Disney's $250 Million Western Flop Also Became One of Highest-Grossing Ever
The Western genre has remained a staple of cinema for decades, but it's not typically associated with blockbuster success. However, one movie stands out as an exception: Disney's 'The Lone Ranger,' which became one of the studio's biggest box office flops in 2013 while also becoming one of the highest-grossing Westerns ever made.
The film, directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Armie Hammer as the titular character, had a massive budget of $250 million. This was on par with some of the biggest movies of its time, such as 'Django Unchained,' which became Quentin Tarantino's highest-grossing film at the time.
Despite having a reputation for making expensive movies, Verbinski admitted in an interview that Disney had trouble controlling the budget. He explained that 'every big movie gets shut down' due to disagreements over costs and execution.
The Lone Ranger ultimately made just $260.5 million worldwide, barely breaking even on its massive budget. This was a disaster for Disney, but it also stands as one of the highest-grossing Westerns ever made. The film's failure has been attributed to its overly ambitious budget, which exceeded what most Western movies can typically afford.