How a decade-long production nightmare became one of the most reviled films ever made
In short: Conceived by producer Charles B. Wessler, Movie 43 spent nearly ten years in development hell before its 2013 release. Despite an ensemble cast of Hollywood A-listers, the sketch comedy film was panned by critics, eventually winning Worst Picture at the 34th Golden Raspberry Awards while remaining a modest commercial success.
The production of Movie 43 was notoriously difficult, spanning several years and involving fourteen different directors. The project faced significant hurdles in casting, with some actors like George Clooney declining to participate, while others, such as Richard Gere, reportedly attempted to exit the project entirely. Relativity Media eventually acquired the film for $6 million, and it was ultimately released in January 2013, nearly a year after its original April 2012 release date.
The film is structured as a series of interconnected sketches, framed by an overarching segment titled The Pitch. In this narrative, a screenwriter attempts to force a film executive to purchase his script by holding him at gunpoint. In certain international markets, however, the structure is entirely different, featuring a story about teenagers searching for a mythical, civilization-destroying film called Movie 43. This alternate version, which includes a subplot about a computer virus and a mother-son incident, is available as an unrated cut on Blu-ray and streaming platforms.
The sketches themselves range from the bizarre to the grotesque, featuring scenarios such as a man with testicles dangling from his neck, a couple engaging in coprophilia, and a corporate meeting regarding an MP3 player that amputates the penises of teenage boys. Despite its reputation as one of the worst films of all time, the movie grossed $32.4 million against its $6 million budget. The project remains a strange artifact of Hollywood excess, where the sheer volume of star power could not overcome the critical consensus that the film was a failure.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Movie 43
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/art-movie-43.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Entertainers · More in Art · Latest · A–Z · All topics
