Line #53 Main/VindicatedByCable


1	->''"Even the theatrical release of Film/TheShawshankRedemption had a Creator/{{TNT}} logo in the corner!"''
2	-->-- '''Jebidiah Atkinson''', ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'', "Weekend Update"
3
4	This is a subtrope to VindicatedByHistory. These are films that usually [[BoxOfficeBomb bombed at the box office in first-run]] and might otherwise have been left to rot in the dust bin of history. Not all of them did, though.
5
6	[[NetworkToTheRescue Through frequent airings on premium or basic cable channels]] because they're cheap, handy filler, they gather a devoted audience that sees its [[SoBadItsGood entertainment value]] despite the obvious flaws. Sometimes, these films bombed when they were first released and were just misunderstood at the time, but a later time period and cable made them popular. Other times, the show in question is aired so often that viewers mistakenly believe it must be some sort of classic... so they keep watching and rewatching it to the point that it ''does'' [[SelfFulfillingProphecy become a classic]]. This can also happen to a film [[ColbertBump if it gets featured on]] ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'', and, in fact, is the cause of many a MissingEpisode of said series; after a movie was [=MiSTied=], it often gained in popularity, which raised the price for the rights beyond what Best Brains (or Rhino or Creator/ShoutFactory) was able to pay.
7
8	An interesting effect of this process can happen when the TV rights to sequels of classic movies are cheaper than the rights to the original movie. Thus, while the original was already popular, for generations who grew up after its release, their largest exposure to the franchise is often the sequels. Thus, for certain groups, otherwise detested sequels can be viewed through NostalgiaFilter.
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10	Compare CriticalDissonance, QualityByPopularVote. VindicatedByReruns is the [[SisterTrope television counterpart]].
11
12	----
13	!!Examples:
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15	[[foldercontrol]]
16
17	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
18	* ''Anime/MDGeist'' got surprisingly good ratings on [[Creator/{{Syfy}} Sci Fi Channel]], and when [[ImageBoards 7chan]] was exposed to it through their "Channel 7" streaming TV service, the turnout was rather impressive. The DVD has since been re-released by Creator/ADVFilms after being out of print for years, partly due to the Sci Fi turnout.
19	* ''Anime/{{Betterman}}'' was (and still is) a rather obscure anime series when it came to America back in 2002. The reason why anyone today even knows of the series is thanks to the Creator/TechTV ''Anime Unleashed'' broadcasts.
20	* ''Anime/{{Robotech}}'' could be classed as this in the UK, seeing as the full series never got released either on terrestrial TV or on video (only the first 2 episodes, the ''Codename:Robotech'' feature-length pilot, and the obscure ''Robotech The Movie''), though was shown on various cable channels throughout the '80s and '90s.
21	* Despite its paramount success in Japan, ''Anime/PrincessMononoke'' was a box office bomb in the United States, in part due to Creator/HayaoMiyazaki insisting that the English dub be released unedited.[[note]]Miyazaki had previously expressed resentment towards ''[[{{Macekre}} Warriors of the Wind]]'', an edited translation of ''Anime/NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind'' that threw out the original's environmentalist themes in favor of pandering to an audience of young boys; while releasing most Ghibli films unedited, targeted for children, is a perfectly sane decision, ''Mononoke'' was ''likely not the right film to start with'' given how much BloodierAndGorier it is than Ghibli's previous (and later) films.[[/note]] Luckily, its immense critical acclaim gave it newfound success from television syndications and home media releases, bringing it on par with its Japanese performance by becoming the highest-selling anime production of 2001, and quite likely paving the way for the runaway success ''Anime/SpiritedAway'', Creator/StudioGhibli's following release, became.
22	* ''Anime/GenesisOfAquarion'' is a comparatively rare example of Vindicated By ''Theme Song'' - despite being helmed by Macross creator Shoji Kawamori, the series largely flew under the radar until 2007, when the usage of its Music/YokoKanno-penned opening song in a pachinko game commercial catapulted the song to triple platinum status and Aquarion itself back into the limelight, leading to first an OAV series and later the 2012 TV continuation Aquarion EVOL.
23	[[/folder]]
24
25	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
26	* Since it couldn't compete with Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{The Little Mermaid\|1989}}'', ''WesternAnimation/AllDogsGoToHeaven'' was a failure in cinemas. However, home-video rentals made this movie a bestseller in the market, a CultClassic among animation buffs and consequently a popular entry in the Creator/DonBluth canon.
27	* ''WesternAnimation/BebesKids'' bombed at the box office, but home-video rentals and cable showings elevated it to CultClassic by the time the 2000s rolled around.
28	* Creator/WarnerBros has a bad track record with this:
29	** ''WesternAnimation/CatsDontDance'' was a box-office flop, buried in an Easter-weekend release by Creator/WarnerBros (as Time Warner had just merged with Turner, which made the movie), with scant advertising and a barely promoted Subway tie-in. At the time, the only people really talking about it were the animation community (who went on to award it the Annie for Best Picture) and the UsefulNotes/FurryFandom. Eventually, the film did become a CultClassic after its subsequent video release, and airings on Creator/DisneyChannel, Creator/{{Starz}}, and Creator/CartoonNetwork (in the latter's case, presumably trying to make up for their corporate cousin's failure).
30	** ''WesternAnimation/TheIronGiant'' failed at the box office thanks to Warner Bros having no faith in the movie. Fortunately, one of those who ''did'' see it was UsefulNotes/TedTurner, who loved it so much that he had Cartoon Network run a 24-hour marathon of it on UsefulNotes/{{Thanksgiving\|Day}}, a tradition that continued for many years (back when he saw it he was still running his own company, he left after the disastrous AOL/Time Warner merger). It's easy to see why this film in particular would complement Thanksgiving day -- the vague 1950's small-town America setting is plump with nostalgia, and the plot is a wholesome [[ABoyAndHisX Boy and His Robot]] story, which only reveals more layers as the viewers grow up.
31	** ''Film/OsmosisJones'' (which actually is a live-action/animated hybrid) was already a hard sell, with its disgusting scenes, lots of ParentalBonus and just being [[AnimationAgeGhetto part cartoon]], and subsequently tanked as the studio dumped with little fanfare in one of the DumpMonths. Good video sales and frequent airings on Creator/CartoonNetwork (along with a [[Westernanimation/OzzyAndDrix kid-friendlier spin-off]]) made it grow a fanbase, who liked the animation and a few good ideas -- some fans noted the scenes in the host body's mind wound up oddly prescient to what would appear in ''Westernanimation/InsideOut''. It also gained a second life [[FromEntertainmentToEducation being shown in classrooms, of all places]].
32	* The Japanese release of ''WesternAnimation/TheLegoMovie'' bombed because it came out during the 16-week box office romp of ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen\|2013}}'', which gathered a lot of attention during those weeks with Japanese moviegoers. It later became one of the biggest-selling Western animated films when the DVD came out.
33	* ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch'' is a relatively minor example, as it did decently at the box office (it made over three times its $80 million budget at the global box office), but it didn't become as popular as it was until its home video release during the 2002 holiday season, which sold over a million DVD copies in its first year.
34	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirlsMovie'' had a decent reception with critics and fans, but with Warner Bros. opting to market the LiveActionAdaptation of ''Film/ScoobyDoo'' instead, it was opened against ''Film/MenInBlackII''. Despite heavy promotion on Cartoon Network, it bombed at the box office. Home video and showings on Cartoon Network and Boomerang helped it gain a strong audience.
35	* Several of the 2000s Disney films, formerly considered to be part of the AudienceAlienatingEra like ''WesternAnimation/AtlantisTheLostEmpire'', ''WesternAnimation/BrotherBear'', and ''WesternAnimation/TreasurePlanet'' have all received a much better rep outside of theaters. A large part of this was due to high DVD sales and reruns on Creator/{{Starz}}, Creator/DisneyChannel, and [[Creator/{{Freeform}} ABC Family]].
36	** Similarly with ''WesternAnimation/TitanAE'', which came 2 years earlier under similar conditions (with an added AnimationAgeGhetto to boot).
37	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSwanPrincess'' bombed at the box office, but made enough money on home video to spawn ''six'' sequels.
38	* Despite receiving wide acclaim, ''WesternAnimation/WinnieThePooh2011'' made just enough money to make up its $30 million budget due to Disney releasing it in the middle of the summer blockbuster season, and on the exact same day as the much anticipated [[Film/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows final installment]] of the ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' series. Thankfully it managed to become a big seller on Blu-ray/DVD and got frequent reruns on cable.
39	* The combination of a bigger budget than its [[WesternAnimation/ABoyNamedCharlieBrown predecessor]] and being released by a studio (Cinema Center Films) on its last legs helped doom ''WesternAnimation/SnoopyComeHome'' at the box office in 1972. It gained belated success after being frequently featured on HBO in the 80s and Disney in the 90s.
40	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanMaskOfThePhantasm'' performed badly at the box office when released in theaters, due to poor advertising on WB's part, but made a profit of ''millions'' when available on video the following year.
41	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTheMovie2017'' suffered from a combination of poor advertising due to a dispute between Hasbro and Lionsgate, was released in a {{Dump Month\|s}} with said release occurring on the same weekend a hurricane hit the Gulf Coast of the United States, and was seen by critics as being [[SweetnessAversion too saccharine]]. When the film was released to DVD, it was much more popular, with the digital release being one of the most popular titles on [[Creator/AmazonStudios Amazon Prime Video]], beating out shows like ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' and ''WesternAnimation/DanielTigersNeighborhood'' and every film of the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon except for ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen\|2013}}''.
42	* Despite being a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel to its [[WesternAnimation/TheAngryBirdsMovie predecessor]] and dethroning ''Film/PokemonDetectivePikachu'' as the highest-rated video game movie, ''WesternAnimation/TheAngryBirdsMovie2'' flew under the radar upon its initial release, due to said release happening at a time where the ''Franchise/AngryBirds'' franchise was no longer the cash cow it was years ago. Once the film hit Creator/{{Netflix}}, it stood on the top 10 for weeks, which led to Creator/RovioEntertainment to green-lit a spin-off [[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/angry-birds-animated-series-a-go-at-netflix-1286377#:~:text=Go%20at%20Netflix-,Netflix,by%20the%20popular%20mobile%20game show]] excusively for the service.
43	* ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheGuardians'' made back its budget, but the distribution costs for the film lost the studio $87 million, forcing [=DreamWorks=] to lay off over three hundred workers. Not helping matters was the fact it was head to head with ''[[Literature/BreakingDawn The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2]]'', ''Film/{{Skyfall}}'', and ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'' as well as ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'' at the box office. It was on home video and streaming where it finally found its audience, elevating the film to CultClassic status by the time the mid-to-late-2010s rolled around.
44	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Encanto}}'' may win the record for the fastest turnaround of a film's fortunes from cinemas to home video. At the box office during a spike in COVID cases in a year when audiences were still weary about returning to the cinema, it earned $257 million worldwide ($96 million domestic) on a budget estimated to be somewhere between $120 and $150 million, meaning that it most likely either lost money or just barely broke even. Upon its release onto [=Disney+=] however, it became an immediate smash hit and genuine worldwide cultural phenomenon driven by both the film itself and its soundtrack, ultimately ensuring that nobody today considers the film to be a flop.
45	* ''[[WesternAnimation/Elemental2023 Elemental]]'' only earned around $154 million domestically, but became the most viewed premiere on [=Disney+=] of that year, making it a streaming hit similar to ''Encanto''. Unlike ''Encanto'', however, this was preceded by a remarkably strong ''international'' run in theaters (particularly in South Korea), earning $341 million for a worldwide total gross of $495 million.
46	* WesternAnimation/ThomasAndTheMagicRailroad was critically panned and derailed [[Main/{{Pun}} (no pun intended)]] at the box office. However, it did much better on video to the point where it grew a small cult following and eventually got a Blu-ray release in 2020.
47	[[/folder]]
48
49	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
50	* ''Film/TheThirteenthWarrior'' is one of the biggest bombs ever filmed. As such, it was ''very'' cheap to buy for variety of TV networks and channels. Cue everyone airing it at least once per week anywhere in the world. For years. The end result is genuine confusion of to ''why'' this film even bombed in the first place, since it gained a reputation of a well-made adventure flick without any major or obvious flaws.
51	* Creator/ComedyCentral seems to have rescued ''Film/{{Accepted}}''. Previously, ''Film/{{PCU}}'' was equally AdoredByTheNetwork.
52	* As with many of the other examples on this page, ''Film/TheAdventuresOfBuckarooBanzaiAcrossThe8thDimension'' was an obvious cult film that its studio unwisely tried to sell to a mainstream audience. It only made $6 million (on a $17 million budget) in theaters. It finally found its cult on cable.
53	* ''Film/TheAdventuresOfElmoInGrouchland'' bombed at the box office because of its target audience, but later became the biggest-selling children's VHS of the early 2000s.
54	* The 1994 comedy ''Film/{{Airheads}}'' bombed at the box office and was thrashed by critics. But due to the fact that it was played heavily on Creator/ComedyCentral during the late 1990s, it has managed to achieve CultClassic status -- especially among fans of hard rock and HeavyMetal music, due to all the rock & roll in-jokes and the cameos by famous rock musicians.
55	* ''Film/AustinPowersInternationalManOfMystery'' did alright at the box office (it recouped its budget), but not exceptionally. It was only when it reached home video that it became a pop culture touchstone. Tellingly, its sequel earned five times what the original did at the box office.
56	* ''Film/BarneysGreatAdventure'' (much like Elmo in Grouchland above) was not a box office success due to the franchise's target demographic, but sold incredibly well on video.
57	* ''Film/TheBeastmaster'' was a critical and box office failure upon its 1982 release, grossing just $3 million against a $9 million budget. However, it subsequently received significant cable airplay, notably {{Creator/HBO}} and Creator/{{TBS}}, where it became a TV mainstay and viewer favorite. Its replay was so common that some waggishly dubbed TBS "The Beastmaster Station", and HBO "Hey, Beastmaster's On".
58	* ''Film/BigFatLiar'' was a modest success at the box office, but it received mixed reviews from critics. Creator/DisneyChannel's airings in the mid-2000s helped make it a viewer favorite.
59	* ''Film/BirdsOfPrey2020''. For various reasons, including some MisaimedMarketing, an R rating that locked out a lot of the younger fans of ComicBook/HarleyQuinn, and a short theatrical run due to the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic, it had a pretty underwhelming box office outcome, not ''quite'' a flop (it made back double its budget) but inarguably below studio expectations. However, the film performed much better when it made its way onto Creator/HBOMax, consistently ranking as one of the most-streamed films on the platform during its first year. The vindication ultimately led to a successful push for a SpinOff starring the film's incarnation of ComicBook/BlackCanary, to be made with HBO Max in mind.
60	* ''Film/BlackDynamite'' was a flop at the box office due to poor marketing and a distributor change a few months before release, but it got noticed through DVD and airings on the Starz network, which led to an [[WesternAnimation/BlackDynamite animated series]] being greenlighted by Creator/AdultSwim.
61	* ''Film/BladeRunner'''s theatrical release was on the last weekend of June 1982, at the height of a now-legendary [[SummerBlockbuster summer of blockbusters]], most in the sci-fi/fantasy/horror vein (''[[Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial E.T.]]'' was king, but it was also the year of ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'' and ''Film/{{Poltergeist\|1982}}''). Trailing stories of its lengthy TroubledProduction, it premiered to disappointing reviews that praised its visual splendor but found everything else moribund. It did poorly, but thanks to this trope and home video it was seen as one of the decade's most influential films by the end of the 1980s. It even managed to get [[Film/BladeRunner2049 a belated sequel]] over 30 years after the fact.
62	* ''Film/BloodRayne'' made less than $4 million at the box office ''worldwide'', against its $25 million production budget - yet its near-immediate release to airings on Creator/{{Syfy}} (and better-than-expected DVD sales) exposed it to bad-movie connoisseurs and justified two direct-to-video sequels.
63	* Attempting to mimic the success of ''The Original Kings of Comedy'', ''Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie'' bombed in theaters, but did much better on DVD. The two follow-up movies bypassed the theaters completely after it was realized that their audience didn't want to see them there.
64	* ''Film/{{Scrooge 1951}}'' was a box-office disappointment when released. After being on cable for a few years, it went on to become a classic and considered one of the best adaptations of ''Literature/AChristmasCarol''.
65	* ''Film/AChristmasStory''. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the film began airing quietly on the "superstations" [[Creator/{{TBS}} WTBS]] and WGN as a Thanksgiving movie, where it started to grow in popularity. Because it was a seasonal movie, the studio only ran it for a couple of weeks in December during its original release, so it owes all of its reputation to cable, video, and word-of-mouth. Since 1997, the film has aired for 24 consecutive hours on Christmas Eve on TNT and TBS.
66	* ''Film/CitizenKane''. While it had received much critical acclaim and nine Oscar nominations (though it only won for Best Original Screenplay), during its release, it was far from a box office hit, due largely to WilliamRandolphHearst using his media empire to bury and smear the film due to its unflattering portrayal of [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed him]]. It quickly dropped out of the public eye until RKO released its catalogue to television networks.
67	* ''Film/{{Clue}}'' bombed at the box office, partly due to its multiple endings. However, VHS and cable showings (with all the endings) helped rescue it from obscurity.
68	* ''Film/DirtyWork'' was a critical and financial flop when it was first released in 1998. But once it began airing on network TV, it became a CultClassic, causing speculation of a sequel. Alas, all hopes of a sequel ended with the deaths of star and co-writer Creator/NormMacdonald in 2021 and director Creator/BobSaget in 2022.
69	* ''Film/DoctorSleep'' was unfortunately an AcclaimedFlop when it was first released in 2019 thanks to a mediocre marketing campaign, but has enjoyed [[https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2549048/doctor-sleep-is-now-streaming-and-the-internet-is-finally-falling-in-love-with-it/ a noteworthy resurgence in popularity]] on streaming services (e.g., Creator/PrimeVideo) during/following the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and resulting quarantine.
70	* [[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekly&id=donniedarko.htm Barely anyone]] saw ''Film/DonnieDarko'' during its four-week limited release theatrical run, but it became a cult hit once it hit DVD (and [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff had become a hit in the UK]]) and strong sales led to a theatrical reissue and extended cut.
71	* ''Film/{{Dredd}}'' was another example of an AcclaimedFlop that was redeemed by this trope. It bombed at the box office for many of the same problems ''Scott Pilgrim'' did (an over-reliance on geek and internet buzz, lingering memories of the disastrous [[Film/JudgeDredd 1995 adaptation]] with Creator/SylvesterStallone), but it did so well on DVD and Blu-Ray that there was briefly talk of greenlighting a sequel based solely on home video sales.
72	* Creator/DavidLynch's 1984 adaptation of ''Literature/{{Dune}}'' was a flop, but became a cult classic through TV airings and on home video.
73	* ''Film/EddieAndTheCruisers'' was a major and critical flop when it came out in 1983, but when Showtime started to air it, its popularity was such the studio made a sequel, ''Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives''.
74	* ''Film/{{Flash Gordon\|1980}}'': Its popularity in America was due in part to airings on HBO.
75	* ''Film/TheGreatSantini'' was a flop when it was first released due to Warner Bros. not knowing how to handle the film (it was tested in some markets as a war film and others as a drama). Then the film began heavy rotation on HBO, which finally got people to notice how good it really was. The cable airings were also credited for getting Creator/RobertDuvall an Academy Award nomination for his performance.
76	* ''Film/{{Heathers}}'' got good reviews but bombed in its theatrical run, as its distributor New World Pictures was going bankrupt at the time and couldn't afford to advertise it. (One of its producers even paid for an ad in the ''Los Angeles Times'' out of pocket because New World wouldn't!) Home video and airings on basic cable, combined with its [[BlackComedy edgy subject]] [[AxesAtSchool matter]] making teenagers morbidly curious (especially after UsefulNotes/{{Columbine}}), helped it build a cult fandom in TheNineties, and now it's remembered as one of the best teen comedies of all time.
77	* ''Film/HeavensGate''. Well-publicized reports of its TroubledProduction meant that film critics approached it with their knives drawn, and it was completely demolished by vengeful ''New York Times'' critic Vincent Canby and became one of the biggest flops in film history. Along came The Z Channel, who aired a re-edit which made critics rethink their opinions on the film, and the film began to earn a better reputation.
78	* ''Film/{{Highlander}}'' was a financial flop in its theatrical release. It went on to do very well in home video sales, and spawned the ''Highlander'' [[Franchise/{{Highlander}} franchise]].
79	* ''Film/TheHobbit''. Its divisive status is still there but it's noticeably lessened over time, with people slowly warming up to it, thanks to the release of the Extended Cuts (which are the preferred versions by the cast and crew, including Creator/PeterJackson himself) and the news of the ExecutiveMeddling by Warner Bros. and the resulting TroubledProduction coming to light, which garnered sympathy for the crew. The BetterOnDVD state of the films helps too.
80	* ''Film/HocusPocus'' was critically and commercially unsuccessful during its theatrical release. Then it began showing up on the Creator/DisneyChannel on an annual basis during Halloween, gaining a cult following that grew year after year, and within 15 years it entered the cultural mainstream and has become a beloved Halloween movie [[Film/HocusPocus2 getting a sequel in 2022]]..
81	* ''Film/TheIncredibleMrLimpet'' was only a modest success at the box office and receives mixed reviews from critics, but TV and home video turned it into a family favorite.
82	* Creator/StevenSpielberg's ''Film/{{Hook}}'' did make a nice profit, but poor reviews and being outcompeted by Disney's ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'' gave the film a rather bad reputation. It has become much better received on cable.
83	* ''Film/IdleHands'' tanked at the box office (not helped by Columbine happening a few days before release, and the backlash against violent content doubles for a HorrorComedy with high schoolers) and was hated by reviewers. But over time it gained a cult following for its clever horror comedy and quotability.
84	* The film ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'' didn't make a whole lot of waves upon its release, having received mostly dismissive or negative reviews. One of the few positive reviews was from ''Time'' magazine, and even they complained that it was ultimately superficial and sentimental. However, after it was accidentally released into the public domain in 1974, it became a Christmas standard, and a new generation came to see it as a classic. In this case, it was repeated airings on broadcast stations, not basic cable, that brought the film its new status, but the principle is the same.
85	* Several of Creator/JohnCarpenter's films (''Film/EscapeFromNewYork'', ''Film/TheThing1982'', ''Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina'', etc...) did much better on cable and home rental than in the theaters. Creator/KurtRussell, who starred in several of said films (including the three mentioned), has remarked a few times that he wouldn't have a career if it weren't for such.
86	* ''Film/TheLastDragon'' was an odd mix of mid-'80s black culture and '70s MartialArtsMovie genre. Though a modest success in theaters, it found a home on Saturday Afternoon movie blocks and introduced us all to Sho'Nuff, the Shogun of Harlem, and Bruce Leroy.
87	* ''Film/TheLegendOfBillieJean'' was a box office bomb during its original release, but started to gain popularity as it began to play on syndicated networks years later.
88	* The Swedish film ''Film/LetTheRightOneIn'' was an average performer in American theatres (though it grossed over $750,000 and played for five months in one New York theatre) but amassed a large following through DVD and on-demand rentals, to the point where it received [[Film/LetMeIn an American remake]] two years later.
89	* ''Film/LoveAndBasketball'' didn't exactly bomb when it came out, but it probably would not be nearly as popular among African-American youth (some of which were only 4 or 5 when the movie came out) if it weren't for the constant repeats on Creator/{{BET}}. The movie even occasionally becomes a ''trending topic'' on Twitter when it's on.
90	* Two of Creator/MelBrooks' films, ''Film/SpaceBalls'' and ''Film/RobinHoodMenInTights'', received a cold reception when they were first released. The former was the [[CreatorKiller the start of the fall of his directorial career]] while the latter helped to solidify it. Years later, both films have become fan favorites.
91	** ''Film/SpaceBalls'' deserves a special mention in regards to this. When the film released in 1987, it was largely seen as a NarrowParody since it was a spoof of the ''[[Franchise/StarWars Original]] [[Film/ANewHope Star]] [[Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack Wars]] [[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi Trilogy]]'', whose last film ''Return of the Jedi'' only released four years prior and was seen mainly as topical. Thankfully for the Mel Brooks movie, the ''Star Wars'' Trilogy have become some of the most iconic, beloved, timeless film series that remains extremely popular to this very day, meaning ''Spaceballs'' likewise continues to resonate with audiences.
92	* Creator/MikeJudge is one of the kings of this trope. ''Film/OfficeSpace'' is the quintessential example, with tepid box office numbers at best, only becoming a CultClassic after being shown ad nauseum on premium cable (and, later, Creator/ComedyCentral). ''Film/{{Idiocracy}}'' bombed similarly in theaters, a victim of [[InvisibleAdvertising little to no promotion by the distributor]], 20th Century Fox (all the film's [[TakeThat cheap shots]] at the FOX network and its news division probably didn't help Judge). Thanks once again to cable, the film seems to be well on its way to this trope if it's not already there.
93	* ''Film/TheMonsterSquad'' bombed in its original theatrical run in 1987. It was [[MisaimedMarketing marketed as a campy, lightweight film]] despite its PG-13 rating and dark tone that, while still a horror-comedy with [[KidHero kid protagonists]], largely took its [[Franchise/UniversalHorror Universal monster villains]] seriously, which led families to steer away and left critics not knowing what to make of it. Furthermore, it was released just two weeks after ''Film/TheLostBoys'', and got run over at the box office as a result. Even afterwards, it only received a single lone VHS release that quickly went out of print. Creator/{{HBO}}, however, screened it frequently through TheNineties, allowing it to build a cult fandom that culminated in a 20th-anniversary cast reunion at the Alamo Drafthouse and a feature-packed DVD release. Nowadays, it's ranked next to ''Film/TheGoonies'' and ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'' as one of the great kids' adventure films of TheEighties. The documentary ''Wolfman's Got Nards'' goes into detail on how the film built its following over the years.
94	* ''Film/OutCold'' bombed in its theatrical run and met scathing reviews, but quickly became a staple of Creator/ComedyCentral. Extreme sports fans especially loved it due to its mix of a SexComedy with an ExtremeSportsPlot, having been directed by the makers of the surfing documentary ''Thicker Than Water'' and featuring a lot of scenes of snowboarders carving up the slopes of British Columbia ([[CaliforniaDoubling doubling]] for UsefulNotes/{{Alaska}}). Now, it's remembered as a hidden gem of the late '90s/early '00s sex comedy boom that followed ''Film/AmericanPie''.
95	* ''Film/{{Overboard\|1987}}'' has been a cable-TV favorite for years despite its limited theatrical success, such that it was eventually [[Film/Overboard2018 remade in 2018]].
96	* The 1980 live-action movie version of ''Film/{{Popeye}}'' also gained CultClassic status thanks to HBO, as did the {{camp}}, glitzy, all-star movie musicals ''Music/{{Tommy}}'' and ''Film/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand''.
97	* Another film rescued by the Z Channel was ''Film/OnceUponATimeInAmerica'', as it was shown on the station in its original form after the theatrical version was ScrewedByTheNetwork.
98	* According to Wikipedia, “Film/Paulie” had a decent critical reception, but it flopped at the box office. However, it found a new life on home video.
99	* ''Film/ThePrincessBride'' recouped its budget (it made $30.9 million at the box office), but wasn't really a big success. It was thanks to VHS and cable that it became a pop culture cornerstone.
100	* ''Film/RemoWilliamsTheAdventureBegins'' was in pretty much every weekend afternoon movie block in the '80s.
101	* ''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow'' isn't this trope exactly, but is close enough. The film flopped in the initial release but became a cult classic when it was shown as a midnight movie. To date, ''RHPS'' has grossed over $130 million and has played in theaters for over 30 years.
102	* ''Film/RoadHouse1989'': When it was released, it got panned by critics and was considered a FollowUpFailure for Creator/PatrickSwayze after the success of ''Film/DirtyDancing''. In TheNineties, the number of cable channels exploded, all of which needed 24-hour programming. So the rights to lots of cheesy action movies were scooped up, and those movies put into heavy rotation. And it wasn't long before TBS discovered the movie was drawing phenomenal ratings; Perhaps ''Road House'' is the very reason TBS is a "superstation".
103	* ''Film/TheRoom2003'' was only released to a few select theatres in Los Angeles, where it received scant advertising and was slammed by critics. Then Creator/AdultSwim started airing it on AprilFoolsDay for 3 years, and it became the cult phenomenon it is now.
104	* Creator/JamesWoods got national recognition and an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination solely because the Z Channel championed a little-seen indie film ''Film/{{Salvador}}''.
105	* ''Film/TheSandlot'' was a minor success at the box office, but the film became a best seller on VHS and DVD and frequent airings on basic cable.
106	* Despite very good reviews, ''Film/ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld'' did poorly in its theatrical release. For one thing, it starred Creator/MichaelCera, whose career was in a tailspin at the time thanks to his TypeCasting in "{{hipster}}" roles. Furthermore, it was directed by [[Creator/EdgarWright a cult British filmmaker]] and based on [[ComicBook/ScottPilgrim an indie comic book]], both of which were largely unknown outside of their respective geek fanbases, limiting its appeal and guaranteeing that it would've struggled at any time of the year. Finally, it was released against ''Film/TheExpendables'', a far more mainstream-friendly action film with a similar target audience and a lot more hype behind it. However, when it hit home video it was a far bigger hit than it had been in theaters, finally becoming the CultClassic that it failed to become initially.
107	* ''Film/SesameStreetPresentsFollowThatBird'' was an AcclaimedFlop who's failure wounded the Children's Television Workshop financially and led to another ''Series/SesameStreet'' movie not being made until 1999's ''Film/TheAdventuresOfElmoInGrouchland''. However it reached an audience through frequent showings on cable TV, including Creator/{{HBO}}.
108	* ''Film/TheShawshankRedemption'' also failed at the box office despite some critical acclaim. Most of its success came from the fact that UsefulNotes/TedTurner (who owned Castle Rock Entertainment at the time and thus owned the rights to the film) loved the movie, and he made sure it was aired on his Creator/{{TNT}} and Creator/{{TBS}} networks almost every weekend for years. The film slowly picked up a fanbase from these airings, and it's now considered one of the best films of all time. Even before the television rescue, it was also Vindicated by Video: since it got many UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nominations (including Best Picture) and was already available in VHS at the time, a lot of people decided to rent it.
109	* ''Film/{{Showgirls}}'' was a major flop when released in theaters (some chains refused to carry NC-17 rated movies), but it became one of [[Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer MGM]]/[[Creator/UnitedArtists UA]]'s biggest-selling home video titles and has become a CultClassic.
110	* ''Film/SomewhereInTime'' was unsuccessful at the box office. Later cable showings increased its popularity to the point that it had a significant cult following, unusual for a pure romance, along with movie tourists who made yearly pilgrimages to the real-life FrozenInTime Mackinac Island in Michigan to get the full experience of the film.
111	* ''Film/SpaceCamp'': Endless showings on HBO helped people forget that it was [[DistancedFromCurrentEvents released not long after the Challenger disaster.]]
112	* ''Film/ThreeAmigos'' was only a modest money-earner and received mixed reviews on release. Today it's more fondly regarded by fans of '80s comedies, thanks to plenty of repeat showings on HBO (which owns the film), and eventually earned a spot on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies" list.
113	* ''Film/TradingPlaces'' was the fourth highest-grossing film of 1983, but it might've fallen into obscurity if not for yearly airings around Christmas time. [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff In Italy, it's become]] ''[[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff the]]'' [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff Christmas film]], always airing on Christmas Eve since 1997, to the point where many Italians joke "It isn't Christmas without ''Trading Places''.".
114	* ''Film/{{Tremors}}'' was a box office disappointment, but it made a killing once it hit home video, making enough money that a [[Film/Tremors2Aftershocks sequel]] was greenlit.
115	* ''Film/{{Troy}}'' is a nascent example of the trope, as it underperformed at the American box office (but much better overseas) and is polarizing among critics, but has developed a devoted fanbase since being released to cable and video, possibly in retrospect compared to later films like ''300''.
116	* Music/WeirdAlYankovic's ''Film/{{UHF}}''. Ironically, it didn't have to be this way. The movie got such an amazing reception by test audiences that Orion Studios decided to put it in direct competition with other movies in the summer of 1989, which included Creator/TimBurton's ''Film/{{Batman\|1989}}'', ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'', ''Film/LethalWeapon2'', ''Film/GhostbustersII'', ''Film/LicenceToKill'' and ''Film/HoneyIShrunkTheKids''. ''UHF'' ultimately got lost in this shuffle. As Al would sing in the commentary, [[CreatorKiller "Orion! Orion! Is bankrupt now!"]].
117	* ''Film/{{Unbreakable}}'' was initially seen as a SophomoreSlump for Creator/MNightShyamalan, but as [[spoiler:superhero movies]] became increasingly popular in the ensuing years, it was rediscovered by critics as a potent GenreDeconstruction. The release of ''Film/{{Split}}'', however, sparked a surge of mainstream interest [[spoiler:due to its CanonWelding [[TheStinger post-credits sequence]]]], such that when the sequel ''Film/Glass2019'' was released, many people already knew the story it was based on, most of them through watching it on home video after seeing ''Split'' and wondering what the fuss was.
118	* A zig-zagged example: The Franchise/UniversalHorror movies ''were'' extremely successful in their own era of the 1930s and '40s... but it would also be hard to deny that the true height of their popularity was the mid-1950s through the early '70s, when the success of the ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_Theater Shock Theater]]'' television package sent them into every American kid's home, and resulted in a huge slew of new memorabilia, including ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famous_Monsters_of_Filmland Famous Monsters of Filmland]]'' magazine, [[http://www.jeffs60s.com/auroramodels.php the Aurora monster kits]], and the immortal song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOFCQ2bfmHw "Monster Mash"]].
119	* ''Film/{{Willow}}'' didn't live up to box office expectations in 1988, but thanks to video and cable it gradually became a favorite among sword and sorcery fans and children of the '80s and early '90s in general.
120	* ''Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory'' barely made its budget back in 1971 but went on to become a CultClassic thanks to repeated showings on HBO (and later, TBS and ABC Family).
121	* ''Film/WingCommander'' was a bomb at the box office, but video rental income has made good the production costs, and given its regular airing on cable channels (particularly non-US ones) it even has something of a genuine fandom (as opposed to a SoBadItsGood one).
122	* ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' became the classic it is now for being screened over and over on the TV networks.
123	* ''Film/{{Xanadu\|1980}}'', thanks to premium cable, was exposed to a generation of young girls who later made up a large fanbase for this movie.
124	* ''Film/{{Xtro}}'' was an obscure British sci-fi flick, but in the late '80s, it began running heavily on Creator/{{HBO}}, giving it a cult status and two sequels.
125	* ''Film/{{Zoolander}}''. While it did receive positive critical reception, it came out barely two weeks after the attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001 and as a result, it tanked. But it did go on to have strong DVD sales and high ratings on cable, and eventually got a sequel, ''Film/Zoolander2'', in 2016.
126	[[/folder]]
127
128	[[folder:Theatre]]
129	* ''Theatre/TheSpongebobMusical'' sold poorly during its Broadway run, but the soundtrack was a hit on the Billboard Kids' Audio charts, staying there even after it had ended its run until ''Pinkfong: The Best Of Baby Shark'' knocked it off the top 25 in January of 2019. Songs from the musical also played frequently on children's radio station ''Kids Place Live'', usually during their Couch Potato Stew block.
130	[[/folder]]
131
132	[[folder:Video Games]]
133	* ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}'' is a CultClassic. A Platform/{{Steam}} sale, however, managed to boost it to that week's number one (''by revenue''), beating out quite a few new releases. It generally occupies the top-seller space on Website/GOGDotCom when there isn't a sale going on.
134	* ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound\|1994}}'' suffered from poor critical and commercial reception upon its first release in 1995, thanks to a poor marketing campaign and it coming out near the end of the Super Nintendo's life cycle. However, the game slowly picked up a cult following through emulation and this trope really came into effect when Nintendo finally granted the game an official re-release on the Platform/WiiU Platform/VirtualConsole, of which audiences and critics were much more appreciative. MarthDebutedInSmashBros is also partially responsible, as more than a few gamers were introduced to the quirky world of ''VideoGame/{{Mother}}'' through the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series having the main character Ness as a playable fighter.
135	* On a smaller scale ''VideoGame/{{Pulseman}}'' also counts since not many people knew about it before it was on the Platform/{{Wii}} Virtual Console. Being created by Creator/GameFreak is also enough to spark some curiosity from those wanting to see how they were before their [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} most famous creation]].
136	* ''Creator/LarianStudios'' did this with their older role-playing games in the ''Divinity'' series, after receiving increased mainstream recognition for their Kickstarter-funded ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSin'' and [[VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII its sequel]]. Their older games are frequently sold digitally as cheap anthology packages or bundled with special editions of their new titles.
137	* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoChinatownWars'' sold well below expectations when it was released on the Platform/NintendoDS and did even worse on the Platform/PlaystationPortable; simply put, it was an AcclaimedFlop on those systems and an unusually low seller for a Rockstar game. The iOS version, however, was far more successful, and reached the top of the App Store charts.
138	* ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'' had [[AcclaimedFlop good reviews, but rather poor sales]] when first released. The digital re-releases by Website/GOGDotCom and Platform/{{Steam}}, however, are top selling.
139	* ''VideoGame/RaymanLegends'' was [[AcclaimedFlop acclaimed, but sold poorly]] when it was released in 2013, because of the controversy Creator/{{Ubisoft}} generated when they announced it would go MultiPlatform after initially planning it to be a Platform/WiiU exclusive—much to the displeasure of owners of that console, who thought a Wii U exclusive would give more gamers a compelling reason to buy the then-new console—and because the change of plan [[ReleaseDateChange delayed the game]] by over six months just in time to be curb-stomped by ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV''. However, both positive word of mouth and future ports to the Platform/PlayStation4, Platform/XboxOne and Platform/NintendoSwitch steadily increased sales over time.
140	* The Platform/AtariJaguar was a commercial failure that helped bring down Atari Corporation. However, [[Creator/{{Hasbro}} Hasbro Interactive]] releasing the patents into the public domain and declaring it an open platform opened the doors for extensive homebrew development, which helped to moderately improve the console's reputation after its lifetime.
141	[[/folder]]
142
143	[[folder:Western Animation]]
144	* It's safe to say cable also breathed new life into MediaNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation. After movie theaters stopped running cartoon shorts, series such as ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'', ''WesternAnimation/CasperTheFriendlyGhost'', ''WesternAnimation/ThePinkPanther'', and ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' (among others) went on to become syndicated and Saturday morning staples and became even more popular than in their original time, to the point where [[OlderThanTheyThink many people will be surprised when you tell them some of these cartoons came out in the 1940s.]]
145	** ''WesternAnimation/WhatsOperaDoc'' was not recognized as a great cartoon when it was released in 1957, nor was it nominated for an Academy Award.[[note]]Fortunately for them, ''WesternAnimation/BirdsAnonymous'', the installment they ''did'' nominate, got the Oscar.[[/note]]
146	** ''Film/TheThreeStooges'' went through a similar process to their animated cousins.
147	* The original run for ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' in 1993 completely flopped, getting massive hate from fans of a [[WesternAnimation/SonicTheHedgehogSatAM sister program]] and those who just saw it as bad in general. A new generation of TV viewers discovered the series in the late '90s and early 2000s thanks to Creator/ToonDisney airing the series, and with the rise of YouTubePoop and the various memes the series spawned, it's now even more popular than it ever was.
148	[[/folder]]
149
150	[[folder:"Vindicated" by ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'']]
151	* Creator/RogerCorman, Robert L. Lippert, Creator/EdWood, and to a lesser extent Creator/BertIGordon. Corman ''despises'' the show for mocking his films. However, [=MST3K=] helped generate a new appreciation for that era's {{B Movie}}s, and some of his films, such as ''Film/ItConqueredTheWorld'', has huge fans who were introduced to it by the show. Moreover, fans of the show recognize the good points of his films (such as Corman's preference of the ActionGirl over the NeutralFemale).
152	* ''Film/ManosTheHandsOfFate'' was an amateur horror film made in 1966 by a fertilizer salesman on a dare. It was screened at a few local [[DriveInTheater drive-in theaters]] before being shelved and completely forgotten by all but those personally involved in its making. In TheNineties, it was discovered by the makers of ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' and quickly became known for being the worst film ever featured on the show. The character Torgo, along with his theme music, became a MemeticMutation.
153	** In the 1995 Video Watchdog, the entry for ''Manos'' was a brief two-sentence entry. The 1996 edition, however, had a four-paragraph entry detailing its badness and its relation to ''[=MST3K=]''.
154	* ''Film/TheFinalSacrifice'' was pretty obscure until ''[=MST3K=]'' aired it. Thanks to that, viewers got to know Rowsdower, a very flawed but likable character.
155	* ''Film/MerlinsShopOfMysticalWonders'' is partly a recut version of the 1984 horror film ''The Devil's Gift''. Having been made more family-friendly, this NightmareFuel-laden movie became suitable for ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000''.
156	* ''Film/PrinceOfSpace'' was dismissed at theaters and forgotten until it was [=MSTed=], at which point fans realized that it was a very early example of {{Toku}}, and had several supplemental films attached to it.
157	* ''Film/SpaceMutiny'', a cheesy Sci-fi movie with a well-built guy named David Ryder who ScreamsLikeALittleGirl, got featured on ''Mystery Science Theater 3000''.
158	* The SoBadItsGood Sandy Frank dub's of the show's ''Film/{{Gamera}}'' films, as well as other Toku shows like ''Mighty Jack'' and ''Star Wolf''.
159	* ''Film/{{Hobgoblins}}'' was suggested to the ''[=MST3K=]'' gang by the person who directed it. "It shoots right to the top of the list of the worst movies we've ever done," writer Paul Chaplin commented. Enough interest was generated in it that a sequel was made for it, 21 years after its original premiere.
160	* Although not technically a film, the advertisement ''Film/MrBNatural'' was so popular that [=MST3K=] and Rhino Home Video had trouble getting the rights to it again after it first appeared on television.
161	* In an interesting case, while ''Film/{{Clonus}}'' was a bomb when it was first released, its exposure on ''[=MST3K=]'' not only allowed the movie to be re-released on DVD to be seen whole but also helped its director when he sued Creator/MichaelBay for his movie ''Film/TheIsland2005''.
162	* ''Film/TheBrainThatWouldntDie'', as the documentary ''Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies'' pointed out, has become a feminist parable, though it certainly didn't intend to be one.
163	[[/folder]]

Context Main / VindicatedByCable