Why Steven Spielberg's 1979 war comedy was once dismissed as a box office disaster

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Often labeled a failure, this chaotic ensemble film about post-Pearl Harbor panic actually turned a profit. Despite its reputation, the movie remains a polarizing piece of cinema history that challenged the director's creative limits and sparked intense debate among critics about the boundaries of comedy and historical respect.

Released in December 1979, the film depicts a fictionalized, frantic Los Angeles gripped by paranoia following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The narrative weaves together disparate threads, including a Japanese submarine crew hunting for Hollywood, a tank crew causing mayhem, and civilians caught in the crossfire of their own defensive measures. While the plot draws inspiration from real incidents like the 1942 Great Los Angeles Air Raid and the shelling of the Ellwood oil refinery, the execution leans heavily into slapstick and spectacle.

The production faced significant skepticism from industry icons. John Wayne, initially considered for a lead role, famously urged the director to abandon the project, arguing that mocking a conflict that claimed so many lives was unpatriotic. Critics at the time were equally harsh; reviewers like Roger Ebert and Vincent Canby criticized the film for its relentless, noisy pacing and lack of character depth. Even Stanley Kubrick reportedly told the director that while the film was technically impressive, it simply failed to be funny.

Despite the negative critical consensus and a lukewarm reception, the film was not the financial catastrophe often cited in popular lore. It grossed $90 million worldwide against a $35 million budget, securing a profit. Over the decades, the film has undergone a critical reappraisal. Some modern critics argue that its manic energy and irreverence offer a more honest glimpse into the director's sensibilities than his more polished, sentimental hits. The director himself later admitted that the experience served as a vital lesson in humility, leading him to delegate more control over complex action sequences in his future projects.

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