These 51 Box Office Hits Faded Into Obscurity A Little Bit Too Soon

2h 43m | Directed by Wolfgang Petersen
 
Starring Brad Pitt, Eric Bana and Orlando Bloom
 
While the poetry attributed to Homer may be timeless, no one will necessarily agree that this nearly three-hour-long Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, and Orlando Bloom production is the best adaptation of Homer's work. Although there are a few excellent performances and solid action set pieces, The Iliad has never been nearly so uninteresting.

1h 50m | Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber
 
Starring Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston and Emma Roberts
 
Sometimes, the story might fade out of our minds, but the memes will always survive, no matter how much we strive to forget them. We’re the Millers is the perfect example of this phenomenon. While it did earn $270 million at the box office and became a subject of a couple of memes, the story didn’t stay long in the mind of many watchers.

1h 37m | Directed by Andrew Stanton and Angus MacLane
 
Starring Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks and Ed O'Neill
 
Having earned $1.028 billion at the box office, Finding Dory may have been the third-highest-grossing movie of 2016, but other Pixar movies seem more remembered and discussed. It is even more puzzling, given how highly regarded Finding Nemo continues to be. Either way, the film is a must-see.

2h 10m | Directed by Peter Farrelly
 
Starring Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali and Linda Cardellini
 
Green Book is a movie that did quite well at the award ceremonies and the box office, earning an impressive $321.8 million. The only problem the movie had was that it had to compete with other great works of art. While it did win the Best Picture Oscar, A Star Is Born and Black Panther got more attention from the audience.

1h 32m | Directed by Peter Berg
 
Starring Will Smith, Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman
 
Hancock might not be on your most-watched superhero movie list. Hancock, which debuted just a few months after Iron Man, generated more money at the box office. Yet Will Smith's intriguing but unsatisfying superhero film has been overshadowed by more than a decade's worth of subsequent entries.

1h 48m | Directed by Peter Berg
 
Starring Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter
 
When it was released, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland caused a storm and showed that the director was still more than capable of crafting a blockbuster hit. But, a more-of-the-same sequel suffered severe financial losses, and the audience’s interest in the movie faded away more quickly than expected.

1h 52m | Directed by J.J. Abrams
 
Starring Elle Fanning, AJ Michalka and Kyle Chandler
 
Although Super 8 made $260 million worldwide on a $50 million budget, J.J. Abrams thought it would connect with audiences in the same way as classic Steven Spielberg movies like E.T. and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. However, Super 8 ultimately performed more like The Terminal and The BFG.

1h 23m | Directed by Tim Johnson and Karey Kirkpatrick
 
Starring Bruce Willis, Garry Shandling and Steve Carell
 
Dreamworks' adaptation of a comic strip had an all-star cast and received positive reviews from audiences. However, the fact that it failed to spawn a sequel or any significant spin-off has consigned this animated film to the depths of obscurity. It made $336 million worldwide against an $80 million budget.

2h 07m | Directed by Nancy Meyers
 
Starring Mel Gibson, Helen Hunt and Marisa Tomei
 
While Mel Gibson’s character might have asked the question of What Women Want in the movie, outside of it, the audience asked themselves — what is so memorable about the film they just saw? The movie was able to dominate at the box office, earning an impressive $374.1 million, but it did not win against the pressure of time.

2h 04m | Directed by Roland Emmerich
 
Starring Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal and Emmy Rossum
 
Disaster films are frequently products of their period, forgotten in favor of the next star-studded Hollywood disaster. The underlying material for Roland Emmerich's climate change disaster film is unusual: a mostly fictional, partially factual book written by paranormal radio personality Art Bell. The movie did well, earning $552.6 million.

2h 18m | Directed by Ron Howard
 
Starring Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor and Ayelet Zurer
 
Ron Howard, Tom Hanks, and Dan Brown worked together to create a three-movie franchise. The second movie of this series was Angels & Demons. While it grossed $485.9 million at the box office, it was the complete opposite, with ratings from the critics and reception from the audience. It is one of the most forgettable sequels ever.

1h 56m | Directed by Garry Marshall
 
Starring Julia Roberts, Richard Gere and Joan Cusack
 
Runaway Bride acts like a reminder of the more famous Julia Roberts and Richard Gere pairing in Pretty Woman. Runaway Bride did earn the studio a whopping $309.5 million. When it came to memorability, it couldn’t rival the more famous and better-written Pretty Woman. You can't defeat a classic.

1h 51m | Directed by Seth Gordon
 
Starring Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy and John Cho
 
This movie might have stolen the attention at the box office, but it couldn't do so with the audience's memories. Identity Thief was a hit in Melissa McCarthy's filmography, garnering an impressive $174 million, but it might be one of the most forgettable movies she was in. It's not a road trip that anyone remembers today.

2h 00m | Directed by Peter Bogdanovich
 
Starring Cher, Eric Stoltz and Sam Elliott
 
Mask, which many people consider to be one of Peter Bogdanovich's finest films, featured a fantastic ensemble that included actors like Cher and Sam Elliott. Regrettably, the movie hasn't survived into the streaming era despite a respectable return and tremendous critical acclaim. The main reason is presumably the film's limited distribution.

2h 02m | Directed by Justin Lin
 
Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Karl Urban
 
Star Trek Beyond made $343.5 million worldwide, roughly on par with its predecessors. However, the franchise enraged a sizable portion of its audience with public lies about Star Trek Into Darkness and J.J. Abrams' departure from the director's chair, making this movie the underdog of the trilogy.

1h 49m | Directed by Howard Zieff
 
Starring Goldie Hawn, Eileen Brennan and Armand Assante
 
The movie was such a box office hit that it gave rise to a brief sitcom that couldn't equal the comedic rhythm of Private Benjamin. Although the performance of Goldie Hawn got universal praise from everyone, the movie got eclipsed by other comedies of that period, like History of the World, Part I.

1h 51m | Directed by Sidney Poitier
 
Starring Gene Wilder, Richard Pryor and Georg Stanford Brown
 
The comedic team of Wilder and Pryor is one for the ages, and the film showcases each of their strengths to the fullest. Stir Crazy was one of the highest-grossing films despite having a small budget. It made an astounding amount of money. Yet, it created a tremendous impression upon its first release but faded into obscurity after some time.

1h 56m | Directed by Robert Stevenson
 
Starring Hayley Mills, Dean Jones and Dorothy Provine
 
Hayley Mills, the daughter of Sir John Mills, produced six films for Disney before this screwball comic thriller. A significant cast included Roddy McDowall, Ed Wynn, and Elsa Lanchester. Mills was "the" celebrity in 1965 and undoubtedly contributed to the movie earning $28.1 million at the box office.

1h 33m | Directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker
 
Starring Bette Midler, Danny DeVito and Judge Reinhold
 
When you put Danny DeVito in your movie, you know it's going to be great. He brought the needed star power into the film, helping it earn $71.6 million at the box office. Since Ruthless People is a dark comedy distributed through a Disney-affiliated company, it wasn't on the streaming menu.

2h 38m | Directed by Roland Emmerich
 
Starring John Cusack, Thandiwe Newton and Chiwetel Ejiofor
 
Based on mistaken theories about impending Mayan doom, memorability wasn't in anyone's mind when 2012 got produced. But it's unlikely that anyone was severely disappointed, as any film that predicts the end of the world in a particular year isn't going to age like wine. When it mattered, the film did well, earning $791.2 million.

2h 15m | Directed by Tony Gilroy
 
Starring Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton
 
Directed by Tony Gilroy, The Bourne Legacy is about another CIA operative, not Jason Bourne, and it tries to expand the world with more action and story. It had a modestly successful run at the box office, but the critics and fans weren’t quite so accepting. After this movie, the franchise returned to Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass.

1h 45m | Directed by Adam Shankman
 
Starring Steve Martin, Queen Latifah and Eugene Levy
 
While this movie might have brought in some money at the box office, when it came to bringing in the audience, it wasn't as successful. The weird and quite funny pairing of Steve Martin and Queen Latifah wasn’t quite charming enough to stay in the memories of many watchers. The movie was a box office hit, earning $164.7 million.

1h 55m | Directed by Chuck Russell
 
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vanessa Williams and James Caan
 
Arnold Schwarzenegger played John Kruger in Eraser, a US Marshall and expert in hiding high-profile individuals in the witness protection program. The movie received a lot of hate and negative reviews from the critics of Hollywood. However, the film did earn an impressive $242.3 million at the box office.

2h 07m | Directed by Rupert Sanders
 
Starring Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron
 
In 2011, audiences responded favorably to this expansive retelling of the Snow White mythos, bringing in nearly $400 million at the box office. However, over the following ten years, the movie gradually slipped into the forgotten category, especially after the underwhelming reception to the Stewart-less sequel discouraged many from revisiting it.

1h 51m | Directed by Herbert Ross
 
Starring Michael J. Fox, Helen Slater and Richard Jordan
 
The Secret Of My Success was fast-paced, entertaining, and epitomized yuppie comedy. It also contributed to capturing the 1980s' materialistic office culture. Fox's acting, which is always outstanding, received positive reviews for the film. Despite that, it never became super-popular following its strong box office return.

1h 35m | Directed by Robert Zemeckis
 
Starring Harrison Ford, Michelle Pfeiffer and Katharine Towne
 
What Lies Beneath was Robert Zemeckis's attempt to create a Hitchcock-like movie in the 2000s. Starring well-known actors like Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer, the film garnered $291.4 million at the box office and mixed reviews from the critics. It’s forgettable, thanks to poor story decisions, horrible horror moments, and more.

2h 07m | Directed by Richard Donner
 
Starring Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Joe Pesci
 
Once it was released, Lethal Weapon 4 got unfairly labeled as a total disaster. It wasn't on par with the previous movies. Its Triad-based criminal narrative pushed it all down, and the critics jumped on to highlight this fact. It did earn $285.4 million at the box office, but overall, it was one of the more forgettable entries in the series.

1h 55m | Directed by Robert Zemeckis
 
Starring Ray Winstone, Crispin Glover and Angelina Jolie
 
Directed by Robert Zemeckis, Beowulf looks at the warrior Beowulf, who tries to fight and defeat the villain Grendel, a Danish monster. It opened in the number one position at the box office. After this spur-of-the-moment success, the movie faded into obscurity, being outshined by other animated films.

2h 10m | Directed by Sam Raimi
 
Starring James Franco, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz
 
Oz The Great And Powerful tried to capitalize on the legacy of The Wizard of Oz and the CGI work that Tim Burton did on Alice in Wonderland. Sadly, the movie didn’t live up to either of them. While it did well at the box office, the critics butchered it. The original The Wizard of Oz was enough for the audiences.

2h 12m | Directed by Lee Daniels
 
Starring Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey and John Cusack
 
Despite being a hit with both critics and audiences, Lee Daniels' The Butler hasn't entered the larger cultural conversation in the nearly ten years that have passed. Its stunt casting and dramatic weight weren't as highly regarded as those of its contemporaries, like The Artist and The King's Speech.

2h 01m | Directed by Peter Berg
 
Starring Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch and Emile Hirsch
 
Lone Survivor, a 2013 surprise smash for Universal, is exhilarating and action-packed. Because of its dull narrative and the absence of any especially standout performances, its cinematic legacy got eclipsed by films like American Sniper and Hacksaw Ridge. It did earn $154.8 at the box office.

2h 06m | Directed by James Mangold
 
Starring Hugh Jackman, Will Yun Lee and Tao Okamoto
 
The Wolverine stand-alone movie trilogy got met with prestige, with the release of Logan, and disappointment, with X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The middle child of the saga, The Wolverine, set in Japan, made $414.8 million and is still largely unmentioned despite being the most successful of the 13 X-Men movies.

1h 55m | Directed by Daniel Espinosa
 
Starring Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds and Robert Patrick
 
Safe House follows an agent who has to look after a fugitive in a secured safe house. Starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds in the lead roles, the movie did well at the box office, earning $208.1 Million, but was moderately met by the critics and the fans, gaining mixed reviews.

2h 08m | Directed by Louis Leterrier
 
Starring Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes
 
Clash of the Titans made just under $500 million at the global box office. As audiences' interest in fantasy media changed in the years that followed due to the enormous success of Game of Thrones, this movie and its less successful sequel have had a difficult time maintaining their cultural significance.

2h 14m | Directed by Irvin Kershner
 
Starring Sean Connery, Kim Basinger and Klaus Maria Brandauer
 
Never Say Never Again was produced using several intricate legal snags and is technically not a part of the James Bond canon. The movie received enough attention due to Sean Connery's comeback, earning $160 million at the box office. However, because of its poor craftsmanship and lack of a license, it has since been forgotten by the general public.

1h 54m | Directed by Richard Tuggle and Clint Eastwood (uncredited)
 
Starring Clint Eastwood, Geneviève Bujold and Dan Hedaya
 
Despite having a modest budget and receiving favorable reviews, the film generated a sizable amount of money. Tightrope isn't quite so memorable outside of Eastwood's most ardent supporters, unlike many of his works that have endured. Eastwood gives a strong performance, and the film's breathtaking neo-noir cinematography makes it an overlooked must-see.

1h 47m | Directed by Alan Alda
 
Starring Alan Alda, Carol Burnett and Len Cariou
 
Very little prevented The Four Seasons from being a success at the box office. Although it was a financial success, it's usually not listed as one of the funniest comedies from the 1980s. The movie faded away due to being incredibly forgettable on its own, and no amount of star power could convince fans to see it again.

1h 49m | Directed by Mark Rydell
 
Starring Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda
 
A sappy and emotional film featured aging Hollywood giants like Henry Fonda and Katharine Hepburn. Despite receiving rave reviews and several accolades, the film rarely gets on the list of the best films of that decade. The 1980s generation's kids might not have positive recollections of the movie because it was made for an adult audience.

1h 35m | Directed by Todd Phillips
 
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis and Michelle Monaghan
 
Todd Philips is known today for his The Hangover trilogy and the masterfully crafted Joker movie. In 2010 he tried to woo the audience, this time with Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis on the screen. Sadly, while Due Date did rake in $211.8 million, it might be one of the most forgettable movies he has ever made.

1h 22m | Directed by Eric Leighton and Ralph Zondag
 
Starring D.B. Sweeney, Julianna Margulies and Samuel E. Wright
 
It might be hard to imagine, but there is a Disney movie that isn’t loved universally by the fans. In 2000, the studio tried its hand at giving the good old Disney and parents twist to a dinosaur. While the movie did a half-decent job at the box office, the critics and the audience ripped Dinosaur to shreds.

1h 57m | Directed by John Badham
 
Starring Richard Dreyfuss, Emilio Estevez and Madeleine Stowe
 
While Richard Dreyfus and Emilio Estevez were an odd couple, fans got drawn into this buddy-cop couple due to their complementary charms. Stakeout garnered mixed reviews from critics, and it appears time has buried it behind the glut of other cop comedies from the 1980s. It was able to earn $65.7 million at the box office.

1h 40m | Directed by Walt Becker
 
Starring Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, John Travolta and William H. Macy
 
Wild Hogs might have gone wild at the box office, but it sure didn’t do the same thing in the memories of the watchers. Starring Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, John Travolta, and William H. Macy, the four strong names brought people to the theaters. The movie earned $253.6 million, but the stale story couldn't create some memorable moments.

1h 52m | Directed by Paul Haggis
 
Starring Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock and Thandiwe Newton
 
Crash outperformed its $6 million budget with an astonishing $98.4 million at the box office. It even won Best Picture at the Academy Awards in the year it was released. This movie is commonly used as a particularly egregious example of the Oscar going to a movie that maybe didn't deserve it in the first place.

2h 14m | Directed by Howard Hawks
 
Starring Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan and Joan Leslie
 
In addition to receiving nominations in nine other categories, Sergeant York earned Gary Cooper an Oscar for the lead part and another for editing. Moreover, it was the year's highest-grossing film, earning an impressive $8.3 million on a budget of $1.7 million. Sadly, the movie faded away into obscurity.

1h 55m | Directed by Dennis Dugan
 
Starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Jessica Biel
 
The collaboration between Wedding Crashers stars Adam Sandler, Kevin James, and director Dennis Dugan paid off financially. The movie's contentious subject matter and the enormous commercial success of the Grown Ups movies have since made it one of Sandler's less cherished and not so commonly rewatched works.

1h 50m | Directed by Jon M. Chu
 
Starring Dwayne Johnson, Channing Tatum and Adrianne Palicki
 
This sequel cost a little less but brought in more money for the studio. G.I. Joe: Retaliation has some entertaining moments and jaw-dropping action, but in deleting some of the silliness, it lacks any distinctive character. It narrows the emphasis and eliminates some cartoonish qualities that Rise of Cobra got criticized for.

2h 50m | Directed by William Wyler
 
Starring Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews and Fredric March
 
Sometimes, a movie becomes forgotten due to the passage of time. Not every old film, no matter how many Oscars it was able to win, gets remembered by a wider audience. The Best Years of Our Lives is the perfect example of this. The movie won 6 Oscars, but when it came to memorability, it faded away more and more with every generation.

2h 30m | Directed by Edward Dmytryk
 
Starring George Peppard, Alan Ladd and Robert Cummings
 
For its time, The Carpetbaggers made quite a lot of money at the box office — $40 million. With stars like George Peppard, who acted in Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1961, Alan Ladd, and Robert Cummings, the movie was the movie of the era. Sadly, as some time passed, the film became a forgotten work of art.

1h 54m | Directed by Brad Peyton
 
Starring Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino and Alexandra Daddario
 
When you slap the name of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on a movie, you'll have a hit on your hands. But a memorable film? That isn’t always the case. San Andreas brought in a lot of money for the studio, $474 million, but it couldn’t keep it up. The movie quickly faded away and awaited to be shown once more.

2h 02m | Directed by Michael Moore
 
Starring Michael Moore, George W. Bush (archive footage) and Ben Affleck (archive footage)
 
Fahrenheit 9/11, the only documentary to earn more than $100 million at the box office, is undoubtedly a product of its era. The changing political and media landscapes, combined with Michael Moore's relative inactivity since 2018's much less successful Fahrenheit 11/9, haven't exactly helped the movie age well among later generations.

2h 54m | Directed by John Huston
 
Starring Michael Parks, Ulla Bergryd and Richard Harris
 
The highest-grossing movie of 1966, this Dino de Laurentiis production had an unbelievable star-studded ensemble and was directed by the famous John Huston. While it included stars like Richard Harris, George C. Scott, Ava Gardner, and Peter O'Toole, it's impossible to declare that it ranks among the most memorable films ever made.