22 Years Later, This $74 Million End-of-the-World Disaster Action Thriller Is Still a Streaming Favorite

From classics like 2012 and Armageddon to more recent hits like Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow, audiences have always enjoyed thrilling disaster movies. These films, dating back to The Towering Inferno and Earthquake, have long been a Hollywood tradition, known for their spectacular and often over-the-top destruction of iconic landmarks. Interestingly, even poorly received films can find a dedicated audience – a 2003 disaster movie that didn’t perform well in theaters, for example, has become a surprisingly popular comfort watch thanks to streaming services.

Released over two decades ago, The Core is a wonderfully silly movie with a surprisingly lovable cast. Featuring Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank, and a host of other talented actors like Delroy Lindo and Stanley Tucci, the film follows a team of specialists on a wildly improbable mission: using nuclear explosions to restart the Earth’s core. Yes, the plot is completely over-the-top, but it’s a fun ride!

Geophysicist Dr. Josh Keyes discovers something terrifying: the Earth’s inner core has stopped spinning. This causes the planet’s magnetic field to weaken rapidly, leading to atmospheric breakdown and widespread disaster. To save the world, Keyes and a team of brilliant scientists embark on a dangerous mission to the Earth’s core, where they plan to detonate a device to restart its rotation.

‘The Core’ Was a Box Office Disaster, but It’s Still Fun

Paramount Pictures

Despite being a beloved film today, The Core wasn’t successful when it was first released in theaters. Costing $85 million to make, it only earned a little over $74 million worldwide – a clear box office failure. Even a review from well-known critic Roger Ebert, though not entirely positive, didn’t seem to help.

I love this movie so much that I have to actively stop myself from telling everyone to watch it – it really requires a strong dose of self-control (and coffee!).

While widely considered scientifically implausible, the movie The Core isn’t about realism – it’s pure entertainment. If you’re looking for a fun, escapist movie to enjoy with some snacks, and don’t mind a little scientific silliness (like a space shuttle landing in the LA River!), this one’s for you.

2025-10-28 18:32

‘The Core’ Was a Box Office Disaster, but It’s Still Fun

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