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

In Hollywood, most movies aim to make big money, but sometimes things go completely wrong. One of the most famous examples is the low-budget drama Zyzzyx Road, which is now known as the lowest-grossing movie in history. According to box office records and coverage from Variety, the film made just $30 in theaters.

The movie starred Leo Grillo and Katherine Heigl and told the story of an accountant who gets mixed up with a mysterious woman in Las Vegas. Things spiral out of control when he believes he has killed her boyfriend, Joey. The role of Joey was originally offered to actors like Jason Lee, but it eventually went to Tom Sizemore.

Production faced problems from the start. Sizemore was dealing with serious legal and personal issues, including probation and arrests for drug charges. He failed multiple drug tests, which forced the crew to pause filming, sources report. Despite these behind-the-scenes issues, the bigger disaster came after the film was completed.

The producers made a major mistake in releasing the movie. Instead of showing it in theaters nationwide, they rented just one theater for its entire run. This made it nearly impossible for audiences to see the film, and there was no way for word-of-mouth to help its box office performance.

With a budget of around $1.2 million, Zyzzyx Road earned only $30—barely enough for a couple of popcorn buckets. This tiny return cemented its place in history as one of Hollywood’s biggest financial disasters. The trailer for the film can still be found on YouTube.

Since Zyzzyx Road, Katherine Heigl has moved on to much bigger projects. She became a household name as Izzie Stevens on Grey’s Anatomy and later starred in successful romantic comedies like 27 Dresses and Knocked Up. Her career shows that strong acting and proper movie distribution can lead to major success.

Tom Sizemore, who played Joey, passed away in 2023. He was known for powerful roles in films like Saving Private Ryan and Heat. Even in troubled projects like this, his talent was never the problem, film critics note.

The story of Zyzzyx Road is often cited in film schools and among movie fans as a perfect example of how a movie can fail despite having recognizable actors. It proves that in Hollywood, even talent cannot save a film if it is not properly promoted or released.

What do you think is the craziest movie flop you’ve ever heard of? Share your thoughts in the comments.