Why did one of Hollywood's most respected directors create a film critics universally loathed?

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Rob Reiner, the acclaimed director behind When Harry Met Sally, once produced a fable that became a notorious box office bomb. Despite a star-studded cast, the 1994 film North was panned by critics and audiences alike, eventually earning a reputation as one of the worst movies ever made.

Released on July 22, 1994, North was based on Alan Zweibel's 1984 novel about an 11-year-old boy who decides to legally divorce his parents. The film featured a high-profile cast including Elijah Wood, Bruce Willis, and a young Scarlett Johansson. Despite the pedigree of director Rob Reiner, the production struggled significantly, grossing only $12.2 million worldwide against a $40 million budget. Critics were baffled by the film's tone, with many finding the premise cold-hearted and the humor nonexistent.

The critical reception was exceptionally harsh. Roger Ebert awarded the film a rare zero-star rating, calling it one of the most hateful movies he had ever reviewed. Gene Siskel echoed this sentiment, labeling the film 'first-class junk' and criticizing its reliance on ethnic stereotypes. The film was nominated for six Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture and Worst Director. Even years later, critics like Richard Roeper noted that the film was uniquely difficult to watch, suggesting that life was too short to endure it.

Reiner defended the project as a 'little slice of a fable,' expressing frustration that audiences expected him to produce only 'important' films following his previous successes. Writer Alan Zweibel, however, found the intense backlash deeply personal, noting that Ebert’s scathing reviews were frequently quoted to him. Despite the film's status as a 'noble misfire' or 'pedestrian fantasy' in the eyes of some, it remains a cautionary tale in Hollywood about the disconnect between a director's vision and the audience's reception of a story intended as lighthearted entertainment.

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