A star-studded drama that its own lead actor once called boring

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Directed by Wim Wenders and featuring a soundtrack by U2, this 2000 film explores the lives of social outcasts in a dilapidated Los Angeles hotel. Despite winning a Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, the project faced harsh critical reception and a notoriously blunt dismissal from Mel Gibson.

The Million Dollar Hotel originated from a concept story developed by Bono in 1987 while shooting a music video. The narrative centers on the mysterious death of Israel Goldkiss, the son of a media mogul, whose demise at a rundown hotel draws FBI Agent Skinner into a web of eccentric residents. The story is filtered through the perspective of Tom-Tom, an introverted skater who harbors a secret connection to the deceased.

The film’s production was marked by high ambitions and a unique atmosphere, yet it struggled to find favor with reviewers. It holds a low approval score on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 4.4 out of 10 across 45 reviews. Metacritic reflects a similar sentiment, assigning the film a score of 25 out of 100. Despite these figures, the film earned the Silver Bear at the 2000 Berlin International Film Festival, highlighting a significant divide between festival recognition and broader critical consensus.

Mel Gibson, who starred as Agent Skinner and also produced the film, famously disparaged the work during a 2000 press conference in Sydney, comparing it to a dog's anatomy. He later expressed deep regret for the comment, attributing the outburst to exhaustion after a long day of press interviews. Gibson acknowledged that the film contains moments of genius and praised the soundtrack, which was composed by U2 and various other musicians.

The film's commercial performance varied significantly by region. After its February 2000 premiere in Berlin, it opened on 111 German screens, grossing over $312,000 in its initial four days. It found more substantial success in Italy, where it grossed over $6 million. Conversely, its 2001 United States release was limited, earning less than $60,000 in total, while its Australian box office return was approximately $46,000.

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