Being a Hollywood movie star comes with a world of benefits, from unimaginable wealth to global fame. But perhaps the most exciting perk is the power to bring personal passion projects to life. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of Hollywood’s dream-chasing celebrities.
Consider Battlefield Earth, a truly unique film that might never have graced our screens if it weren’t for the incredible popularity of the one and only John Travolta. Though the script may not have been the stuff of legends, producers were enthralled by Travolta’s star power and took a daring leap to make it happen. Similarly, we have The Postman, a movie that might have remained a distant dream if not for the Oscar-winning credibility of the talented Kevin Costner.
These passion projects have led to a whirlwind of outcomes. Some have catapulted careers into the stratosphere, while others have left a trail of disappointment in their wake. There are even those that, despite their initial struggles, have managed to gather a dedicated following and become beloved cult classics. The question now lies in your hands – which of these endeavors should have never seen the light of day?
Now, let your imagination run wild and unleash your inner critic. It’s time to embark on an exhilarating journey of judgment and determine the fate of these passion projects. Join us as we explore the captivating world of Hollywood’s ambitions – and remember, we’re here to have fun and celebrate the magic of movies!
1. Swept Away’ – Madonna Hired Her Husband To Direct This Remake Of An Italian Classic
Madonna, known as one of the most successful pop stars in music history, had the desire to remake Lina Wertmüller’s classic romantic comedy Swept Away with her own husband, director Guy Ritchie, behind the camera. However, there were two immediate problems with the 2002 film.
Firstly, Ritchie, who made his reputation with British crime comedies, was not an experienced rom-com director. Secondly, Madonna, despite showing her acting skills in previous films like Evita and A League of Their Own, was not a versatile actor. Swept Away required someone who could handle comedy, romance, and drama, which Madonna struggled with. While she was able to overact in the role of Eva Perón in Evita, she couldn’t hide behind the musical theater in Swept Away.
The film received harsh criticism from Rotten Tomatoes critics, scoring just 5%. Most of the criticism focused on Madonna’s acting talent, with many critics expressing their disappointment. Ritchie, who also wrote the screenplay, faced his fair share of outrage as well. One critic, Gil Jawetz, even accused Ritchie of deliberately making his own wife look “ugly, rotten, and despicable.”
Even Madonna’s devoted fan base didn’t support the film in theaters. Swept Away made less than $600,000 at the domestic box office, falling far short of its $10 million budget. The film was also heavily panned at the Golden Raspberry Awards, winning multiple awards including worst film, worst remake, worst actress (Madonna), worst director (Ritchie), and worst screen couple (Adriano Giannini and Madonna). Unfortunately, Swept Away marked the end of Madonna’s career as a film headliner.
2. Battlefield Earth’ – John Travolta’s Big Scientology Movie Was One Of The Most Infamous Follies In Hollywood History
John Travolta’s career took off in the 1970s following his success in Saturday Night Fever and Grease. However, he faced a setback in the ’80s before making a comeback in 1994 with Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. Despite a mixed bag of hits and misses in the ’90s, Travolta’s career took another hit at the end of the 20th century.
As a prominent figure in Scientology, Travolta managed to secure funding for his passion project, Battlefield Earth, based on L. Ron Hubbard’s science-fiction novel from 1982. The film was released in 2000 and received immediate and harsh criticism from both critics and audiences. Roger Ebert famously gave it a half star, describing it as “unpleasant in a hostile way,” while Time labeled it “the worst movie in living memory.” The film’s script, acting, special effects, and cinematography were all mercilessly mocked.
Financially, Battlefield Earth performed poorly, making just under $30 million worldwide against its $73 million budget. It was even awarded the “Worst Movie of the Decade” Razzie. Screenwriter J.D. Shapiro, in accepting the Razzie, issued a lengthy apology, acknowledging the film’s shortcomings and expressing regret.
Despite the disastrous reception, Travolta continued to work in the industry. However, his star power undoubtedly diminished, and he never quite regained the level of success he achieved after Pulp Fiction. It is impossible to mention Travolta without bringing up his association with one of the biggest cinematic failures ever. Nevertheless, when asked if he regretted the film in an interview with Daily Beast, Travolta defiantly responded that he had no regrets, stating that he had the power to choose and believed Battlefield Earth to be a beautiful and worthwhile film.
3. After Earth’ – Will Smith Produced A Star Vehicle For His Son, And Sank Multiple Reputations In The Process
Will Smith had the idea for After Earth while watching TV, and it gradually turned into a science-fiction story set in the year 1000 AE, a millennium after humans abandoned Earth due to environmental issues. The plot revolves around a father and his teenage son who crash-land on the now hostile planet, with the teenager taking on the responsibility of saving his injured father.
Smith saw this as an opportunity to showcase his 14-year-old son, Jaden, and sold the post-apocalyptic concept to M. Night Shyamalan to direct. The extravagant project also involved Jada Pinkett Smith and Will’s brother-in-law, Caleeb Pinkett, as producers.
When After Earth hit theaters in 2013, it was met with scathing criticism, scoring a mere 11% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics didn’t hold back, accusing the film of being filled with clichés and unimpressive production design and CG effects. One reviewer from GO London even compared it unfavorably to the Star Wars series.
Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian was particularly brutal, declaring that M. Night Shyamalan had once again presented audiences with a horrendous film, characterized by abysmal acting, directing, and storytelling. He expressed astonishment that anyone could continue making such consistently terrible movies.
Reflecting on the experience, Smith admitted that After Earth was the most painful failure of his career and a valuable lesson for him. By 2013, Smith’s career had already declined compared to his heyday in the 1990s, and the disastrous reception of his vanity project only further diminished his star power. Jaden, on the other hand, shifted his focus more towards his music career, and has not appeared in any high-budget films since.
4. Rules Don’t Apply’ – 80-Year-Old Warren Beatty Cast Himself As A Mid-50s Howard Hughes
Warren Beatty, a renowned actor and director, took a long break from the movie industry after his last film in 2001. However, his name still carried a lot of weight in Hollywood. In 2016, Beatty managed to secure a $25 million budget for his passion project, a movie about Howard Hughes that he had wanted to make for years. Beatty took on multiple roles in the film, writing, directing, and starring as Hughes in 1950s Hollywood.
Despite the age difference between Beatty and the character he portrayed, the film faced a bigger challenge. The script attempted to blend comedy, romance, parody, and Hollywood nostalgia, but unfortunately, the combination didn’t work as intended.
During test screenings, younger audiences who were unfamiliar with Howard Hughes found the film boring. However, Beatty didn’t take this criticism to heart. He disregarded the general audience’s opinion and instead instructed the studio to invest more in marketing. He also chose to release the film during Thanksgiving weekend, competing against other strong films.
The critical reception for the movie was mixed, with some praising the beautiful cinematography and period setting. However, there was a consensus that the film lacked depth and failed to capture the essence of Howard Hughes. Regrettably, Beatty’s passion project did not fare well at the box office, earning less than $4 million worldwide.
5. Beyond the Sea’ – Kevin Spacey Was Too Old To Play Bobby Darin, But As Director, Writer, And Producer, He Cast Himself Anyway
Bobby Darin, the singer-songwriter known for his 1950s hits like “Splish Splash,” “Mack the Knife,” and “Beyond the Sea,” may not be remembered by everyone. However, a biopic about this somewhat-forgotten crooner made its way to the big screen after a lunch meeting in the early 2000s between Darin’s longtime friend and manager Steve Blauner and Oscar-winning movie star Kevin Spacey.
During this meeting, Spacey expressed his desire to write, direct, and star in a film about Bobby Darin, as well as contribute to the soundtrack with his singing. Blauner reportedly had reservations and told Spacey something along the lines of, “You’re too old, you shouldn’t sing, and you’re out of your mind to direct,” as mentioned in an article from The Los Angeles Times.
However, Spacey managed to convince Blauner that despite his age (being in his 50s at the time), he could portray Darin’s younger self in his 20s and 30s. Fast-forward to 2004, and the biopic titled “Beyond the Sea” was released, receiving mixed reviews. While some critics enjoyed the portrayal of Darin’s life, others were not convinced by Spacey’s performance.
One particularly harsh review came from critic Mick LaSalle, who described “Beyond the Sea” as “jaw-droppingly awful” and a misguided vanity project. LaSalle criticized Spacey’s involvement as the writer, director, and star, claiming that he was completely wrong for the role and looked nothing like Darin, but rather like a middle-aged woman in a black toupee. LaSalle suggested that the project needed an intervention rather than a green light.
Unfortunately, “Beyond the Sea” did not fare well at the box office, earning only around $8.5 million worldwide against its $25 million budget. As a result, Spacey did not go on to direct another feature-length film.
6. Live by Night’ – Ben Affleck Leveraged His Batman Role To Get A Big-Budget Gangster Epic Made
Ben Affleck is not only known for his good looks and acting skills, but he has also made a name for himself as a talented filmmaker. His directorial efforts, including Gone Baby Gone, The Town, and the critically acclaimed Argo, demonstrate his ability to tell compelling stories.
In addition to his filmmaking talents, Affleck has proven to be a box office draw with a successful career spanning decades. Despite initial doubts from fans, he was cast as Batman in the DC Extended Universe, starting with Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, which grossed $873 million worldwide, despite mixed reviews.
Given Affleck’s track record, it seemed like a safe bet to invest $90 million in his passion project, Live by Night. Affleck took on multiple roles in the film, serving as its star, writer, director, and producer. The movie, based on Dennis Lehane’s novel, was slated for a prime December 25 release, with hopes of Oscar recognition.
However, Live by Night received harsh criticism for being dull and lacking an engaging plot. While critics acknowledged Affleck’s directorial skills and the film’s stylish visuals, they felt that the story fell short. As critic Damond Fudge pointed out, “Affleck continues to showcase his talents as a director. The film is slick and stylish, with some great individual shots and scenes… Unfortunately, his skill behind the camera can’t fix the averageness of the plot.”
The film’s lackluster performance at the box office resulted in Warner Bros. suffering a reported loss of around $75 million.
7. Mortdecai’ – Johnny Depp Got Someone To Pay $60 Million To Turn A Cult Book Series Into A (Failed) Franchise
Johnny Depp, a highly successful movie actor, owes a significant portion of his earnings to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. However, not all of his films have the backing of Disney. Nonetheless, Depp’s star power ensures that when he wants to pursue a passion project, he goes ahead with it.
Depp’s interest in adapting Mortdecai for the big screen began during his time on the Pirates of the Caribbean set. It was his co-star, Jack Davenport, who introduced him to Kyril Bonfiglioli’s comic thriller-novel series, and Depp saw potential in turning it into a feature-length movie. Reflecting on his initial thoughts, Depp said, “I thought this would be amazing to bring to the screen, but would be impossible.” However, his determination prevailed, and after a ten-year journey, the project finally came to fruition.
Depp’s unwavering passion for Bonfiglioli’s work and his desire to portray the aristocratic and shady art dealer convinced investors to support the film. Lionsgate stepped up and provided the $60 million budget for the 2015 caper.
Unfortunately, Mortdecai received negative reviews from critics and only managed to gross $47 million at the box office. The film was heavily criticized for its flat humor and peculiar tone. Stephen Holden of The New York Times, in particular, had harsh words for the movie, stating, “Mortdecai might as well be called ‘The Johnny Depp Movie’ because its preening star… is the whole show. And what a frantically dull spectacle this vanity project is.” Holden further commented on Depp’s performance, acknowledging his talent for disappearing into a character but noting that the character itself lacked humor and charm.
In essence, Mortdecai serves as a testament to Depp’s commitment to bringing his passion projects to life, even if they don’t achieve the desired success.
8. Dolittle’ – Robert Downey Jr. Remade A Notorious Financial Catastrophe, And The Result Was Another Notorious Financial Catastrophe
Robert Downey Jr., a talented young actor in the 1980s, faced a major setback in the 1990s due to legal trouble. However, he turned his life around, gained sobriety, and became an indie favorite. In 2008, he landed the iconic superhero role of Iron Man, which helped launch the Marvel Cinematic Universe and made him one of Hollywood’s richest actors.
With his wealth and prestige, Downey aimed to create his passion project, the family adventure-comedy Dolittle. This movie is a remake of the 1967 film Doctor Dolittle, which was infamous for almost bankrupting a studio. Downey served as an executive producer, along with his wife Susan as a producer, with the intention of making a film that their kids could enjoy.
Unfortunately, the film turned out to be a costly production, with a budget of around $175 million. The studio realized the potential disaster after viewing the first cut, leading to multiple reshoots in an attempt to make the script funnier. Despite efforts from additional writers like Seth Rogen, the reshoots only muddled the script and failed to enhance the humor.
When Dolittle finally hit the big screen in 2020, it couldn’t escape the negative outcome. Even the presence of Iron Man couldn’t save the movie, which ended up costing Universal $100 million. Critics were equally harsh, criticizing the lack of laughs, the incoherent story, and the subpar special effects.
In fact, Germain Lussier from Gizmodo expressed his disappointment, stating, “Just when I thought Dolittle couldn’t get any less funny or idiotic, Robert Downey Jr. sticks his arms up a dragon’s a**hole. And I do mean that literally.”
9. Freddy Got Fingered’ – At The Height Of His 15 Minutes, Tom Green Directed An Infamous Gonzo Comedy
Remember Tom Green? He was quite a big deal back in the late 1990s. He had his own MTV show called The Tom Green Show and even appeared in movies like Road Trip and Charlie’s Angels. The icing on the cake was when he married Drew Barrymore in 2001.
After his MTV fame, the Canadian comic ventured into writing and directing with the peculiar black comedy Freddy Got Fingered. The story loosely reflected Green’s own experiences in the entertainment industry.
Green not only saw his script turned into a movie but also fought tooth and nail against the studio to maintain his unique vision. Freddy Got Fingered was intentionally weird and surreal, and Green was determined to preserve that. He used his MTV popularity to make his directorial debut.
Unfortunately, the film didn’t fare well financially. It cost $14 million to produce but only made the same amount at the box office. Critics tore it apart, and it even won five Razzie Awards, including Worst Picture. Green himself was labeled as the Worst Actor.
In a surprising move, Green attended the Razzie Awards in 2002 and became the first actor ever to accept these “honors.” He arrived in a white Cadillac, treating the event like the Oscars. During his acceptance speech, he had to be pulled off stage because he couldn’t stop playing his harmonica.
Although Freddy Got Fingered might have put an end to Green’s success in Hollywood, the film’s offbeat and bizarre nature has managed to attract a cult following.
10. The Razor’s Edge’ – Bill Murray Only Did ‘Ghostbusters’ So He Could Stretch His Dramatic Muscles With This Failed Literary Adaptation
Bill Murray is widely recognized as one of the funniest actors in comedy movies, but he also shines in roles that showcase his dramatic talent. Whether he’s playing the somber and lonely Bob Harris in Lost in Translation or the outrageous and zany bowler Ernie McCracken in Kingpin, Murray proves his versatility as an actor.
Back in the early 1980s, Murray was already famous for his work on Saturday Night Live and his big-screen comedies like Caddyshack and Stripes. During this time, director John Byrum introduced Murray to W. Somerset Maugham’s novel The Razor’s Edge, which tells the story of a World War I pilot grappling with PTSD.
Murray fell in love with the novel and was eager to portray the pilot on the big screen. Collaborating with Byrum, he worked on writing the script for the movie. However, despite their passion for the project, they struggled to find the necessary funding.
Meanwhile, Dan Aykroyd had written a script called Ghost Smashers intended for his SNL co-star and close friend, John Belushi. Tragically, Belushi passed away in March 1982, leaving Aykroyd’s comedy without a lead actor. In a stroke of luck, Aykroyd managed to convince Murray to take on the role of Dr. Peter Venkman in what would eventually become Ghostbusters. In return, Columbia Pictures agreed to finance The Razor’s Edge.
Although The Razor’s Edge ended up being a financial disappointment for the studio, with mixed reviews from critics, it wasn’t necessarily a bad film, just not a standout one. Nonetheless, Columbia’s gamble paid off when Ghostbusters became a massive hit at the box office in 1984. The film earned a staggering $229 million, making it the second highest-grossing movie of the year, just behind Beverly Hills Cop and surpassing Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom by nearly $50 million.
The year 1984 was a bittersweet one for Murray. While the success of Ghostbusters was undoubtedly rewarding, it also meant that he wouldn’t take on another leading role until 1988’s Scrooged. Additionally, The Razor’s Edge would be the only screenplay Murray ever wrote that made it to the big screen.
