When you think of Broadway, you picture standing ovations, glittering costumes, and sold-out shows that run for years. But behind every hit is a show that crashed harder than a set piece on opening night. The biggest flop in Broadway history isn’t just a show that closed early-it’s the one that lost more money than any other in the 100+ year history of the Great White Way. That show is Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.
How a $75 Million Disaster Became Broadway’s Worst Nightmare
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $75 million |
| Opening Night | June 14, 2011 |
| Final Performance | January 5, 2014 |
| Total Gross | $175 million |
| Net Loss | Over $60 million |
| Performances | 495 |
| Accidents | At least 7 major injuries |
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark was the most expensive Broadway show ever made. Producers poured in $75 million-more than the cost of most small cities’ public transit systems. The goal? To bring a Marvel superhero to life with flying stunts, acrobatics, and CGI-style projections. Bono and The Edge from U2 wrote the music. Julie Taymor, who won Tony Awards for The Lion King, directed. Everyone expected a phenomenon.
Instead, the show became a cautionary tale. Rehearsals were chaotic. Performers were injured. One actor, Christopher Tierney, was left permanently disabled after falling 30 feet during a stunt. Another, Brad Little, suffered a broken back. The show opened six months late. Critics called it “a circus with a plot.” Audiences stayed away. Even after revisions, the show never recovered. It ran for less than two years. The $60 million loss still stands as the largest in Broadway history.
Why Did It Fail So Badly?
It wasn’t just the stunts. The story was a mess. The musical tried to cram too much into two hours: Peter Parker’s origin, romance, villain arcs, and a philosophical debate about responsibility-all while characters swung from the ceiling. The music, while ambitious, didn’t stick. Fans of U2 didn’t recognize their sound. Fans of Spider-Man didn’t recognize their hero.
And then there was the production itself. Taymor’s vision was too ambitious for the stage. The web-slinging effects looked fake. The costumes were heavy and restrictive. Actors couldn’t breathe. The show had to be rewritten three times. By the time it finally opened, the buzz had turned sour. Word spread fast: this wasn’t magic. It was a money pit.
Other shows have closed faster. Spider-Man didn’t have the shortest run-that honor goes to shows like Here Lies Love or Rocky. But no show lost more money. Even Jekyll & Hyde, which ran for over 500 performances but never turned a profit, didn’t bleed cash like this. Spider-Man didn’t just fail-it broke the system.
Other Big Flops That Almost Matched It
Spider-Man isn’t the only Broadway bomb. But it’s the only one that came close to bankrupting its investors.
- Jekyll & Hyde (1997): Ran for 500+ shows, but lost over $40 million due to high running costs and low ticket sales. Still the second-worst financial flop.
- Shrek the Musical (2008): Made $115 million but cost $30 million to produce. It turned a profit, but barely. Many thought it would be a disaster.
- Aladdin (2014): Had a $35 million budget. Made $500 million. It’s now a hit. But early reviews were brutal. It almost became the next Spider-Man.
- Newsies (2012): Closed after 433 shows, but didn’t lose money. Later became a cult hit on Broadway and online. Proof that failure isn’t always final.
What separates Spider-Man from the rest? It wasn’t just money. It was ambition without control. Other shows failed because of bad writing or bad timing. Spider-Man failed because no one stopped the train before it hit the wall.
What Happened After?
After Spider-Man closed, the producers tried to sell the rights to a touring version. No one bought it. The costumes were stored in a warehouse. The set was dismantled. The music was released as a cast album-but it didn’t chart. Even Disney, which owns the rights to Spider-Man, hasn’t tried to revive it.
But here’s the twist: the show’s failure changed Broadway. Producers became more cautious. Budgets were capped. Safety standards were overhauled. The Actors’ Equity Association started requiring more rehearsal time for stunts. Insurance premiums for high-risk shows jumped. The industry learned the hard way: spectacle without substance doesn’t sell tickets.
Today, if a show promises flying actors, producers ask: “Is it necessary? Can we do it safely? Will people care?” Spider-Man didn’t just lose money-it forced Broadway to grow up.
Why Do People Still Talk About It?
Because it’s the ultimate Hollywood-meets-Broadway disaster. It’s the kind of story you tell at dinner parties. “You won’t believe what happened when they tried to make Spider-Man fly.”
It’s also a reminder that Broadway isn’t just about stars and songs. It’s about logistics, safety, and storytelling. A $75 million show can’t survive on hype alone. It needs a good script, a clear vision, and a team that listens.
Spider-Man didn’t just fail-it became a lesson. And in theater, lessons are more valuable than hits.
What was the most expensive Broadway show ever made?
The most expensive Broadway show ever made was Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, with a production budget of $75 million. This included set design, special effects, stunts, and music rights. No show before or since has come close to that figure.
Did any Broadway show lose more money than Spider-Man?
No. Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark lost over $60 million, making it the biggest financial flop in Broadway history. Even shows with longer runs like Jekyll & Hyde lost less, despite running for hundreds of performances.
Why did Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark have so many accidents?
The show used complex aerial stunts to simulate Spider-Man flying. The harnesses were unstable, the rigging was rushed, and rehearsals were cut short due to delays. At least seven cast members suffered serious injuries, including broken bones and permanent nerve damage. Safety protocols were ignored in favor of spectacle.
Was Spider-Man ever successful at all?
It earned $175 million in ticket sales over 495 performances, which sounds like a lot. But because the production cost $75 million and operating expenses were high, it never recouped its investment. It was popular enough to run for two years, but never profitable.
Is there a chance Spider-Man will come back to Broadway?
Unlikely. The show’s reputation is too damaged. Producers avoid it as a liability. Even though the music has a fanbase, the physical production costs and safety risks make a revival financially risky. Disney and the original producers have shown no interest in reviving it.
What Broadway Flops Teach Us
Biggest flops aren’t just about money. They’re about ambition, ego, and the gap between what’s possible and what’s smart. Spider-Man didn’t fail because it was too weird. It failed because no one said “no.”
Today’s Broadway is quieter, safer, and smarter because of it. Shows still try to push boundaries-but now, they check the harnesses first.