The Next Big Idea Daily How Hollywood’s Biggest Flops Changed Film History
Feb 28, 2025
Tim Robey, a film critic and author of 'Box Office Poison,' dives into the dark art of Hollywood flops. He discusses how catastrophic releases like 'Queen Kelly' and the troubled production of 'Dr. Doolittle' reflect shifting industry trends. Robey highlights 'Catwoman' as a warning for female superheroes, revealing the gender biases in Hollywood. He also examines the challenges faced by creative visionaries like Charlie Kaufman in a landscape resistant to innovation. Each failure offers lessons that shape the future of filmmaking.
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Queen Kelly's Downfall
- Gloria Swanson's Queen Kelly (1929) illustrates the silent era's decline.
- Its failure bankrupted Swanson and foreshadowed the sound era's dominance.
Dr. Doolittle's Demise
- Dr. Doolittle (1967) exemplifies the decline of big-budget musicals.
- Its failure paved the way for new, grittier films by directors like Coppola and Scorsese.
Speed 2: A Sequel's Pitfalls
- Speed 2 (1997) demonstrates how sequels can fail with poor scripts and hurried production.
- Keanu Reeves rejected the sequel, while Sandra Bullock later questioned its logic.
