EXPENSIVE MOVIES NOT GIVEN A WIDE THEATRICAL RELEASE IN THE U.S.
These are expensive movies that were either dumped onto video.... premiered on a streaming service.... or received a very limited theatrical release (Less than 600 screens) in the U.S. Most of these cases involve a studio trying to minimize its losses by not investing additional money into what they perceived to be a doomed project. While the budgets of these movies are not what one would consider to be of a blockbuster caliber.... they are still healthy enough to be above the normal group of low budget (Less than $15 million) movies that premiere on video. These movies have to mainly rely on VOD/DVD sales and worldwide distribution to make their money back. I'm not criticizing any of the movies on the list.... nor will I refer to them as box-office bombs or financial disasters. Although they might not recoup their budgets right away.... studios tend to think that are able to do it in the long run by sometimes implementing a VOD/limited theater release. There are some movies on this list however.... that were made in other countries.... and their U.S. release was mainly an afterthought.
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- DirectorsAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris PrattMillie Bobby BrownWoody HarrelsonAn orphaned teen hits the road with a mysterious robot to find her long-lost brother, teaming up with a smuggler and his wisecracking sidekick.$320 million budget. The film bypassed U.S. theaters altogether and premieree on Netflix instead.
- DirectorBrian TaylorStarsJack KesyJefferson WhiteAdeline RudolphHellboy and a rookie B.P.R.D. agent in the 1950s are sent to the Appalachians, where they discover a remote community dominated by witches and led by the sinister local demon, the Crooked Man.$20 million budget. The film bypassed U.S. theaters altogether in favor of a streaming release instead.... but it did manage to gross $1,392,497 from other countries.
- DirectorSteven C. MillerStarsSylvester StalloneDave BautistaXiaoming HuangYears after he fought his way out of an inescapable prison, Ray Breslin has organized a new top-notch security force. But when one of his team members goes missing, Breslin must return to the hell he once escaped from.$20 million budget (Estimated). The film went straight to DVD in the U.S. However.... it did manage to gross $16,668,668 from other countries.... with another $4,248,627 coming from DVD / Blu-ray sales. When the ESCAPE PLAN sequels were originally announced.... it was stated that it was a $65 million package deal for both films. Estimates at the time of its (HADES) release pegged the budget at $45 million.... while sources cite now that the figure is much closer to $20 million. I decided to remove the listing for the third installment.... now that at least two sources cite the $3.6 million budget.... even though the original estimates were much higher.
- DirectorBrad PeytonStarsJennifer LopezSimu LiuSterling K. BrownIn a bleak-sounding future, an A.I. soldier has determined that the only way to end war is to end humanity.$100 million budget. The film bypassed U.S. theaters altogether and premiered on Netflix instead.
- DirectorJon S. BairdStarsTaron EgertonMara HufMiles BarrowVideo game designer Henk Rogers seeks to secure global rights for Tetris (1984), leading to tense negotiations in the Soviet Union, involving creators, government, and corporate intrigues.$80 million budget. The film bypassed U.S. theaters altogether and premiered on Apple+ instead.
- DirectorGeorge GalloStarsTalia AsserafBob BowersoxDru BramblettA detective on the verge of retirement teams with a professor of African Studies to track down a serial killer who is performing the ancient black magic practice of Muti.$17 million budget. The film had a very limited theatrical release (although no exact theater count has been released) and premiered simultaneously on demand and as a Redbox exclusive. However.... it did manage to gross $244,407 from other countries.... with another $570,163 coming from DVD/ Blu-ray sales.
- DirectorSam HargraveStarsChris HemsworthGolshifteh FarahaniAdam BessaAfter barely surviving his grievous wounds from his mission in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tyler Rake is back, and his team is ready to take on their next mission.$105 million budget. The film bypassed U.S. theaters altogether and premiered on Netflix instead.
- DirectorScott CooperStarsChristian BaleHarry MellingSimon McBurneyA world-weary detective is hired to investigate the murder of a West Point cadet. Stymied by the cadets' code of silence, he enlists one of their own to help unravel the case - a young man the world would come to know as Edgar Allan Poe.$72 million budget. The film bypassed U.S. theaters altogether and premiered on Netflix instead.
- DirectorFrancis LawrenceStarsJason MomoaMarlow BarkleyChris O'DowdA young girl discovers a secret map to the dreamworld of Slumberland, and with the help of an eccentric outlaw, she traverses dreams and flees nightmares, with the hope that she will be able to see her late father again.$150 million budget. The film bypassed theaters altogether and was released on Netflix.
- DirectorJulius AveryStarsSylvester StalloneJavon 'Wanna' WaltonPilou AsbækA young boy learns that a superhero who was thought to have died after an epic battle twenty-five years ago may in fact still be alive.$100 million budget. The film bypassed U.S. theaters altogether and premiered on Netflix instead.
- DirectorJ.J. PerryStarsJamie FoxxDave FrancoNatasha Liu BordizzoA hard-working, blue-collar dad just wants to provide a good life for his quick-witted 10-year-old daughter. His mundane San Fernando Valley pool cleaning job is a front for his real source of income: hunting and killing vampires.$100 million budget. The film bypassed a theatrical release in the U.S. and premiered on Netflix instead.
- DirectorTarik SalehStarsChris PineGillian JacobsSander ThomasA discharged U.S. Army Special Operations Forces sergeant, James Harper, risks everything for his family when he joins a private contracting organization.$50 million budget. The film grossed $1,035,265 from no more than 489 theaters during its limited release in the U.S. It grossed $778,876 from other countries.... with another $1,644,208 brought in from DVD / Blu-ray sales.
- DirectorJason HowdenStarsDaniel RadcliffeSamara WeavingNed DennehyA guy relies on his newly-acquired gladiator skills to save his ex-girlfriend from kidnappers.$15 million budget. The film was released in a handful of U.S. theaters before premiering on demand. It grossed $1,034,769 from other countries however.
- DirectorJonathan HensleighStarsLiam NeesonMarcus ThomasLaurence FishburneAfter a remote diamond mine collapses in far northern Canada, a 'big-rig' ice road driver must lead an impossible rescue mission over a frozen lake to save the trapped miners.$25 million budget. The film bypassed U.S. theaters and premiered on Netflix instead. It did bring in $7,492,398 from other countries however.
- DirectorMichael PolishStarsEmile HirschMel GibsonDavid ZayasA gang of thieves plan a heist during a hurricane and encounter trouble when a cop tries to force everyone in the building to evacuate.$23 million budget. The film bypassed U.S. theaters altogether and premiered on DVD instead. It did manage to take in $638,399 from other countries however.
- DirectorSam HargraveStarsChris HemsworthBryon LerumRyder LerumTyler Rake, a fearless black market mercenary, embarks on the most deadly extraction of his career when he's enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord.$65 million budget. The film bypassed theaters altogether and premiered on Netflix instead.
- DirectorRobbie PickeringStarsNicholas BraunMackenzie DavisJosh FademIn the town of Dillford, humans, vampires and zombies were all living in peace - until the alien apocalypse arrived. Now three teenagers - one human, one vampire, and one zombie - have to team up to figure out how to get rid of the visitors.$33 million budget. The film grossed $70,958 from no more than 107 theaters during it's limited release in the U.S.
- DirectorMichael BayStarsRyan ReynoldsMélanie LaurentManuel Garcia-RulfoIt follows a group of people who fake their deaths and decide to form a vigilante team in order to stage a coup d'état against a ruthless dictator.$150 million budget. The film bypassed theaters altogether and premiered on Netflix. It is the second most expensive film ever produced....that did not receive a major theatrical release.
- DirectorRingo LamStarsJean-Claude Van DammeLawrence TaylorLloyd BattistaA man must survive a prison where hardened criminals battle to the death for the wardens' entertainment.$17 million budget. Straight to video in the U.S. It did gross $24,730,700 from rentals however.
- DirectorNikolai MüllerschönStarsMatthias SchweighöferLena HeadeyTil SchweigerGerman biopic loosely based on the World War I fighter ace Manfred Von Richthofen, nicknamed the Red Baron by friend and foe alike.$20 million budget (Estimated). The German-British film grossed a paltry $36,569 from the U.S. in it's limited release. Additional financial data is unknown at this time.
- DirectorBrett LeonardStarsJack ThompsonMatthew Le NevezSteve BastoniAgents of an oil tycoon vanish while exploring a swamp marked for drilling. The local sheriff investigates and faces a Seminole legend come to life: Man-Thing, a shambling swamp-monster whose touch burns those who feel fear.$30 million budget. The film premiered on the SyFy channel before ultimately enjoying a quick death on DVD. It did manage to gross $1,123,136 from three countries however.
- DirectorSteven QualeStarsSullivan StapletonCharlie BewleySylvia HoeksA team of Navy SEALs discover an underwater treasure of Nazi stolen gold in a Bosnian lake. An updated Kelly's Heroes.$77.5 million budget. No major theatrical showings in the U.S.... as the film was released via On Demand. However.... it has made $2.2 million from other countries.
- DirectorDavid MackenzieStarsChris PineStephen DillaneRebecca RobinA true David vs. Goliath story of how the 14th century Scottish 'Outlaw King' Robert the Bruce used cunning and bravery to defeat the much larger and better equipped occupying English army.$120 million budget. The film premiered on Netflix....with some limited theatrical showings.
- DirectorXiao FengStarsYe LiuBruce WillisSong Seung-heonDuring World War II, five different Chinese people fight their way through Japanese Air Force attacks to protect an important military machine in Chongqing, 1940.$65 million budget. The Chinese production (with some English speaking actors) was originally scheduled to have a major theatrical release in 2018....but due to a recent scandal....it was decided that the film would have a limited release to coincide with it's premiere On Demand. It is unknown how many theaters it is actually playing in....or whether or not it will get an expanded release....but given the fact that you can watch it via On Demand.... I highly doubt it. No box office data has been made available as of yet....but I will update it when it does.
- DirectorKazuaki KiriyaStarsClive OwenMorgan FreemanAksel HennieA fallen warrior rises against a corrupt and sadistic ruler to avenge his dishonored master.$40 million budget. The film received a limited theatrical release and the only financial information I could uncover....was that it grossed $3,548,450. It is unknown whether or not that is the worldwide tally or if that includes any axillary revenue.
