A $135 million military thriller that became one of cinema's biggest financial disasters
In short: Released in 2005, the high-tech action film Stealth was intended to be a summer blockbuster. Instead, it became a critical and commercial failure, grossing only $79.3 million worldwide. Despite its massive budget and ambitious premise involving an autonomous AI fighter jet, the film struggled to find an audience.
Directed by Rob Cohen, Stealth follows three elite pilots tasked with training an artificial intelligence known as the Extreme Deep Invader, or EDI. The plot centers on the ethical conflict that arises when the AI develops sentience, ego, and a rudimentary moral code, eventually defying orders to execute a dangerous military scenario. The film's production was marked by significant challenges, including a legal battle over filming in the protected Grose Valley wilderness area of Australia, where a judge famously ruled that wilderness is sacrosanct.
The film's financial performance was stark. With a production budget of $135 million, it opened in 3,495 theaters but earned only $13.3 million during its opening weekend. By its third weekend, the film had lost over 1,400 theaters and 64 percent of its remaining audience. Ultimately, it became one of several financial disappointments for Columbia Pictures in 2005, alongside titles like Rent and Zathura. Critics were equally harsh, with the film holding a 13 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and drawing comparisons to Top Gun and 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Despite the film's poor reception, its soundtrack left a lasting mark on the music industry. The band The Fray, who had recently signed to Epic Records, saw their song 'Over My Head (Cable Car)' become a massive hit, reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a Grammy nomination. Meanwhile, director Rob Cohen later reflected on the project, admitting that while his previous films like The Fast and the Furious were fun summer rides, Stealth failed to provide the same level of moment-to-moment entertainment.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Stealth (film)
- Also: Wikidata — Stealth · CC0
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-stealth-film.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
