7 Movies Plagued by Behind-the-Scenes Drama

Making a high-budget film often encounters several minor issues due to its intricate nature, involving numerous people. The production process is so complex that it’s hard for it to run flawlessly. At times, what transpires behind the scenes can be quite chaotic and may even lead to serious problems. However, not every production is a rollercoaster ride; there might still be one incident that becomes public knowledge, causing scrutiny from everyone. These are the films we’re referring to, where off-camera misconduct (or on-camera behavior that wasn’t used) caused disruption in the work environment.

Movies that encounter difficulties similar to those faced by “The Twilight Zone: The Movie” and “The Crow,” or those troubled by unfavorable weather conditions, were not considered. Many films have experienced delays due to adverse weather, given that productions occur globally. However, for a movie to be included here, it must have a particular event or instance of trouble stemming from a cast or crew member.

The Abyss

As a devoted cinephile, I can’t help but appreciate James Cameron’s work, even if “The Abyss” leans more towards the midpoint of his cinematic masterpieces. Compared to many other directors, that’s still an impressive filmography! The movie is visually breathtaking and boasts some excellent acting performances, especially by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Ed Harris. However, it’s important to acknowledge that Cameron’s ambitious vision often comes at a cost, particularly for his actors.

Working 70 hours a week became almost unbearable for everyone, but when stress became overwhelming for Cameron (as reported by the cast), he began to lash out at the main actors. Mastrantonio experienced both physical and emotional collapse, Harris cried on her way home, and Michael Biehn came close to drowning. The scene where Harris (Bud Brigman) screams his lines while reviving Mastrantonio’s character Lindsey Brigman? That raw frustration was genuine.

Rent The Abyss on Prime Video.

Blade: Trinity

Wesley Snipes and Ryan Reynolds had a notable disagreement during the filming of “Blade: Trinity“, which even found its way into a joke in “Deadpool & Wolverine“. Thankfully, their animosity subsided over time, but it’s worth noting that it was intense enough to persist for an impressive span of two full decades.

In “Blade: Trinity,” director David S. Goyer took the helm for the second time and made his debut with a major studio production. However, due to Wesley Snipes feeling that his character was being overshadowed (a point he himself admitted), he often behaved uncooperatively. For example, comedian Patton Oswalt mentioned that it was almost impossible to get him off the set, even from his trailer. There were minor incidents as well, such as Snipes refusing to open his eyes during a scene where Blade is on an operating table, resulting in computer-generated imagery being used instead when the character’s open eyes are shown to viewers.

Stream Blade: Trinity on Peacock.

The Island of Dr. Moreau

If not for “Apocalypse Now,” the 1996 movie “The Island of Dr. Moreau” would likely be considered Marlon Brando’s most challenging film experience. However, it wasn’t the demanding director that caused the trouble, but rather a leading actor (Brando) grappling with grief, another lead inflated by his own ego (Val Kilmer), and a director struggling to keep up. The embattled director was Richard Stanley, who had previously directed the cult-classic “Hardware,” similar to “The Terminator.” “The Island of Dr. Moreau” could have been Stanley’s opportunity to break into mainstream filmmaking with a major studio, but his unique vision for the project was deemed too outrageous by New Line Cinema. After one week into production, Stanley was let go and replaced by John Frankenheimer.

The movie experienced numerous actor swaps, initially intending Bruce Willis to portray David Thewlis’s character. However, the role eventually fell to Val Kilmer, who had such limited availability that he ended up with a minor part as Dr. Montgomery. Despite joining the project to work with Marlon Brando, Kilmer’s turbulent relationship with almost everyone, including Brando himself, was evident. Brando wasn’t exactly easy to collaborate with either. He was initially slated for a larger role, but his daughter’s suicide caused him to withdraw to his private island. Even before that, he introduced some of the film’s more peculiar aspects, such as the white face paint and the odd ice helmet he donned in a scene alongside Fairuza Balk. For additional intriguing facts, one should read Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley’s Island of Dr. Moreau.

As a film enthusiast, I’d recommend checking out the classic movie “The Island of Dr. Moreau” for free on The Roku Channel, complete with some ads. For those interested in the behind-the-scenes story, you can find “Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley’s Island of Dr. Moreau” on Prime Video. Enjoy the cinematic experience!

It Ends With Us

Initially, “It Ends with Us” generated buzz due to its impressive box office earnings. However, since its release, the discussion surrounding this book has persisted, although the focus of that conversation has shifted substantially.

During one of the most notable celebrity disputes ever, Blake Lively initiated a lawsuit against her co-star and director Justin Baldoni in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment and intimidation. In retaliation, Baldoni filed a libel suit against The New York Times due to an article that supported Lively’s claims, followed by a defamation, civil extortion, and privacy invasion lawsuit against Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their publicist Leslie Sloan. This legal action against Reynolds may stem from the likeness of a character in Deadpool & Wolverine to Baldoni, a resemblance that has now become entangled in the ongoing court case.

Stream It Ends with Us on Netflix.

Mad Max: Fury Road

It’s widely recognized that the groundbreaking action film, Mad Max: Fury Road, is not only one of the finest action films of the 2010s but also a contender for the best action movie ever made. However, the path to its creation was far from smooth. Delays due to events like 9/11 and the Iraq War initially halted production indefinitely. By the time production resumed, Mel Gibson’s controversy had escalated to a point where he could no longer be part of the project.

Jump to 2010, Tom Hardy, just a couple of years before The Dark Knight Rises, was prepared to portray Max. Despite this, it took more time for filming to commence. Once it did, the scorching heat in Namibia posed challenges, but that’s not why Fury Road is mentioned here. Instead, it’s because Hardy and Charlize Theron were reportedly at odds during the production, as her punctuality and dedication conflicted with Hardy’s frequent lateness, which further complicated the making of the film.

Stream Mad Max: Fury Road on Netflix.

The Shining

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I must confess that Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, “The Shining,” is undeniably one of the most terrifying films ever brought to life on the silver screen. Despite Stephen King, the source material author, expressing his disdain for it, the general consensus among film critics today places this chilling tale at the pinnacle of horror cinema.

However, let us not forget the personal toll this masterpiece took on the incomparable Shelley Duvall. At the time of its release, the movie didn’t receive the critical acclaim it has garnered over the years. In fact, it was even nominated for the infamous Razzies—the Golden Raspberry Awards—in the Worst Director and Worst Actress categories. But as we look back now, both of those nominations have been deemed misguided.

Firstly, “The Shining” is no longer considered one of the worst films from 1980; instead, it has earned a place among the best of that year. As for Duvall’s Worst Actress nod, it’s become clear that she was the victim of Kubrick’s demanding directing style rather than a poor performance on her part.

Indeed, Kubrick played a significant role in the film’s lasting impact, making “The Shining” an enduring legacy of his exceptional cinematic vision.

The success of “The Shining” can largely be attributed to Kubrick’s direction. He gave the film a dreamlike quality, but for Shelley Duvall, it became an unbearable ordeal. It is said that Kubrick relentlessly scrutinized her acting methods, lines, and almost every aspect of her performance. At one point, Duvall succumbed to exhaustion on the set. In 2022, the Razzie committee corrected their past mistake by withdrawing Duvall’s nomination for a negative award, acknowledging that her performance was negatively influenced by Kubrick’s treatment during production.

Rent The Shining on Prime Video.

Terminator Salvation

It’s possible that an R-rated version of the film “Terminator Salvation” was distributed on Blu-ray, but this version still feels like a watered-down movie. This is because the director’s true cut has never been made public. Even though actors like Helena Bonham Carter, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anton Yelchin, and Sam Worthington deliver strong performances in it, perhaps it was best that the theatrical version did not get released (though at least it’s slightly better than the later film “Terminator Genisys”).

In addition, Christian Bale took on the main character John Connor, making this film primarily a tense war drama. The tension was particularly palpable with Bale’s portrayal of Connor. Interestingly, it was reported that Bale had an altercation with the film’s director of photography, Shane Hurlbut, over him walking through the set during filming. This disagreement was swiftly resolved, with Bale acknowledging his mistake and apologizing to Hurlbut both publicly and privately.

Before its release, this movie had other challenges as well. Producer Moritz Borman sued Halcyon Company for failing to pay the $2.5 million owed to him for facilitating the transfer of the IP’s rights. Additionally, executive producer Peter D. Graves filed a breach-of-contract claim against the production company just one day before the film started playing in theaters.

Stream Terminator Salvation on Max.

2025-02-26 07:40