The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

When Martin Scorcese decided to bring Nikos Kazantzakis’s 1953 novel to the big screen, controversy and protests were inevitable. The story depicted Jesus as struggling with a variety of human temptations, most shockingly a lust for Mary Magdalene. The film caused a variety of protests, no worse than in Paris when a group of Christian fundamentalists launched an attack inside a movie theatre which was showing the film. The incident left thirteen people injured and the theatre heavily damaged. Many felt the controversy damaged the film, which only took just over $8 million at the box office.

John TravoltaJohn Travolta suffered an epic flop with Battlefield Earth

Battlefield Earth (2002)

A piece of Scientology propaganda or just a really bad film? Most thought this John Travolta flop, which he mostly financed himself, was a bit of both. As it was based on a novel by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and many thought the movie was an attempt to introduce Hubbard’s writings and Scientology to a younger audience and some even claimed the movie had hidden subliminal messages about the religion. This could have been more controversial if audiences had actually come out to see it. Bad reviews, (the film holds a 2% Rotten Tomatoes rating) meant theatre goers stayed away from this one, whose budget of $73 million made it one of the most expensive flops of all time.

More: Michael Palin: Python reunion shows will be last ever

Watch the trailer for Noah: