10 Directors Who Ended Up Hating Their Own Films Very Publicly
Directors, like the rest of us, aren't immune to the occasional misstep.
1. David Fincher – "Alien 3" (1992)
When David Fincher, the mastermind behind "Fight Club" and "Se7en," took the helm for the third installment, fans had high hopes. But behind those xenomorph-filled corridors, things weren't going so smoothly.
Fincher faced numerous production problems, including script rewrites and studio interference. In the end, he disowned the film entirely! Ironically, he once described the experience as being akin to a "baptism by fire."
Fincher grew from it, though, and we can thank this rocky start for the dark and edgy director we love today.
2. Josh Trank – "Fantastic Four " (2015)
"Fantastic" might be a tad too generous for this superhero film. Just one day before its release, Josh Trank, the young and upcoming director, took to Twitter with a post implying that the final product was not what he had in mind. He mentioned having a "fantastic version" that we'd probably never see. Ouch!
Behind the scenes, there were rumblings about reshoots, disagreements with the studio, and even some on-set drama. Kate Mara, who played the Invisible Woman, even hinted at challenging filming conditions.
Trank's promising start with "Chronicle" seemed to fizzle out with this superhero misstep, but hey, every hero has their off days, right?
3. Michael Bay – "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (2009)
Explosions galore! When you think of Michael Bay, you think of grand action sequences and...well, more explosions. Yet, this king of blockbuster action flicks wasn't thrilled with the second installment of the Transformers saga.
Despite raking in serious cash, Bay admitted that the 2007-2008 writers' strike forced them to go into the movie without a solid script. The result? A movie he felt was "crap." Shockingly, this revelation didn't stop him from directing more Transformers movies. Go figure.
4. Stanley Kubrick – "Fear and Desire" (1953)
Before "The Shining" and "2001: A Space Odyssey" turned him into a cinematic god, Stanley Kubrick made his feature debut with "Fear and Desire."
It's a war film that even the genius Kubrick couldn't get behind. He described the movie as a "bumbling amateur film exercise" and went so far as to try and remove all copies from circulation. But like an embarrassing yearbook photo, it always manages to pop up.
If you do catch it, remember: everyone starts somewhere, even the greats!
5. Joel Schumacher – "Batman & Robin" (1997)
"Chill out!" or maybe not. The pun-tastic "Batman & Robin" is often dubbed one of the worst superhero films ever, and its director, Joel Schumacher, couldn't agree more. He even publicly apologized for "disappointing Batman fans."
With its neon aesthetic, Arnold Schwarzenegger's ice puns as Mr. Freeze, and the infamous Bat-nipples, it's a far cry from the Dark Knight's usually gritty world. Uma Thurman's Poison Ivy and Alicia Silverstone's Batgirl did add some kick, but the overall package? Well, let's just say it left many cold.
6. Tony Kaye – "American History X" (1998)
Drama alert! Tony Kaye's disdain for the final cut of "American History X" is legendary. He didn't just want his name off the project – he wanted it replaced with "Humpty Dumpty." Seriously!
The dispute? Creative differences with actor Edward Norton and the studio. Norton had a hand in editing, and while the film received acclaim (and an Oscar nomination for Norton), Kaye was far from pleased.
It's an intense movie about racism and redemption, but the off-screen saga might be just as intriguing.
7. Woody Allen – "Manhattan" (1979)
It's a cinematic classic, but Woody Allen? Not its biggest fan. He was so disappointed with "Manhattan" that he offered to make another film for the studio for free if they shelved it. Thankfully, they declined.
The film, showcasing a black-and-white love letter to New York and complex relationships, is now considered one of his best. It's funny how things play out, right?
8. David Lynch – "Dune " (1984)
Ah, the spice must flow...but not without some hiccups. David Lynch's venture into the world of science fiction, adapting Frank Herbert's epic "Dune," turned out to be a mixed bag.
Facing studio interference and forced to cut his original three-hour movie down significantly, the result was a confusing, albeit visually stunning, film. Lynch was so disheartened he had his name removed from some versions, being credited as "Alan Smithee" – the universal pseudonym for directors disowning their work.
9. Alfred Hitchcock – "Rope" (1948)
The master of suspense himself, Alfred Hitchcock, had some misgivings about his experimental film "Rope."
Designed to look like one continuous take, this movie about a murder and a dinner party might have been ambitious, but Hitchcock later admitted he felt the movie was nothing more than a stunt. Still, for film students and fans alike, it's a fascinating dive into early movie-making techniques.
10. Stephen King – "Maximum Overdrive" (1986)
From master of horror to...director? Yup, Stephen King took a shot at directing with "Maximum Overdrive," a film about machines turning against humanity after a comet passes by Earth.
The result? Well, King himself admitted he was "coked out of [his] mind" during production. The movie was panned by critics, and King decided to stick with writing from then on. At least we got a killer soundtrack by AC/DC out of it!