Although any film for which the combined production budget, marketing, and distribution costs exceed the revenue after release has technically "bombed", the term is more frequently used for major studio releases that were highly anticipated, extensively marketed, and expensive to produce, but nevertheless failed commercially.
[3] With the advent of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter in the 2000s, word of mouth regarding new films is easily spread and has had a marked effect on box office performance.
A film's ability or failure to attract positive or negative commentary can strongly impact its performance at the box office, especially on the opening weekend.
Owing to production delays, the film was not released until late 1916, when the widespread antiwar sentiment it reflected had started to shift in favor of American entry into World War I.
[6] Sometimes, a film's performance may be adversely affected by national crisis or a disaster, such as the September 11 attacks in 2001, Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2021.
[7][8][9] In evaluating box-office gross numbers, it is important to keep in mind that not all money is returned to the film studio.
High-profile films fitting this description include Vertigo,[23] Blade Runner, The Wizard of Oz, It's a Wonderful Life, Citizen Kane,[24] The Shawshank Redemption,[25] Showgirls,[26] Fight Club,[27] The Thing,[28] and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,[29] each of which initially lost money at the box office but has since become popular.
It is common for a single film's lackluster performance to push its studio into the red, in the sense of recording a net loss on its income statement.
[31][32] The Golden Compass was a success at the international box office and grossed $372 million worldwide; nonetheless, its underperformance at the box office in North America was seen as a significant factor in influencing the decision by Warner Bros. Pictures to take direct control of New Line Cinema.
With a budget of $1.2 million and starring Tom Sizemore and Katherine Heigl, its tiny revenue is due to its limited box-office release – just six days in a single theater in Dallas for the purpose of meeting Screen Actors Guild requirements – rather than its ability to attract viewers.