Casey Chong presents seven 90s summer movie flops that deserved better…
The 1990s saw a good deal of summer movies that turned into big hits. Various films released during the crowded months-long season spread across different genres from supernatural romance (1990’s Ghost) to sci-fi action (1991’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day), dinosaur-themed sci-fi (1993’s Jurassic Park) and alien invasion (1996’s Independence Day), to name a few. And yet, between these successes lie many that failed to meet expectations, some unjustly. Here are seven summer movie flops of the 1990s that deserved better…
Last Action Hero (1993)
Arnold Schwarzenegger was on a roll from the late 80s to early 90s, appearing in box-office hits like Twins, Total Recall and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Then came Last Action Hero, one of the high-profile summer blockbusters of 1993 and boasting a high-concept premise: A lonely boy (Austin O’Brien’s Danny Madigan) who’s a big fan of the Jack Slater movie series finds himself magically transported into the fictional world as a result of a mysterious ticket stub. From there, he ends up teaming up with his fictional action hero, Jack Slater (Schwarzenegger) and soon engages in a series of misadventures.
On paper, it shouldn’t be a problem becoming a hit with Schwarzenegger again playing the familiar larger-than-life action hero that mass audiences love to see. The only difference is that he’s parodying his own image, and given his knack for comedies, as proven in Twins and Kindergarten Cop, what could have gone wrong? Not to mention the movie had the calibre of John McTiernan of Predator and Die Hard fame calling the shots with Lethal Weapon’s Shane Black co-writing the screenplay.
And yet, Last Action Hero underperformed at the box office, grossing a less-than-stellar $137.3 million against a hefty $85 million budget. Perhaps the audiences at the time weren’t just ready for something as ambitiously meta as Last Action Hero, which can be seen as being ahead of time for its reel vs. reality angle. The movie sure has its field day spoofing movies from The Seventh Seal to E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, and at one point, even referencing F. Murray Abraham’s role in Amadeus. The buddy-movie angle between Jack Slater and Austin O’Brien is one of the highlights here, while McTiernan doesn’t shy away from the gritty aspect of its premise once Jack and Danny cross over to the real world.
Event Horizon (1997)
Paul W.S. Anderson is mostly a hit-and-miss type of director but when he did manage to hit the mark, he gave us genre know-how movies like Mortal Kombat and Event Horizon. The latter is an ambitious sci-fi horror that blends Alien and The Shining, and is also best described as the “haunted house in space”. It sure has the storytelling hook, with the haunted house referring to the titular spaceship, which initially disappeared years ago before it resurfaced under mysterious circumstances. This leads to a rescue team led by Captain Miller (Laurence Fishburne) and Dr. William Weir (Sam Neill) to investigate the ship.
Released during the dog days of summer in 1997, Event Horizon came and went like the disappearance of the spaceship itself, with a disappointing $42 million on a $60 million budget. Sure, Anderson’s sci-fi horror may have borrowed elements from the aforementioned movies and others like The Haunting and even Hellraiser, especially given the latter’s uncompromising gore factor. But it’s hard not to ignore Anderson’s sheer ambition to mix and match his cinematic influences with an effective mix of practical and then-state-of-the-art special effects. Not to forget, he shows good directorial flair when it comes to mixing graphic violence with enough suspense and escalating sense of dread as the movie progresses. Event Horizon also boasts a stellar cast, including Laurence Fishburne and Sam Neill, who lead the movie with above-average performances.
The Phantom (1996)
If only the “Slam Evil!” tagline in The Phantom could have translated into a grand slam of box-office smash when it released back in the summer of 1996. Too bad that wasn’t the case, as with its estimated $50 million budget, it could only muster $23.5 million, which wasn’t encouraging enough to turn The Phantom into a franchise.
The movie developed a cult following ever since, and it deservedly so. Billy Zane sure has the debonair charm to play the titular superhero, and it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role at the time. He was certainly born to lead Lee Falk’s classic comic strip, and if only The Phantom struck a chord with the audiences, he could have had a chance to catapult into A-list stardom. The story may have been too old-fashioned, but that’s the whole point of The Phantom, especially given that the pulpy superhero itself belongs to the period-specific 1930s era.
The movie also deserves praise for its handsome production and costume design that captured its old-school time capsule. Apart from Zane’s charismatic lead turn, The Phantom equally benefits from the gleefully scenery-chewing Treat Williams as the main antagonist, Xander Drax, while Kristy Swanson brings a feisty aura to her Diana Palmer character beyond the movie’s token love interest.
The Shadow (1994)
The Shadow had been lurking since the 1930s, beginning in radio before crossing over to the pulp magazines and other media. With its illustrious history spanning decades, it seemed ripe enough for the titular character to finally make its big screen debut in the 90s. Positioned as one of the highly anticipated summer movies of 1994, The Shadow featured the caliber of onscreen and offscreen talents, including the perfectly suave Alec Baldwin playing the titular role, while Highlander’s Russell Mulcahy and Jurassic Park’s David Koepp directed and wrote the movie, respectively.
Blessed with a $40 million budget, the movie failed to find enough audiences and could only bring in $48 million. If only the movie had succeeded, The Shadow might have morphed into a franchise starter. It’s a pity the movie was underappreciated since Mulcahy sure has a keen eye for atmospheric and stylish visuals that capture the feel and look of a 1930s New York era, while bringing in plenty of pulpy entertainment. Baldwin is also the man for the job, mixing an air of mystery and charm into his role. The movie also features standout performances from John Lone and Tim Curry, where the latter has a field day chewing scenery.
The Rocketeer (1991)
Fresh off his debut success of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Joe Johnston turned back the clock by exploring the 1930s era in the form of an old-school superhero adventure in The Rocketeer. With an estimated $40 million at his disposal, Johnston’s extensive background in design and visual effects was put to good use, evident in the movie’s lovingly Art Deco aesthetics that define the specific period.
The story boasts a classic zero-to-hero storytelling angle and follows struggling stunt pilot Cliff Secord (a charming Billy Campbell), who suffers from a career downfall, only to find his luck reversed when he discovers a rocket pack. With a strapped-on rocket pack behind his back and a distinct gold helmet-like mask, he soon emerges as a hero battling against the Nazi, notably the spy played by the perfectly sinister Timothy Dalton as Neville Sinclair. The movie is an ode to the action-adventures of yesteryear, complete with a likable action hero, and Billy Campbell does a good job playing the titular character. The action is equally top-notch, which culminates in a thrilling airship showdown.
Virtuosity (1995)
1995 was the year of embracing the concept of virtual reality, resulting in like-minded movies such as Johnny Mnemonic and Strange Days. Then, there’s Virtuosity, which opened in August 1995, but despite an intriguing plot about an ex-cop (Denzel Washington’s Parker Barnes) assigned to stop the seemingly unstoppable SID 6.7 (Russell Crowe), a virtual reality simulation-turned-android from wreaking more havoc, it tanked at the box office.
Directed by Brett Leonard, who is no stranger to the virtual reality subject matter seen in the 1992 cult classic The Lawnmower Man, Virtuosity may have been dated for its special effects work. But there’s something about this sci-fi action thriller that deserves another look. The fact that casting Denzel Washington as the no-nonsense former cop gives the movie the much-needed dramatic and emotional gravitas, and not surprisingly, he doesn’t disappoint in delivering his best here. The movie also features pre-L.A. Confidential fame Russell Crowe, whose over-the-top and unhinged antagonist turn is one of the most entertaining performances ever seen in his career.
The Frighteners (1996)
Five years before Peter Jackson graduated to more high-profile Hollywood tentpoles with the ambitious The Lord of the Rings trilogy, he was still a cult director known for his distinct horror films. This brings us to The Frighteners, which stars Michael J. Fox as Franklin Bannister, a man capable of communicating with the dead. He employs three ghostly partners: Cyrus (Chi McBride), Stuart (Jim Fyre) and The Judge, the Old West gunslinger (Sean Astin) to work for him. They are far from the good-guy Ghostbusters types but rather scamming people out of their money by faking exorcisms.
Such a story is right in Jackson’s wheelhouse, and with him in charge of co-writing the screenplay with Fran Walsh, The Frighteners does a great job mixing laughs with supernatural horror tropes. The movie knows well how to have fun, but at the same time, it doesn’t forget to deliver some genuine scares. The visual effects are a first-rate technical showcase while Jackson brings out the best in his cast, notably Michael J. Fox in the lead role. Too bad The Frighteners’ $26 million budget could only collect $29.3 million, but it has since earned its place as a cult favorite.
What other 90s summer movie flops deserve a spot on this list? Let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Casey Chong
