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Say Goodbye to the $129 Million Adventure Flop on Paramount+
Matthew McConaughey's 2005 adventure film Sahara is set to leave Paramount+ in the US, prompting a look back at one of Hollywood's most infamous box-office flops. The film, directed by Breck Eisner and also starring Steve Zahn and Penélope Cruz, was designed as an Indiana Jones-style adventure but became notorious for its runaway costs and troubled production, with losses estimated at $129 million (£101 million) making it a benchmark for cinematic financial disasters.
The film's budget reportedly ballooned from $80 million to $160 million (£63 million to £126 million) amid production problems in Morocco, including reports of millions of dollars paid in bribes. It also became embroiled in a high-profile lawsuit from author Clive Cussler, whose Dirk Pitt novels inspired the film, after he claimed he was not consulted on a script said to have passed through as many as ten writers. The article draws parallels with recent Disney box-office disappointments, including the live-action Moana remake and Tron: Ares, noting that such large-scale losses appear to be becoming more common.
In short
- Sahara (2005), starring Matthew McConaughey, is leaving Paramount+ in the US.
- The film lost an estimated $129 million after its budget doubled to $160 million.
- Its production was hit by Morocco bribery claims and a lawsuit from author Clive Cussler.
Explained simply
Sahara is a 2005 adventure film starring Matthew McConaughey and directed by Breck Eisner, featuring Steve Zahn and Penélope Cruz. It was designed as an Indiana Jones-style adventure inspired by author Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt novels.
The film's production in Morocco became deeply troubled, with the budget reportedly escalating from $80 million to $160 million following reports of millions of dollars paid in bribes and numerous script rewrites by approximately ten different writers. Author Clive Cussler launched a high-profile lawsuit claiming he had not been properly consulted on the script.
The film incurred estimated losses of $129 million, making it a notable example of Hollywood financial disaster. Such large-scale box-office failures have become increasingly common, with recent releases including the live-action Moana remake and Tron: Ares also suffering major losses.
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