In his hugely acclaimed alternative history of Hollywood, Tim Robey leads us through a century of its most notable flops. From Freaks to Land of the Pharaohs, Dune to Speed 2, and Catwoman to Cats – here is the definitive take on these ill-fated, but essential celluloid failures.

‘Expertly researched.’ SIGHT & SOUND
‘A rollicking, gossipy triumph.’ DAILY TELEGRAPH
‘Amusing and wince-inducing in equal measure.’ INDEPENDENT

A riotous and revealing story of Hollywood’s most spectacular flops.

‘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 entertaining Box Office Poison tells 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.