The 2008 film that earned more than $90 million worldwide yet still lost substantial money was Speed Racer.
Directed by the Wachowskis, Speed Racer adapted the colorful Japanese anime and manga character for a live-action science-fiction adventure. The film starred Emile Hirsch as Speed, Christina Ricci as Trixie, John Goodman as Pops Racer, and Matthew Fox as Racer X.
Speed Racer grossed roughly $93.9 million worldwide, including about $43.9 million domestically and $50 million internationally. That total sounds impressive in isolation, but the film’s production budget was estimated at approximately $120 million, before prints, advertising, and other distribution costs. Because studios do not keep every dollar of ticket revenue, the theatrical shortfall was even more damaging.
The movie opened in May 2008 between major releases such as Iron Man and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Its financial failure contrasted with later appreciation from some viewers, who praised its bold visual style and its faithful embrace of the original cartoon’s exaggerated racing world.