BEN HUR ($100m bugdet)

Despite the rise of Christian faith-based flicks in recent years (Jesus plays a small but pivotal role in the events of the film), the writing was on the wall, and the critical skewering it received certainly did nothing to bolster the film’s box office ambitions. Ben-Hur could only manage to bring in a mere $26 million domestic and $94 million worldwide, coming in well below its budget of $100 million. Keep in mind, that $100 million figure does not include money spent marketing a tentpole summer release, the cost of which is estimated to be in excess of $100 million for would-be blockbusters like Ben-Hur.