Hollywood’s Most Shocking Flop, The Movie That Pulled Only $30 at the Box Office

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Most movies in Hollywood are made to earn a lot of money, but occasionally a film fails spectacularly. A prime example is the low-budget drama Zyzzyx Road, which has become infamous for being the lowest-grossing movie of all time. Reports from box office data and Variety show it only earned $30 in theaters.

The film featured Leo Grillo and Katherine Heigl, and followed an accountant whose life is turned upside down after meeting a mysterious woman in Las Vegas. The situation gets much worse when he thinks he’s accidentally killed her boyfriend, Joey. Tom Sizemore ended up playing Joey, but the part was initially considered by actors like Jason Lee.

The film’s production ran into trouble right away. Actor Sizemore was battling personal and legal difficulties, including being on probation and facing drug-related arrests. According to reports, he repeatedly failed drug tests, causing delays in filming. However, the most significant problems arose after the movie was finished.

The movie’s release was a significant error. Instead of a wide theatrical release, the producers only booked it into a single theater. This severely limited its audience and prevented positive reviews from spreading, ultimately hurting its chances at the box office.

Despite costing about $1.2 million to make, the movie Zyzzyx Road only brought in $30 at the box office – not even enough to cover a couple of movie snacks! This made it famously one of the biggest financial failures in Hollywood history. You can still watch the film’s trailer on YouTube.

After appearing in the film Zyzzyx Road, Katherine Heigl’s career really took off. She gained widespread recognition playing Izzie Stevens on Grey’s Anatomy and went on to star in popular romantic comedies such as 27 Dresses and Knocked Up. Her success demonstrates the power of talented acting combined with effective film releases.

Actor Tom Sizemore, best known for playing Joey and for his strong performances in movies like Saving Private Ryan and Heat, died in 2023. Film critics often pointed out that even when a project wasn’t successful, Sizemore’s acting was always a highlight.

The movie Zyzzyx Road is a classic example used in film classes and by movie lovers to illustrate how a film can flop, even with well-known actors. It demonstrates that in Hollywood, strong talent isn’t enough – a movie also needs good promotion and distribution to succeed.

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2026-01-26 20:14