The 1995 Box Office Bomb That Once Held a Guinness World Record for Biggest Loss Is Streaming for Free
1995 brought several hit movies, some grossing hundreds of millions. However, Cutthroat Island, a swashbuckling pirate adventure featuring Geena Davis and Matthew Modine, was not among them. The film lost a significant amount of money, holding a Guinness World Record for nearly 20 years.
Although it no longer holds the title of the biggest box office bomb, you can now watch Cutthroat Island for free. Whether you’re curious or want to revisit this often-criticized epic about a woman searching for hidden treasure, here is the story behind its record-setting loss.
Guinness World Record for Largest Box Office Loss
Until April 2012, Cutthroat Island was recognized by Guinness World Records as having suffered the largest box office loss ever, estimated at $105 million ($145 million adjusted for inflation). The production budget was around $98 million, excluding marketing costs. Yet, the film only made about $10 million at the box office, resulting in a massive nine-figure loss.
The Fate of Pirate Movies After Cutthroat Island
After its release, the pirate movie genre largely disappeared from theaters for nearly a decade. One rare exception was The Muppet Treasure Island. It wasn’t until June 2003 that pirate films made a major comeback with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, which grossed $654 million, according to BoxOffice Mojo.
"Up until April 2012, Cutthroat Island had the distinction of holding the Guinness World Record for the largest box office loss of all time, which amounted to $105 million (or $145 million, adjusted for inflation)." – Guinness World Records
Author’s summary: Despite being a financial disaster that held a Guinness World Record, Cutthroat Island remains a cult pirate film now available for free streaming, marking a rare low in pirate movie history before their revival.