John Carter's Belated Rise to Cult Classic Status

Disney's John Carter, released in 2012, was initially deemed a costly catastrophe for the studio after earning only $73 million domestically and $211 million overseas, totaling near $284 million worldwide. The film had a production budget of around $250-307 million, including marketing costs.

The box office failure led to Disney announcing a $200 million writedown on March 20, 2012, one of the largest in Hollywood history. This resulted in the resignation of Rich Ross, chairman of Walt Disney Studios since October 2009, just a month later, along with marketing chief MT Carney.

However, despite its initial failure, John Carter has gained a cult following over time. Fans launched online petitions and campaigns demanding a sequel, but none were officially greenlit by the studio. Instead, streaming on Disney+ has helped revive interest in the film, with some critics reassessing it as a misunderstood gem.