Box office performance is a notoriously fickle indicator of a movie’s quality, and nothing highlights this point in bolder terms than the fact that Children of Men was a commercial flop. There are several factors which contribute to a movie’s box office returns, many of which have nothing to do with how good the movie actually is. Marketing, timing and sheer luck can all play a part, and these are the elements which let Children of Men down. Critics and audiences agree on the movie’s quality, but this didn’t translate into financial success back in 2006.

Children of Men made just $70.5 million at the box office on a budget of $76 million. When factoring in marketing costs, this makes it a colossal failure. One big reason for this disappointing return is that Children of Men had a limited release, peaking at just 1200 theaters in the United States. Other movies with similar budgets would usually screen in two or even three times as many theaters across the country. Children of Men‘s commercial failure makes it just one of many great movies which flopped at the box office, alongside the likes of The Shawshank Redemption and Fight Club.

Children Of Men Deserved To Be A Much Bigger Hit At The Box Office

Alfonso Cuarón’s Sci-Fi Action Thriller Should Be More Than A Cult Hit

Children of Men is one of Alfonso Cuarón’s best movies, and it provides even more proof that the director can turn his hand to any genre that he likes. Cuarón first became famous for his Spanish-language comedy-dramas, but he has since branched out into spacebound sci-fi with Gravity, tender drama with Roma and arguably the best Harry Potter movie of all, The Prisoner of Azkaban. Children of Men is an intriguing blend of these different genres, with a post-apocalyptic sci-fi premise that sets up some kinetic action and a thematically rich personal narrative.

Cuarón’s intelligent worldbuilding is key to Children of Men. Through the use of news reports, billboards and snippets of conversation, he’s able to flesh out a three-dimensional image of a world ravaged by a plummeting birth rate. What’s interesting is that the material effects of this particular catastrophe are only half the story. The distinct flavor of Children of Men‘s dystopia has just as much to do with the political response to these conditions, as Britain slides into authoritarian nationalism in order to horde resources for as few people as possible. The idea of humanity suddenly becoming sterile is interchangeable with a number of other apocalyptic scenarios.

Children of Men‘s scathing exploration of society under extreme pressure reveals the darkest sides of human nature, whether this comes from government officials enriching themselves amid global tragedy or small communities devolving into hateful violence out of fear. Children of Men‘s memorable ending ties together its political commentary with its religious iconography and intense personal drama. It’s a movie that works on multiple levels, delivering enough hair-raising action to keep audiences engaged while it grapples with its lofty themes.

Children Of Men Contains One Of The Best Action Movie Scenes Of All Time

Cuarón’s Long Takes Have Been Imitated Many Times

It’s hard to talk about Children of Men without paying tribute to Cuarón’s scintillating action scenes. The director uses long takes to immerse his audience in the frantic action of a world falling to pieces, starting with a shocking explosion that misses the protagonist by mere seconds. Cuarón’s mastery of long takes reaches a triumphant crescendo in the film’s third act, as he choreographs one of the most thrilling action scenes ever filmed, with Theo trying to extract Kee and her baby from a refugee camp which is swiftly deteriorating into a warzone.

Although the escape from the bombardment may be Children of Men‘s most eye-catching highlight, there are many other scenes which show off Cuarón’s flair for action. Take, for example, the ambush in the woods, with the camera slowly rotating around the car as chaos unfolds through every window. Cuarón has a knack for creating completely original action sequences that still feel completely authentic and immersive. Children of Men has been imitated many times in the last 20 years, but it has yet to be beaten.