Honey, I Shrunk the Kids - Price Prediction

It’s fascinating to ponder over the unusual filmmakers who nearly collaborated with Disney on significant productions. For instance, did you know that the 2000 film “Dinosaur” initially originated from the unconventional mind of “RoboCop” director Paul Verhoeven? Similarly, David Fincher was once set to bring his unique cinematic approach to “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” but had disagreements with Disney executives over casting. Although these projects never came to fruition, these directors briefly considered working for the studio known for films like “G-Force.

One intriguing yet authentic example of this occurrence can be traced back to a 1989 film titled “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.” This movie is now recognized as Joe Johnston’s directorial debut and a standout performance for Rick Moranis. Interestingly, the concept for “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” initially stemmed from one of the most notoriously gruesome midnight horror films ever made. Originally, this project was intended to be directed and produced by the team behind the infamous horror movie “Re-Animator,” namely Stuart Gordon and Brian Yuzna.

How Did the Re-Animator Crew Collide With Disney?

According to Stuart Gordon’s daughter Jillian, the beloved movie “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” started as a bedtime story that Gordon would tell his children. When they grew fond of this quirky tale, he turned it into a screenplay with Ed Naha. Together with Brian Yuzna, they decided to turn the story into a real film, which eventually became “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.” Notably, these origins reveal that Gordon always intended for the movie to be family-friendly (and suitable for Disney), although it wasn’t necessarily absorbed into the Disney production pipeline.

A unique twist in this story is that unlike Steven Fincher who didn’t direct Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Joe Gordon almost had the opportunity to direct this Disney blockbuster. However, due to his high blood pressure, he was advised by doctors that working on a visually effects-heavy movie like this one would worsen his health issues. Faced with a serious medical condition, Gordon reluctantly relinquished the director’s chair and Johnston stepped in instead.

In the end, Gordon maintained a “Story By” credit on the finished film, as did Yuzna and Naha; the latter was even given a “Screenplay By” credit for the feature. Interestingly, it was Gordon’s intuition about what would resonate with kids that proved spot-on. As a result, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids became a blockbuster hit for Disney in 1989 and one of the most successful films of that year across all studios. Remarkably, aspects that Jillian mentions her father had to argue with Disney executives over (specifically, the realistic look of the supporting character Antie) ended up being some of the most cherished elements in the movie.

Where Did Stuart Gordon Go From Here?

Following the massive success of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Disney seized the opportunity to expand upon its title by producing sequels, a theme park ride, and a television series. Meanwhile, Joe Johnston moved on to direct Robot Jox in 1990, a B-movie cult classic, as well as Fortress, a major studio release featuring Christopher Lambert. After these projects, Johnston continued to take the lead on new feature films up until 2007, including The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit and Stuck, both of which became cult favorites.

In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Gordon ventured into the realm of stage performances, one of which was transforming his 1985 masterpiece into a musical production titled “Re-Animator: The Musical“. As Jillian put it, after initially feeling disheartened about losing the chance to direct Honey, I Shrunk the Kids , Gordon eventually felt relieved because it allowed him to delve into numerous other intriguing projects. It’s unlikely that he could have explored various forms of creative expression if he were focused on managing the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise for Disney.

Due to the lasting appeal of “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,” especially among adults reminiscing about the 1980s, the creative spirit of the filmmaker, Gordon, remains relevant even after his passing in 2020. A tale he once told his children has become one of Disney’s most impactful live-action movies. Moreover, the distinction between “Kids” and a movie like “Re-Animator” underscores the wide-ranging creativity of Gordon and his collaborators, such as Yuzna. To add to this, the fact that Gordon didn’t direct “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” places him among esteemed artists who were on the verge of directing Disney blockbusters but ultimately fell just short.

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is now streaming on Disney+.

2025-03-11 04:44

How Did the Re-Animator Crew Collide With Disney?

Where Did Stuart Gordon Go From Here?

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