Well-crafted thrillers occasionally see theatrical success, but even some of the best thrillers bomb at the box office. The thriller genre has long been a Hollywood staple, captivating audiences with intense and suspenseful narratives. Between mind-bending psychological movies and action-packed, adrenaline-fueled projects, the genre has delivered some of the most memorable moments in film history. Unfortunately, not all the best thrillers become successful. Despite their potential, thrillers often underperform due to marketing mishaps, bad release timing, or catering to niche audiences.
The general rule of thumb is that a movie needs 2.5 times its budget to become profitable, as that number accounts for marketing expenses and the movie theaters’ cut. However, in the unpredictable realm of filmmaking, even the most exceptional thrillers often face challenges that prevent them from reaching that number and becoming box office hits. These films might not have reached the financial heights of their peers, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t glowing examples of how the thriller genre can engage viewers on a profound level.
10 Emily The Criminal (2022)
While Emily the Criminal is not based on a true story, the movie covers an issue that millions of people struggle with: student debt. The film follows the titular character who is saddled with student debt but also locked out of the job market because she has a criminal record. As a result, she becomes involved in a credit card scam, which pulls her deeper into Los Angeles’ criminal underworld. The movie is clever and original, and it features Aubrey Plaza’s best performance to date. Sadly, Emily the Criminal only made $2.2 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo).
9 Zodiac (2007)
Zodiac is a meticulously crafted thriller by visionary director David Fincher, and the movie is the filmmaker’s most ambitious project to date. The film follows the hunt for the real-life Zodiac Killer in San Francisco during the 1960s and 1970s. Zodiac totally gets under the skin as it depicts the suspects but never reveals who the titular killer is. Zodiac made $84 million against a $65 million budget (via Box Office Mojo), losing the studio millions of dollars. The film was positively received, and Zodiac remains one of Gyllenhaal’s best movies. However, its 2.5-hour runtime and lack of a traditional resolution held it back from becoming a success.
8 Blow Out (1981)
Brian De Palma’s Blow Out is as Hitchcockian as it gets, as the movie follows a sound engineer who inadvertently records a politically motivated murder while working on a low-budget horror movie. This leads the sound engineer to try to uncover what’s going on, taking him on a tense and nerve-wracking journey. Blow Out is stylish, full of suspense, and one of the few remakes that are just as good as the original (the film is a retelling of 1966’s Blow Up). Unfortunately, despite John Travolta taking on the lead role, Blow Out grossed only $13 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo).
7 A Simple Plan (1998)
The Sam Raimi-directed A Simple Plan follows three friends who find a crashed plane in the snowy woods, which contains a fortune in cash. The 1998 thriller explores the moral dilemma the friends have and investigates themes of greed as they deal with the quandaries presented after taking the cash. Out of his own filmography, A Simple Plan is Raimi’s favorite movie, which is saying something given that it includes the Evil Dead series and the 2000s Spider-Man trilogy. The film massively underperformed at the box office, making just $16 million against a budget of $30 million (via Box Office Mojo).
6 Bound (1996)
Before making the groundbreaking sci-fi flick The Matrix, the Wachowski sisters’ directorial debut was the convention-defying neo-noir thriller Bound. The thriller is about two women who conspire to steal mob money, and it also explores their romantic relationship. The film expertly balances tension, suspense, and sensuality. Just like all Wachowski movies, it’s intensely stylish as well. Unfortunately, the directors didn’t find financial success until three years later, as Bound only made $7 million against a $6 million budget (via The Numbers). The movie’s performance suffered from limited marketing and controversial subject matter for its time.
5 Snake Eyes (1998)
Snake Eyes is a criminally underrated crime thriller about a murder at a boxing match, which is somehow tied to police corruption. Nicolas Cage plays a morally ambiguous detective, and it’s another one of the actor’s exciting uncaged roles. Unfortunately, Snake Eyes wasn’t positively received when it was released, which led to a disappointing box office performance. Snake Eyes made $104 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo), which sounds like a success compared to its $73 million budget. However, based on the 2.5 rule, the movie would still have lost the studio around $80 million.
4 Running Scared (2006)
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Running Scared follows a low-ranking mobster who must race against time to get rid of a gun used to kill corrupt cops — but in order to do that, he must find the gun first. The movie is an adrenaline-fueled, pulse-pounding thrill ride with a pitch-black tone. It’s also Paul Walker’s best non-Fast & Furious movie. While the movie stars Walker in its lead role, it struggled from a lack of star power. Running Scared received negative reviews, too, and currently sits at a “rotten” 41% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, Running Scared is a huge audience pleaser, as the movie holds a 79% audience score.
3 Stoker (2013)
Stoker is a psychological thriller that explores the disturbing dynamics within a dysfunctional family. The film is a visual and atmospheric tour de force — as is every movie directed by Park Chan-wook — thanks to its eerie performances and brooding cinematography. The film makes no attempt to make audiences feel uncomfortable and, in fact, does an incredible job of leaving viewers uneasy. Unfortunately, Stoker barely made back its $12 million budget, making just $12 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo). The movie was a tough sell for mainstream audiences, as Stoker is such a slow burn and built almost totally on symbolism and atmosphere.
2 Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)
Twin Peaks is about who killed Laura Palmer, and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me is a prequel leading up to Laura’s murder. The movie only made $4.1 million worldwide, and the film’s international box office was shockingly poor, making $47,000 in theaters (via The Numbers). However, the 1992 release is so tied to the TV show that it was only ever going to appeal to a niche audience, and any viewer who hadn’t seen the series would have been totally lost. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me also didn’t do anything to solve the show’s many mysteries, but that’s what makes the film so alluring.
1 Fight Club (1999)
Considering that Fight Club has become one of the most celebrated movies ever, the movie had a surprisingly dreadful release. The film made $101 million against a $63 million budget (via Box Office Mojo), meaning that it would have lost the studio around $50 million. Fight Club also had a mixed critical reception. However, Fight Club is now considered one of the greatest thrillers of all time and one of the best thrillers that bombed at the box office. The film expertly explores masculinity and modern society, and it’s all wrapped up in a subversive, graphically violent treat. Plus, Fight Club’s ending is totally unforgettable.
