text: Marketing The film received several theatrical posters as part of its promotional campaign; the original 1986 Virgin Films poster is an excerpt from Henry Fuseli's The Nightmare (1781), which is also depicted in the film. A second poster, based on the Fuseli painting, features Natasha Richardson lying over a bed with a goblin-like creature perched on her chest (an image which is also depicted in the film).
  The poster artwork was deemed controversial at the time of the film' release, as noted by Derek Malcom, writing for The Guardian:
  Box office
  Gothic premiered at the 30th BFI London Film Festival on 30 November 1986.
  It received a limited theatrical release in the United States on 10 April 1987, grossing $32,061 on its opening weekend; it went on to gross a total of $916,172.
  However, according to Dan Ireland, who later worked with Russell, the film was a financial success on video. Vestron, the company who distributed the film on video, signed Russell to a three-picture contract which ensured him financing for the rest of the decade.  Russell said the film gave his career a "second wind" after he thought "he had had it."
  Critical reception
  On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 60% based on , with a weighted average rating of 6.0/10.