Mon Feb 24 01:20:00 UTC 2025: ## 1995’s “Scarlet Letter” Adaptation a Box Office and Critical Flop

**Los Angeles, CA** – The 1995 film adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s *The Scarlet Letter*, starring Demi Moore and Gary Oldman, is widely considered one of cinema’s biggest failures. The movie, directed by Roland Joffé, bombed at the box office, earning only $10 million domestically against a $46 million budget, and was critically panned, receiving a dismal 13% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The screenplay, penned by Douglas Day Stewart (also writer of *An Officer and a Gentleman*), is largely blamed for the film’s disastrous reception. Critics condemned its attempt to transform Hawthorne’s complex exploration of adultery and Puritan society into a “sultry tragic romance.” The film received seven Golden Raspberry Award nominations, a testament to its widespread unpopularity.

While Oldman’s performance received some isolated praise, the film’s overall execution is considered severely flawed. The chemistry between Moore and Oldman is described as lacking, and the movie’s serious subject matter is undermined by its poor execution. Even strong performances from Robert Duvall and Moore (who herself received a Razzie nomination) couldn’t save the film from its poorly conceived plot, which culminates in a jarringly incongruous ending involving the slaughter of Puritans by Algonquian natives.

The article concludes by suggesting viewers seeking a good Demi Moore or Gary Oldman performance should look elsewhere, and that those wanting a faithful adaptation of *The Scarlet Letter* should explore the numerous other film versions or even the contemporary reimagining *Easy A*.

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