see it in theaters. His marketing has not completely captured his unique mix of adventure, romance and humor, leaving him fighting to compete with larger and simpler superproductions.

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Fortunately, The princess’s bride I found its audience through video and television broadcasts. Word-to-ear has transformed him into a phenomenon, with fans falling in love with his endless dialogue, his dialogue, his screen and his sincere romance. Lines as “as you wish” and “inconceivable!” have become emblematic, and the film is now considered one of the greatest family films ever made. Today, it is almost impossible to imagine a world where The princess’s bride It was not an instant success, but it is undeniable that it is a classic beloved cult today.

1

Brazil’s bureaucratic nightmare was a box flop

1985

Terry Gilliam’s Brazil was, realistically, unlikely to be a consumer success. It is a surreal dystopian film, visually magnificent and deeply disturbing which, without surprise, fought powerfully at the exit. A bureaucratic nightmare wrapped in a dark and comical package, it was too strange for the everyday audience and faced massive behind the scenes with its studio. Universal Pictures feared that it was too dark and confusing, leading to a delayed release and strongly published in the United States when he finally reached theaters, he did not have a significant impact, which makes it a financial disappointment.

Over the years, Brazil The reputation has developed and grew up, even included in the criteria collection. The fans came to admire his daring narration, his conception of complex production and his strangely prophetic themes on government surveillance and business control. The nightmare aesthetics of the film and the biting satire influenced countless filmmakers, and it remains one of the most unique science fiction films ever.

Brazil

Release date

December 18, 1985

Director

Terry Gilliam