Why the Wachowskis Tried to Remove Their Names From This 1995 Action Thriller
In short: Before they redefined cinema with The Matrix, the Wachowskis wrote a spec script for the action film Assassins. They hated the final product so much they attempted to scrub their names from the credits. Despite a $10 million directorial fee and a star-studded cast, the project became a critical failure.
Released in 1995, Assassins was directed by Richard Donner and starred Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Banderas, and Julianne Moore. The project began when producer Joel Silver purchased the Wachowskis' original spec script for $1 million, the same amount he paid for their later hit, The Matrix. However, the production process was fraught with creative friction. Donner insisted on a page-one rewrite by Brian Helgeland to soften the violence and increase the protagonist's sympathy, a move that left the original writers deeply dissatisfied.
The Wachowskis claimed their vision was completely overhauled, and they unsuccessfully petitioned the Writers Guild of America to have their names removed from the film. The resulting narrative follows Robert Rath, an aging hitman attempting to retire, who finds himself in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with an ambitious younger assassin, Miguel Bain. While the film features complex setups—including a hacker protagonist named Electra and a climactic showdown in Puerto Rico—critics found the final script confusing and dull.
Commercially, the film struggled, grossing $83.3 million against a $50 million budget. It debuted at number two at the box office, trailing behind Seven. Critics were largely unimpressed, with Rotten Tomatoes recording an 18% approval rating. Despite the negative reception, director Richard Donner remained philosophical, noting that while the studio and filmmakers felt they had done a good job, the audience response simply did not align. Today, the film is perhaps best remembered for a specific performance by Banderas that evolved into a popular reaction meme.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Assassins (1995 film)
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