flop at the box office

Meaning

To fail completely to attract an audience or make money at movie theaters. It refers specifically to films that lose significant money relative to their production and marketing budgets.

Examples

• Despite a massive marketing campaign, the sci-fi epic flopped at the box office.

  Despite a massive marketing campaign, the sci-fi epic flopped at the box office.

• No one expected the low-budget comedy to do well, but it didn't deserve to flop at the box office.

  No one expected the low-budget comedy to do well, but it didn't deserve to flop at the box office.

• The sequel flopped at the box office because of terrible word-of-mouth reviews.

  The sequel flopped at the box office because of terrible word-of-mouth reviews.

• Many cult classics initially flopped at the box office before finding their audience.

  Many cult classics initially flopped at the box office before finding their audience.

• If this movie flops at the box office, the studio might go bankrupt.

  If this movie flops at the box office, the studio might go bankrupt.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The film made a flop at the box office.

  ✓ The film flopped at the box office.

  'Flop' is used as a verb in this construction. While you can say 'the film was a flop', you cannot say 'made a flop'.

• ✗ The movie flopped in the box office.

  ✓ The movie flopped at the box office.

  The standard preposition used in this idiomatic phrase is 'at', not 'in'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Despite having an all-star cast, the historical drama ___.

  💡 Failed to make money at movie theaters (past tense).

  Show answer

  flopped at the box office

• Studios always worry that their expensive superhero movies might ___.

  💡 Fail financially in theaters (base form).

  Show answer

  flop at the box office