Why a star-studded 1989 comedy failed to capture the box office magic
In short: With Robert De Niro and Sean Penn leading a project written by David Mamet and directed by Neil Jordan, the 1989 film We're No Angels seemed destined for success. Yet, this tale of escaped convicts posing as priests struggled to find its audience, ultimately grossing only half its production budget.
The 1989 production of We're No Angels was built on a foundation of immense industry confidence. With a bankable duo in the lead roles, a celebrated screenwriter, and an acclaimed director, Paramount Pictures invested a significant $20 million budget. The production was so ambitious that it spent CDN $2.5 million just to construct an entire riverside town in Mission, British Columbia, to serve as the film's upstate New York setting. At the time, this set design represented the largest expenditure for a film produced in Canada.
Despite the pedigree of its creators, the film faced a lukewarm reception. It debuted at number eight at the United States box office and ultimately grossed $10.5 million. Critics were divided, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 48% approval rating from 21 sampled reviewers, while CinemaScore audiences awarded it a B- grade. Retrospective analysis suggests the film suffered from a branding problem; critic John Hansen noted in 2019 that the premise likely alienated both religious and secular audiences, who mistakenly assumed the comedy was not intended for them.
The narrative itself, a reimagining of a 1955 film of the same name, follows two Depression-era convicts, Ned and Jim, who escape a ruthless warden and hide in a monastery by masquerading as priests. Their plan to flee to Canada is complicated by a search party and a series of misunderstandings. While the film struggled commercially, it found defenders like Roger Ebert, who praised the expressive performances of De Niro and Penn. The story's core premise of mistaken identity has proven durable, later inspiring international adaptations such as the 2004 Iranian film The Lizard and the 2013 Indian film Romans.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: We're No Angels (1989 film)
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