A great science fiction film doesn't necessarily translate to box office success, and some of the best sci-fi movies ever were financial bombs. Though the genre is known for its limitless imagination, it isn't always perfect for a general audience. Sometimes the ideas are too heady, or the movie doesn't connect with the right audience at the right time.

Movies with wonderful reviews can still be box office disasters, and critical success rarely translates to commercial windfalls. Profits in the film world are very complicated, and even a movie that makes more than its production budget can still be a significant bomb. Film finances are often obfuscated, and additional costs can sometimes double or triple a movie's reported budget.

Critical reception can be just as fickle as the box o

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