Blad Runner didn't do too well at the box office yet is considered a classic, why?

I think that in 1982, the public saw that Harrison Ford was in a science fiction film and they thought it would be like Star Wars. Blade Runner is nothing like Star Wars. The general public did not have the patience for a noir brooding reflection on humanity. It wasn't until after Blade Runner failed at the box office that it began to gain traction with an audience that was looking for an immersive, artistic, thought-provoking film. It quickly earned its cult status.