'Failure fascinates, for all the reasons that success is a drag . . .'
From grand follies to misunderstood masterpieces, disastrous sequels to catastrophic literary adaptations, Tim Robey's hugely entertainingBox Office Poisontells an alternative history of Hollywood, through a century of its most notable flops.
Freaks, Land of the Pharaohs, Dune, Speed 2, Catwoman, Cats:what can these films tell us about the Hollywood system, the public's appetite - or lack of it - and the circumstances that saw such box office disasters actually made? Away from the canon, here is the definitive take on these ill-fated, but essential celluloid failures.
Since 2000, Tim Robey has reviewed films, written features and conducted interviews for the Daily Telegraph's arts pages. He appears regularly on Radio 4'sFront Rowand Monocle FM Radio, contributed to R4's now-defunctFilm Programme, and appeared as a sofa guest onBBC Film2015-2017. He gaveCatszero stars, but has now seen it four times. His favourite film is Terrence Malick'sThe Thin Red Line(1998).