Buzz
Hollywood is no stranger to lawsuits, especially in today's entertainment climate where summer blockbusters routinely gross billions worldwide. Movies are a massive industry, and where there's significant profit, legal complications are sure to follow.
Writers sometimes find themselves crossing into other people’s copyright territories without permission; film productions occasionally fail to take all necessary precautions, leading to accidents; and there are always individuals from the outside eager to cash in on the movie business’s deep pockets. For whatever reason, many films have sparked major legal disputes, though not all result in large financial settlements.
10. American Hustle (2013)
It’s not every day that a writer’s name is mentioned in a Hollywood film, and when it happens, it’s usually in reference to a renowned literary figure like Ayn Rand, Charles Bukowski, or Stephen King. But when the world of print media does make its way into a movie, it often doesn’t end well.
In David O. Russell’s *American Hustle*, a claim is made by Jennifer Lawrence’s character that microwaving food removes its nutrients, with a citation to former *New Yorker* staff writer Paul Brodeur. The problem? Brodeur never made such a statement.
Brodeur, in response to this claim, filed a defamation lawsuit against Sony’s Columbia Pictures and the film’s producers, demanding $1 million in damages for the harm done to his reputation. Although Brodeur managed to move his case forward despite initial resistance from the studio, it was ultimately dismissed by California appeals court judge Elizabeth Grimes, who ruled that the film's comedic tone meant Brodeur's claim was without merit.
9. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2016)
While shooting a stunt for *Resident Evil: The Final Chapter* in Cape Town, stuntwoman Olivia Jackson collided with a camera crane-mounted vehicle at high speed. The accident left her with life-threatening injuries, including severe facial damage, a severed artery in her neck, and spinal nerve damage, leading doctors to place her in a medically induced coma.
It was revealed that director Paul W.S. Anderson had instructed the driver of the camera vehicle to get closer to Jackson than originally planned in order to capture a more thrilling shot. The crash resulted in Jackson losing her right arm and ending her career as a stuntperson. She filed a lawsuit for damages against Anderson and producer Jeremy Bolt in Los Angeles, but the court dismissed her case, as the incident took place in another country with multiple parties involved.
Despite the difficulties, Jackson took legal action against Bickers Actions SA, the South African company responsible for the stunt sequence’s planning and execution, ultimately winning her lawsuit for an undisclosed sum.
8. Back to the Future Part II (1989)
The sequel to *Back to the Future* was practically a guaranteed hit, given the overwhelming success of the first movie and its iconic cliffhanger ending. However, not all of the original cast members were eager to return. Claudia Wells stepped away from her role as Jennifer Parker, Marty McFly’s (Michael J. Fox) girlfriend, due to personal reasons. Crispin Glover also declined to reprise his role as George McFly (Marty’s father), after producers refused to offer him $1 million for the small role.
Instead of casting a simple lookalike, the filmmakers decided to use a face mold from the first movie to create a prosthetic mask for new actor Jeffrey Weissman to wear in certain scenes. Given the ongoing debates surrounding AI and likeness rights, this decision led to significant controversy, and Glover was understandably displeased.
Glover filed a lawsuit against Universal Pictures, claiming they violated his right of publicity. After Universal’s attempt to dismiss the case was denied, they eventually settled for a reported $760,000. Perhaps it would have been simpler to offer Glover the $1 million he initially asked for.
7. Camp Hell (2010)
By 2010, Jesse Eisenberg had become a sought-after name in Hollywood, with successful films ranging from indie hits like *The Squid and the Whale* (2005) to blockbuster favorites like *Zombieland* (2009). Given this trajectory, it was unexpected when he agreed to star in the poorly received, direct-to-video horror film *Camp Hell*—but he did, as a favor to friends.
The trouble started when Eisenberg discovered that the movie’s promotional campaign prominently featured his name and image, even though his role in the film was minimal, essentially a cameo. In response, the actor filed a $3 million lawsuit against Lionsgate and Grindstone Entertainment, demanding more than the movie’s production budget.
Despite the distributors filing an anti-SLAPP motion, arguing the case should be dismissed on free speech grounds, L.A. Superior Court Judge Linda Lefkowitz denied the motion, allowing the lawsuit to continue. The ultimate outcome of the case remains unclear, as neither party has publicly revealed the resolution.
6. Giallo (2009)
Dario Argento, the Italian filmmaker renowned for his surreal horror films in the '70s and '80s, has continued his craft over the years. However, much of his work in the 21st century has failed to reach the heights of his earlier achievements, with many of his recent horrors and thrillers feeling half-baked and lacking impact.
One such disappointment is *Giallo*, a horror-thriller starring Adrien Brody. The film is now more famous for its behind-the-scenes controversy than for its actual content. When Brody’s $640,000 paycheck went unpaid, he took legal action to prevent the film's distribution.
Although Brody's attempt to halt the film's release was unsuccessful, U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer intervened, halting the film’s U.S. distribution and preventing the filmmakers from using Brody’s likeness until the issue was resolved. The matter was eventually settled, Brody received his payment, and the film was released to little enthusiasm and no acclaim.
5. Happy Death Day (2017)
Christopher Landon’s *Happy Death Day* films offered a fresh take on meta-horror in the late 2010s by mixing classic horror tropes with elements of mystery, time loops, and a *Groundhog Day* vibe. The series also introduced a new villain: the Bayfield Babyface Killer, whose mask resembles, quite unsettlingly, a baby. However, not everyone found the creepy, giggling baby quite as amusing.
Jonathan Bertuccelli, the creator behind the New Orleans Pelicans' 'King Cake Baby' NBA mascot, filed a lawsuit against Universal Pictures, claiming at least 50% of the profits from *Happy Death Day*. His argument was based on copyright infringement, asserting that the film’s Babyface mask bore a striking resemblance to his mascot. The likeness between the two is undeniably apparent.
Although the legal battle stretched on for several years, with Bertuccelli attempting to prevent the studio from using the likeness in future films, he eventually reached a settlement with Universal in 2021. While this cleared the way for the *Death Day* series to continue with the character, the cancellation of the proposed third film in 2023 rendered the issue irrelevant.
4. Predator (1987)
The Yautja, or Predator alien species, became a staple of sci-fi horror and action following the 1987 release of *Predator*. This iconic film, brought to life by screenwriters John and James Thomas, expertly blended elements of sci-fi, horror, suspense, and action to create one of the most defining movies of the 1980s.
Though the Thomas brothers sold the rights to their script to 20th Century Fox in the ’80s, the company’s acquisition by Disney in 2019 prompted the duo to seek to reclaim their intellectual property. Under the U.S. Copyright Act, authors can recover their rights after 35 years, so the brothers attempted to terminate Disney's rights to their script. However, Disney rejected their request.
This led to a lawsuit against the studio, with Disney/Fox counter-suing. However, all legal action was eventually dropped, and a resolution was reached in 2022. Later that year, *Prey*, another franchise installment, was released with both Thomases credited as executive producers, signaling a mutually agreeable resolution.
3. The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Directors Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon revitalized a host of tired horror clichés with their meta-horror film *The Cabin in the Woods*. The movie parodied nearly every existing franchise, villain, and stereotype. Set in a facility that orchestrates a horror playbook on a group of unsuspecting students, it all unfolds at, unsurprisingly, a cabin in the woods.
While most of the filmmakers and authors whose work the film referenced had no issue with the concept, one did. Author Peter Gallagher filed a $10 million lawsuit against Whedon, Goddard, and Lionsgate, accusing them of plagiarizing his 2006 novel *The Little White Trip: A Night in The Pines*, in which a group of friends goes on a remote skiing trip and is murdered one by one, only to discover it’s a reality TV hoax.
The case was swiftly dismissed in favor of the filmmakers. U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II ruled that the premise of students traveling to remote locations and being killed by sinister forces was not protectable, which seems a fair conclusion.
2. Black Widow (2021)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe stands as the most financially successful film franchise ever, despite being relatively young at just over a decade and a half old. However, with immense profits comes immense responsibility, and at times, the Marvel studio executives (and their parent company, Disney) have faced criticism for their choices.
The prequel, Black Widow, provided a final glimpse of the beloved character after her on-screen death in Avengers: Endgame (2019). Scarlett Johansson reprised her iconic role, bringing the character’s journey to a close. Given her star power and the necessity of her involvement in a Black Widow film, she was able to secure a lucrative contract, including a portion of the box office revenue (referred to as first-dollar gross).
However, complications arose when Disney released Black Widow simultaneously on their streaming platform, Disney+, on the film's release date, thereby reducing the potential box office earnings for Johansson. This led her to file a lawsuit against the company for breach of contract. Remarkably, the lawsuit was resolved in a matter of months, with Johansson receiving a $40 million settlement in 2021.
1. The Unborn (2009)
David S. Goyer's supernatural horror film The Unborn may not have left a lasting impression on horror enthusiasts, but the legal drama surrounding it endured long after the film faded from public memory. The story follows a woman who is tormented by the ghost of her deceased twin brother. While this premise isn't exactly groundbreaking, Daniel Segal, a relative of author Erna Segal, noticed striking resemblances to Erna's 1990 book Transfers.
Segal filed a lawsuit seeking damages exceeding $1 million, alleging breach of an implied contract rather than copyright infringement. His argument stemmed from a prior proposal he had made to Relativity Media—the production company behind The Unborn—to adapt Transfers, a proposal that the company had allegedly reneged on.
However, not all lawsuits are successful. Segal’s case was dismissed in 2011 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which ruled that the two works were not similar enough, despite both involving a haunting between twins. His subsequent attempt to appeal and revive the case in 2014, four years after his original filing, also ended in failure.
