5 Box Office Flops That Gained a Second Act and Became Blockbusters

The movie industry is thrilling and unpredictable, with many films failing at the box office due to initial poor performance. However, several of these films experienced a remarkable turnaround and went on to be hailed as hits. This article explores five such films that were initially considered flops but later gained popularity and became major blockbusters.

Pakeezah (1972) - A Tragic Fate and a Silver Lining

Pakeezah, a film that took over 14 years to complete, was released when Meena Kumari's career as a lead actress was nearing its end. The film lacked major hype and was expected to fail at the box office. Unfortunately, Meena Kumari died a few weeks after its release, and her untimely death sparked a wave of nostalgic reactions from the audience. This led to a re-release of the film in theaters, and it became a massive hit, earning nearly 3 crores and becoming the second-highest grossing film of that year.

Guide (1965) - A Campaign of Hope

Guide was Devanand's best performance and is considered one of the greatest films in Indian cinema. However, the English version of the film flopped, prompting concerns about the Hindi version. Despite facing a lukewarm response, Navketan Films ran an effective publicity campaign. Coupled with favorable word of mouth and critical acclaim, the film gradually gained momentum and ended up becoming a hit. It earned 1.75 crores and won multiple awards.

Hero (1983) - From Couch to Cinema

Jackie Shroff's debut in the lead role was overshadowed by two newcomers' first films which were colossal flops. Despite the initial failure, Hero picked up after 3 weeks and became a major hit, grossing 6.25 crores and celebrating a platinum jubilee run of 75 weeks in theaters.

Hera Pheri (2000) - Comedy That Grew on Viewers

Hera Pheri, despite being a cult classic and a massive comedy, did not perform well when it first hit the screens. A combination of factors, including a delayed release, a poor name, Sunil Shetty replacing Sanjay Dutt (who was injured and could not act), and lackluster music, led to a poor initial response. However, the film's amusing storyline and stellar word of mouth eventually turned things around, making it a success and a cult favorite.

Sholay (1975) - A Slow-Thriller That Blew Up

Sholay, a legendary film, was poorly received initially due to its massive budget of 3 crores and the distribution price of 1.68 crores. Additionally, it faced competition from the smaller budget film Jai Santoshi Maa which was such a huge hit that it forced Sholay to increase its release prints from 15 to 300. By the fourth week, Sholay started gaining traction and went on to become a blockbuster, grossing a mammoth 15 crores, a figure that at that time was unprecedented for a single film.

These stories illustrate the unpredictable nature of the film industry and the power of perseverance, re-release campaigns, and word of mouth in transforming a box office flop into a hit. Whether it's a tragic end leading to a resurgence or an underdog script that grows in popularity, these films serve as a reminder of the sometimes surprising ways that entertainment can evolve.