Despite somewar moviestelling compelling stories and being visually spectacular showcases of pure cinema, these achievements don’t always equate to astounding box office success. Several incredible war movies have flopped at the box office, being outshined by bigger releases or sadly being forgotten by modern viewers. Although a box office flop doesn’t necessarily mean a financial loss, it often implies that the film didn’t meet its potential or expectations.
Many ofthe best war moviesever didn’t earn big at the box office, and there were many powerfuldepictions of lesser-known conflictsthat viewers didn’t turn out for. While some ofthe best directors of all timehave put passion and power behind extraordinary cinematic showcases of battle, conflict, and warfare, these have not always earned the kind of enduring legacy they deserve despite having such a high quality. Whileit’s always disappointing when a great war movie does not get the appreciation it should, modern audiences can often rediscover and reappraise older films and finally gain belated praise.
U-571
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U-571, released in 2000, is a World War II naval thriller about a U.S. submarine crew tasked with capturing a German U-boat holding the coveted Enigma coding machine. The mission aims to turn the tide in the Allies' favor by cracking the Nazi communication codes.
The controversial World War II submarine filmU-571was a visually stunning and well-plotted war movie that was marred by jarring historical inaccuracies. As the story of a German submarine boarded by Americans to capture her Enigma cipher machine, the fictional nature of its plot was widely criticized for erasing the real heroic contributions of genuine soldiers. Anger overU-571’shistorical inaccuracies even led to British Prime Minister Tony Blair describing the movie (viaBBC) as an “affront” to British sailors and an example of history being rewritten.
By depicting Americans as capturing the Enigma cipher instead of the British,U-571changed the entire story of the war and gave audiences a false perception of what happened. This main driving plot point ofU-571did the entire film a disservice, as the other production values were so high. Taking in $127 million worldwide,U-571underperformed box office expectations and could have been a much bigger hit had this controversy not cast a dark shadow over its reputation.
Hamburger Hill
Hamburger Hill is an action war-drama film based on the true events surrounding the Battle of Hamburger Hill and was directed by John Irvin. The movie centers on a group of men in the Bravo Company who battle to claim the infamously named hill while trying to keep themselves and each other safe in one of the bloodiest battles in American history.
The Vietnam War has served as the basis for some of the most acclaimed war movies of all time. While films likeApocalypse Now,The Deer Hunter, andPlatoonhave all become defining releases in war cinema history, the excellent war dramaHamburger Hillhas not gained the same kind of enduring reputation. Despite boasting an impressive 100% on Rotten Tomatoes,Hamburger Hillhas not achieved the ubiquitous pop culture relevance as those other films.
Set during the Battle of Hamburger Hill, a May 1969 assault during the Vietnam War by the U.S. Army’s 3rd Battalion,Hamburger Hillwas a thrilling look at the experiences of that platoon’s members as they faced the challenges of conflict. With a box office gross of $13,839,404, this was far beyond general box office expectations for a war film of this type. WhileHamburger Hillnever fully got its due, it remains a powerful Vietnam War movie that’s well worth watching.
Jarhead
Jarhead is a war drama directed by Sam Mendes, based on Anthony Swofford’s memoir about his experiences as a Marine sniper during the Gulf War. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Swofford, the film explores the psychological challenges faced by soldiers amidst the monotony and anticipation of combat. The movie also features performances by Peter Sarsgaard and Jamie Foxx, capturing the often-overlooked emotional turmoil of military life in a desert war.
Jake Gyllenhaal gave an astounding performance as Lance Corporalin Sam Mendes’Jarhead, a film that chronicled his military service in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Persian Gulf War. As a psychological study that brought viewers into soldiers' mentalities,Jarheadpowerfully showcased the boredom, isolation, and terror those embroiled in conflict zones must contend with on a day-to-day basis. By showing off both the banal and complex aspects of war, Jarhead does not sugarcoat military life as it embraces realism.
While these more psychologically rich and emotionally complex aspects of Jarhead made it a uniquely engaging war movie, it may have also turned off audiences who were hoping to experience the action-packed spectacle.Jarheadgrossed just over $97 million against its $72 million budget, which was a disappointing profit for a movie of this kind. Although Gyllenhaal was praised for his performance,Jarheaddeserved better.
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a historical drama directed by Peter Weir, featuring Russell Crowe as Captain Jack Aubrey. The film is set during the Napoleonic Wars and follows Aubrey as he navigates his ship, HMS Surprise, through treacherous waters in pursuit of a French privateer. Based on Patrick O’Brian’s series of novels, the film explores themes of leadership, strategy, and naval warfare.
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the Worldwas a war movie set during the Napoleonic Wars. Based on theAubrey–Maturinseries by Patrick O’Brian, this epic nautical story starred Russell Crowe as Aubrey, a captain in the Royal Navy, alongside the ship’s surgeon Paul Bettany as Dr. Stephen Maturin. WhileMaster and Commanderwas truly epic in scope and was even nominated for ten Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, it unfortunately flopped at the box office.
With a budget of $150 million,Master and Commandergrossed just $211 million, which, although making it a moderate success, was far less than had been envisioned for this potential franchise. With over 20 novels in O’Brian’s original book series,Master and Commanderdid earn enough to get a sequel greenlit, although the movie’s legacy has only continued to grow over the years as viewers recognize its brilliance. While in 2021, it was announced that a prequel was in development (viaDeadline), this has yet to come to fruition.
The Killing Fields
The Killing Fields is a historical drama directed by Roland Joffé, centered on the harrowing experiences of journalist Sydney Schanberg and his Cambodian aide Dith Pran during the Khmer Rouge regime. Starring Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor, and John Malkovich, the film depicts their efforts to document the brutal conditions and struggle for survival amid the political turmoil in Cambodia.
The Khmer Rouge’s regime in Cambodia was one of the most shocking dictatorships in modern history, whose shocking civil war was cataloged inThe Killing Fields. Telling the story of bloody conflict filled with genocide and persecution through the story of two journalists,The Killing Fieldswas a gutwrenching depiction of the horrors of warand as compelling a document on the need for peace as things captured in cinema.
As the story and friendship of the Cambodian Dith Pran and American journalist Sydney Schanberg were told with power,The Killing Fieldsshowcased Pol Pot’s ruthless ‘Year Zero' cleansing campaign that led to the murder of 2 million citizens. Despite being one of the most powerful war movies ever made,The Killing Fieldsonly attained modest box office success as it earned just over $34 million against its $14.4 million budget. However, Cambodian Haing S. Ngor, who had no previous acting experience, did receive the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Dith Pran.
Johnny Got His Gun
Joe Bonham, a young American soldier, suffers devastating injuries from an artillery shell on the last day of World War I, leaving him a quadruple amputee without the ability to see, hear, or speak. Trapped within his own mind, Joe battles to retain his sanity and find a way to communicate with the outside world. Using Morse code, he taps out messages on his hospital bed, pleading to be put on display as a living example of the true horrors of war.
Johnny Got His Gunwas author, director, and screenwriter Dalton Trumbo’s excellent adaptation of his own 1937 novel recounting the harrowing consequences of a soldier’s life after being hit by an artillery shell during World War I. This shocking anti-war movie saw the American soldier Joe Bonham lose his eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and limbs. Yet, Joe remained conscious and a prisoner in his own body, unable to communicate. While doctors presumed Joe was in a vegetative state, he desperately tried to make his plight known by banging his head against a pillow to spell “help” out in Morse code.
WhileJohnny Got His Gundid receive acclaim upon release, modern audiences have mostly forgotten it, and it deserves far more recognition. From Joe encountering a vision of Jesus Christ, played by Donald Sutherland, to being placed in a glass coffin as a freak show demonstration of the horrors of war, Joe’s truly imaginable circumstances made for one of the most powerful anti-war movies ever made. Japanese filmmakerAkira Kurosawa even cited the film as one of his all-time favorite movies, showcasing thatJohnny Got His Gundeserves to be much better known.
Flags of Our Fathers
Flags of Our Fathers is a war film directed by Clint Eastwood, based on the book by James Bradley and Ron Powers. The movie recounts the Battle of Iwo Jima, focusing on the iconic photograph of the flag raising and the soldiers involved. Through a series of flashbacks, it delves into the personal and collective experiences of the men who became symbolic heroes, examining both their wartime actions and post-war lives.
Clint Eastwood released two back-to-back movies in 1945 addressing the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima.Letters from Iwo Jimawas a Japanese-language depiction of the conflict showcasing the battle from the Japanese perspective, whileFlags of Our Fathersshowcased the five Marines and one Navy corpsman who were involved in raising the flag on Iwo Jima, an iconic image of the Second World War still well-known today.Letters from Iwo Jimareceived widespread critical acclaim and was even nominated for a number of Academy Awards; however, in the process, this overshadowed the appeal ofFlags of Our Fathers.
Flags of Our Fathersactually bombed at the box office, earning just $65.9 against its $90 million budget, while Eastwood’s companion film earned a similar box office but was more profitable as it cost just $19 million to make. ButFlags of Our Fathershouldn’t be dismissed, as its powerful depiction of bravery and fortitude was a touching homage to the brave men who fought at the battle of Iwo Jima. The double-feature nature of Eastwood’s two movies also acted as a fascinating portrait of the complexities of war, where each side has a story to tell.
Hotel Rwanda
Hotel Rwanda is a historical drama film directed by Terry George. It stars Don Cheadle as Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who shelters over a thousand refugees during the Rwandan genocide. Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, and Joaquin Phoenix also feature in supporting roles. The film portrays the harrowing events and the humanitarian efforts undertaken to save lives amidst the conflict.
Hotel Rwandawas a powerful war film about a lesser-known conflict that was no less tragic and devastating than many of the best-known conflict-based movies. As a depiction of the Rwandan genocide,Hotel Rwandastarred Don Cheadle as Paul Rusesabagina, the real hotelier who, along with his wife Tatiana, provided refuge to more than 1,000 refugees by providing them with shelter in the besieged Hôtel des Mille Collines. As a depiction of genocide, political corruption, and the repercussions of violence,Hotel Rwandaexplored many of the same themes asSchindler’s Listin an African context.
WhileHotel Rwandadid gain acclaim and Cheadle received an Academy Award for Best Actor, the film mostly flopped at the box office and earned just $33.9 million against its $17.5 million budget. AsHotel Rwandawas beaten at the box office by mainstream hits like the rom-com Hitch, it seemed audiences were more interested in escapism than facing the unimaginably brutal mass genocide seen in 1990s Africa. However,Hotel Rwandawas an essential document of the horrors of war and sad proof that genocide did not end with World War II.
The Thin Red Line
The Thin Red Line is a war film directed by Terrence Malick, based on James Jones' autobiographical novel. Released in 1998, it focuses on the Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II, exploring the psychological toll of combat on soldiers. The ensemble cast includes Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, and Nick Nolte, among others, and delves into themes of survival, fear, and the impact of war on human nature.
The Thin Red Linewas Terrence Malick’s extraordinary adaptation of the 1962 novel by James Jones that told a fictionalized version of the Battle of Mount Austen in World War II. With a star-studded cast including Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, George Clooney, and John C. Reily and a prestige director at the helm, this powerful tale of conflict and bloodshed would have been expected to clean up at the box office. However,The Thin Red Linewas in direct competition with Steven Spielberg’s extraordinary rescue mission war movieSaving Private Ryan, which vastly overshadowed it.
WhileThe Thin Red Line’sbox office earnings of $98.1 million were nothing to snark out, the film flopped when compared to the extraordinary $481 million take ofSaving Private Ryan, which was underwhelming.The Thin Red Linewas a daringly philosophical World War II film that truly captured the emotional depth of this harrowing war and the intense experiences of those who fought in it. Although Spielberg’s movie gained more accolades at the time, looking back,The Thin Red Linewas a highly underrated release.
Paths of Glory
Paths of Glory, directed by Stanley Kubrick, is a war film set during World War I. The movie stars Kirk Douglas as Colonel Dax, a French officer who defends three soldiers accused of cowardice in a court-martial. The film explores themes of military hierarchy, the futility of war, and the moral dilemmas faced by soldiers and their leaders. Paths of Glory is notable for its critical portrayal of military bureaucracy.
Stanley Kubrick has rightfully earned his reputation as one of the most important filmmakers who ever lived, and his World War I filmPaths of Gloryhas since gained widespread acclaim as among his greatest works. However, it wasn’t always this way, asPaths of Glory’srelease was plagued by controversy, which impeded its success at the box office.The anti-military stance ofPath of Glorywas highly criticized, as Kirk Douglas’ portrayal of Colonel Dax’s refusal to send his men on a suicidal mission was seen as a protest against the soldiers whose lives were needlessly lost in conflict.
While the exact box office details ofPaths of Gloryvary from source to source, with some claiming it was a modest success and others asserting it struggled to recoup its $1 million budget (viaTelegraph), the truth was it deserved better no matter which was correct.Paths of Glorywas one of the all-time greatwar moviesand a brave depiction of why it’s important to stand up for one’s beliefs, even in the face of looming authority figures. AlthoughPaths of Glorymay have flopped at the box office, it’s still remembered all these decades later.
Sources: All box office figures fromBox Office Mojo,BBC,Deadline,Telegraph
