Mark Wahlberg’s 2016 biographical disaster film had a star-studded cast, but it was a major letdown in theaters.

SUMMARY

Mark Wahlberg has had some unsuccessful films despite his success as an actor.
The 2016 film Deepwater Horizon, based on a true story, was a box office disaster with a budget of $110-120 million and only grossing $61.4 million domestically.
Despite a stellar cast including Kurt Russell, Gina Rodriguez, Kate Hudson, and Dylan O’Brien, the film lacked the appeal to bring large audiences to theaters.

While the actors’ hit movies may take center stage, it is equally important to consider their misses. Having said that, it is possible for actors to be cast in a movie that does not do well in theaters. Not everyone can be profitable, and even Mark Wahlberg has had some failures despite his success.

The Boogie Nights star has been involved in unsuccessful films as well that never quite worked out or became hits, such as The Corruptor, The Yards, and Mojave. As it happens, a successful film requires much more to succeed than just the A-list names on the poster. This was the case with Wahlberg’s 2016 film, Deepwater Horizon, with a massive budget whose loss was estimated to be close to $60 million after the box office haul was taken into account.
Mark Wahlberg in Deepwater Horizon
The Millions Lost by Mark Wahlberg’s Deepwater Horizon

Based on a true story and released back in 2016, Deepwater Horizon was expected to be another big hit for Mark Wahlberg. Peter Berg’s film featured a cast that included Kurt Russell, Gina Rodriguez, Kate Hudson, Dylan O’Brien, and others. The film, despite having a stellar cast, proved to be unsatisfactory upon its theatrical release. As stated by The Hollywood Reporter,
“Thanks to tax incentives, Peter Berg’s real-life disaster movie cost somewhere in the $110 million to $120 million range, down from an initial production budget of $156 million.”
Mark Wahlberg in Deepwater Horizon

Nevertheless, even with its generally favorable reviews, the film was a huge failure when it came out in September 2016, grossing only $121.8 million globally and $61.4 million domestically. THR further noted:
“The overall loss is likely well north of $60 million, although Lionsgate’s share is estimated to be $31 million.”
Despite months of nonstop work, the film was a box office disaster, with the studio losing between $60 and $112 million. Things did not quite go as planned. Even though it was based on a true story and had well-known actors in it, the movie lacked enough appeal to bring large audiences to theaters.

What Scared Mark Wahlberg the Most While Filming Deepwater Horizon?

Mark Wahlberg in Deepwater Horizon
Mark Wahlberg, the star of Deepwater Horizon, expressed his delight at working on the film and being able to pay tribute to those who died in the terrible environmental disaster. But there was one thing about the making of the film that scared him. The actor, 52, revealed that stunt on ABC News’ Good Morning America:
“What was really sketchy is when they lit me and Dylan O’Brien on fire. They lit us on fire, and I didn’t feel too comfortable with that. They put gel and stuff on you, but then, you know, they put some other fluid on you and then they light you on fire and then they walk away. And then the other guy goes and grabs his coffee and then he’s like, ‘Hold on a second. We ready to roll?’ And I’m like, ‘Dude, I’m on fire. Roll!’”
The actor admitted that he was “banged up pretty good in this movie”, but it was a small price to pay for the opportunity to honor the real-life heroes on screen. Wahlberg continued, saying
“You always want to step up in movies like this or in ‘Lone Survivor,’ where the actual guys are there and they went through it in real life. So, you’ve got to try to make it as realistic as possible.”
Ultimately, the actor wanted the audience to know about those eleven people who lost their lives in the disastrous ‘Deepwater Horizon’ accident:
“Everybody knew about the environmental disaster, and it was horrific. But what people failed to recognize, or at least what the media failed to acknowledge, I think to the point where it was deserved, was that 11 people lost their lives.”
Deepwater Horizon (2016)
While Wahlberg has had an incredible career in Hollywood, Deepwater Horizon shows that even the biggest stars in the business can end up with a film losing millions of dollars. Regardless, it received nominations for two Oscars (Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects) as well as a BAFTA Award (Best Sound).