Based on estimated loss adjusted for inflation, The 13th Warrior is considered the biggest box-office flop ever.
What Defines a Box-Office Flop?
A box-office flop, or "bomb," is a movie that performs poorly at the box office, failing to recoup its production and marketing costs. The true measure of a flop often involves calculating the financial loss incurred, which is most accurately assessed when adjusted for inflation to account for changes in currency value over time.
While many films lose money, the biggest flops are those with the largest estimated financial losses after adjusting for inflation, indicating a significant commercial failure.
The Biggest Box-Office Bombs
According to estimated losses adjusted for inflation, The 13th Warrior holds the top spot for the biggest financial loss. Here are some of the films noted for their substantial financial underperformance:
| Title | Year | Estimated Loss (Adjusted for Inflation, Millions) |
|---|---|---|
| The 13th Warrior | 1999 | $126–236 |
| 47 Ronin | 2013 | $126 |
| The 355 | 2022 | $105 |
The 13th Warrior, released in 1999, is an historical fiction action film directed by John McTiernan and Michael Crichton. Despite its high production budget (reportedly around $160 million, before marketing), it grossed only $61.7 million worldwide. When accounting for its full costs and adjusting for inflation, its estimated loss ranges from $126 million to as much as $236 million, solidifying its position as one of the most significant financial disappointments in cinema history.
