The Oliver Stone Box Office Flop

Despite an all-star cast including Sean Penn and Jennifer Lopez, this 1997 crime thriller lost over 12 million dollars at the box office. It remains a rare commercial stumble for its acclaimed director.

Directed by the visionary Oliver Stone, the film features an incredibly stacked ensemble including Joaquin Phoenix, Billy Bob Thornton, and Nick Nolte. Based on the novel Stray Dogs, the story follows a man trapped in a desert town where everyone is out to get him. While it is now considered a cult neo-noir oddity, critics were deeply divided at the time of its release. The massive budget compared to its meager earnings makes it one of the most notable financial misfires in the director's storied career.