Mistakes can be costly, especially in the world of filmmaking. From production mishaps to casting choices gone wrong, these movie blunders have left a significant dent in studios’ budgets. In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 most expensive movie mistakes that almost broke the bank. Let’s dive in and relive these costly lessons learned by the film industry.
# 10: “Suicide Squad” (2016) – Salvaging a Super Squad
“Suicide Squad” faced numerous challenges throughout its production, and costly reshoots were among them. The film, despite its star-studded cast and promising premise, received harsh criticism from both critics and audiences. Warner Bros., attempting to address the lukewarm reception of “Batman v Superman,” invested millions of dollars in reshoots. While the exact details of the reshoots remain unclear, the studio’s investment paid off at the box office, even if critical reception was less than ideal.
# 9: “The Horror of Party Beach” (1964) – Wheels Gone Wrong
“The Horror of Party Beach” was a low-budget ’60s horror flick that fell victim to an unfortunate accident during production. In an attempt to secure a larger role, a member of a local motorcycle club involved in the film’s production caused a disastrous accident, leading to injuries and production delays. The film’s budget of $50,000 skyrocketed due to the accident, adding an additional $20,000 in expenses.
# 8: “Proud Mary” (2018) – Crashing Consequences
Actress Taraji P. Henson had the chance to drive a sleek Maserati in the revenge thriller “Proud Mary.” Unfortunately, a minor miscalculation led to an unfortunate collision with a fire hydrant. The car sustained significant damage, requiring repairs costing around twelve thousand dollars. Revenge may come at a high cost, but this incident took it to a whole new level.
# 7: “Quantum of Solace” (2008) – A Bruised Bond
Playing James Bond involves high-risk stunt work, and Daniel Craig experienced this first-hand during the filming of “Quantum of Solace.” Accidentally struck in the face during a fight scene, Craig ended up with a black eye and required stitches. The black eye had to be digitally removed for continuity, and additional digital touch-ups were necessary to correct a continuity error with Bond’s gloves in the next installment.
# 6: “Some Like It Hot” (1959) – Forgotten Lines
Even the iconic Marilyn Monroe faced challenges during her career, as seen in the production of “Some Like It Hot.” Monroe’s struggles with punctuality and memorizing lines caused significant delays and pushed the film over budget. The movie ended up costing half a million dollars more than initially planned, adding financial strain to the production.
# 5: “The Avengers” (1998) – Flames on Set
Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe took off, “The Avengers” (1998) attempted to bring the ’60s British spy series to the big screen. Unfortunately, the film turned out to be a disastrous flop, and things got worse when a fire broke out on the set at Pinewood Studios. While nobody was seriously injured, the film’s failure and the incident cast a shadow on the careers of those involved.
# 4: “The Hateful Eight” (2015) – Shattered Melodies
Quentin Tarantino’s films often involve violence, but it is typically staged and simulated. However, in “The Hateful Eight,” actor Kurt Russell unintentionally destroyed a genuine antique guitar valued at around $40,000. The guitar was supposed to be swapped out with a dummy before the scene, but the miscommunication led to its irreversible destruction, angering the Martin Guitar Museum.
# 3: “Back to the Future” (1985) – Costly Casting Conundrum
“Back to the Future” is considered a classic, with Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd as the beloved lead actors. However, the initial casting of Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly led to complications. After filming several scenes, it became evident that Stoltz wasn’t fitting the role as well as the director had hoped. The production decided to replace Stoltz with Fox, resulting in an additional three million dollars added to the budget.
# 2: “Roar” (1981) – When Animals Attack
“Roar” was an ill-conceived film aimed at raising awareness of the dangers faced by big cats. The production involved bringing numerous animals on set, leading to a series of injuries for both the cast and crew. The film’s dangerous nature turned the production into a bloodbath, causing significant delays and budget overruns amounting to millions of dollars.
# 1: “Justice League” (2017) – Battling Reshoots
“Justice League” faced a troubled production after the underwhelming response to previous DC Extended Universe films. Warner Bros. desperately sought to salvage the superhero epic by bringing in director Joss Whedon for expensive reshoots. One notable challenge was actor Henry Cavill’s moustache, which he grew for another film. Unable to shave it, the studio resorted to digitally removing the moustache in post-production, resulting in highly criticized visual effects and a cost of 25 million dollars.
Movie mistakes can be financially devastating for studios, as demonstrated by these examples. Whether it’s costly reshoots, accidents on set, or casting errors, the price of these blunders can add up quickly. Filmmakers must learn from these mistakes and exercise caution to avoid such financial pitfalls in the future.