Movies - TV
The Two Flops That Nearly Destroyed Robert Zemeckis' Hollywood Career
By JEREMY SMITH
Robert Zemeckis is recognized as a visionary filmmaker today, but he faced two significant setbacks early in his career that nearly derailed his trajectory in Hollywood.
The first of these was his 1978 directorial debut, "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," a comedy that flopped at the box office despite its strong concept and positive test screenings.
The second setback was the 1980 film "Used Cars," a satire of capitalism that also struggled commercially, earning an underwhelming $12.7 million against an $8 million budget.
These disappointments led to Zemeckis being seen as a liability and taught him the crucial lesson that, as a filmmaker, he has "to really get involved in the marketing."
This experience paved the way for his later successes, including hits like "Romancing the Stone" and "Back to the Future," which solidified his reputation as a visionary director.