BUDGET$16.0M
VERDICT Disaster
Red Scorpion backdrop
VERDICT: Disaster
Expert Verified

Is Red Scorpion a Hit or Flop? Official Box Office Record & Profit Analysis

The official verdict is out. With a worldwide gross of $4.2M, Red Scorpion is declared a Disaster.

Advertisement

Box Office Snapshot

Budget$16.0M
Box Office$4.2M
Profit / Loss -$11.8M
Return on Investment (ROI) -74%

* A movie is generally considered a "Hit" if it recovers its budget and marketing costs (approx 2x budget).

Advertisement

Detailed Verdict Analysis

Detailed Financial Report

Red Scorpion, released in 1988, entered the cinematic marketplace as a Adventure / Action / War film. The production path for this project involved significant capital, with a reported budget of approximately $16.0M. In the modern film economy, recovering such an investment requires a multifaceted theatrical strategy spanning domestic and international territories.

Collection Trajectory

The box office journey for Red Scorpion has culminated in a worldwide gross of approximately $4.2M. This figure represents the total theatrical footprint, reflecting a Return on Investment (ROI) of -74%. Despite the hype, the ticket sales faced headwinds, resulting in a total that fell short of the necessary threshold for theatrical profitability.

Profitability & Verdict

Analyzing the multiplier effect and market sentiment, Red Scorpion navigated the competitive landscape with an audience reception score of 5.9/10. When weighing the production costs against the global returns, Red Scorpion is effectively categorized as a Disaster. The outcome highlights the risks involved in big-budget filmmaking when audience alignment is missed.

Comparables

In the context of other Adventure releases, the performance of Red Scorpion will likely influence how studios approach similar projects in the future. Whether through its innovative visual style or its narrative choices, the film's financial footprint remains a key piece of the 1988 box office narrative.

Audience Reception

Apart from the financial numbers, the audience sentiment plays a crucial role. Not all box office hits are loved, and not all flops are bad movies.

5.9
IMDb

The response is mixed. While some enjoyed it, others found it lacking.

Advertisement