There have been many films that have broken expectations and become surprising blockbuster hits . These films are not expected to fail or be unsold, but only to enter the mediocre class or even if they succeed, well , just mediocre. But, apparently not. Many of these films are actually a big surprise.
These films are usually from unknown directors or debutants and starring less well-known stars. Not to mention, the budget is usually small and minimal promotion. There are also those who are desperate to play in a new subgenre or adopt a very different tone in their genre.
But, the determinant of the behavior or not of the film at the box officeis the audience. Assisted by positive reviews from critics and word of mouth from those who have watched it, the film made people curious and finally stormed the theaters to watch it. As a result, the film was a big surprise at the box office. What are some movies that suddenly became big hits at the box office ? Quoting MovieWeb , see the following review!
- The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project is a groundbreaking found-footage horror film Directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez, this film redefined the horror genre and became a cultural phenomenon upon its release. The film revolves around a group of documentary filmmakers who enter the forests of Maryland in search of the truth behind the legend of the Blair Witch. However, they get lost and are being stalked by an evil force.
The Blair Witch Project was made with minimal funds, namely USD 60,000, and was not heavily promoted. Not to mention, this film played in a new subgenre at the time and was released in the middle of the summer film seasondense. However, after receiving positive reviews and being marketed as based on a true story, the film was a hit at the box office , grossing $248 million. This film is regarded as the biggest shock in the world of cinema and set a new standard for independent film marketing .
- My Big Fat Greek Wedding
My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a heartwarming story about a Greek-American woman, Toula Portokalos, who falls in love with a non-Greek man and struggles to get her traditional Greek family to accept him. Meanwhile, he learns to accept himself. This film starred a series of actors who were not well known at that time. Moreover, as a romantic comedy film, this film is not promising because of the stiff competition.
Made with a budget of USD 5 million, this film was not expected to be successful at the box office. However, as it turned out, the film received positive reviews and word of mouth. The film grossed $368 million worldwide. This success was a big surprise. This film became the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time. The success of this film proves that the film industry should not underestimate the power of word of mouth.
- The Passion of the Christ
The Passion of the Christ is a strong and controversial film with Mel Gibson as director. This film is about the last 12 hours of Jesus’ life. This film is very graphic and intensively depicts the physical and emotional suffering of Jesus when he was arrested, tried, and finally crucified.
Because of the controversy, this film is not expected to be a big success. The film even faced calls for a boycott because of its depiction of violence and anti-Semitic perceptions. Moreover, this film was also made by a small studio and released on a limited basis. However, due to word of mouth, positive reviews and support from the Christian community, this film became a hit at the box office , grossing USD 611 million.