The Big Picture With Disney's massively popular Pirates of the Caribbean franchise bringing in $4.5 billion at the global box office, it may be difficult to envision an era when studios were hesitant to produce swashbuckling, pirate-themed adventures for the big screen. However, after the financially disastrous release of Cutthroat Island, the idea of shelling out millions for cinematic spectacle on the high seas was questionable at best.
According to The Independent, the film was originally budgeted at $60 million, largely through foreign investors hoping it would do well with international audiences. Initially starring alongside Geena Davis was Michael Douglas, but after he backed out over creative differences, he was replaced with the less-bankable Matthew Modine after other well-established stars were considered.
'Cutthroat Island' Sunk Upon Arrival in Theaters In November 1995, six weeks before Cutthroat Island was released, Carolco filed for bankruptcy. With many analysts predicting the worst, the film was prematurely declared a bomb before audiences had a chance to see it, not an unreasonable assumption considering its big budget and the competition it faced when released on December 22, 1995.