Buzz
Sometimes, it's the subtle details in movies that make them even more captivating, like spotting a hidden Easter egg or a reference to a scene or character from another film.
It's also intriguing to learn behind-the-scenes facts about the cast and production that might surprise your friends. It can enhance your viewing experience, and it's always fun to share some trivia at your next gathering. Here are some fascinating tidbits from hit films of the 2000s.
10. Meet The Parents (2000)
Starring Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, the comedy film Meet the Parents made its debut in 2000, becoming a huge box office success and grossing over $300 million worldwide. Its popularity led NBC to create a reality TV show called Meet My Folks, where a suitor must undergo a lie detector test and be grilled by his girlfriend’s father.
Though it's hard to picture anyone else in the role of Gaylord Focker, Jim Carrey was initially cast for the part, with Steven Spielberg set to direct. However, both Carrey and Spielberg dropped out of the project, leaving the name Gaylord Focker intact.
In an odd turn of events, in 2005, a flight attendant discovered a crumpled napkin on an American Airlines flight to Puerto Rico. 40 minutes into the journey, the napkin was found to have 'bomb, bomb, bomb… meet the parents' written on it, referencing a scene from the movie where Ben Stiller shouts 'bomb' while being detained at an airport.
The flight was redirected back to Fort Lauderdale, where a bomb squad and the FBI were waiting to question passengers about the suspicious note.
9. Shrek 2001
Released in 2001, Shrek was adapted from a fairy-tale picture book published in 1990. The movie took nearly five years to finalize with computer animation, after DreamWorks abandoned the idea of using claymation. With a production cost of $60 million, Shrek went on to earn almost $500 million globally at the box office and claimed the inaugural Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
It’s hard to imagine Shrek’s voice being anything other than Mike Myers’. However, the role was initially meant for Chris Farley. He had recorded more than 80% of his lines before his tragic death in December 1997, at just 33 years old.
On a much lighter note, it’s said that the legendary Nicolas Cage turned down the role of Shrek because he didn’t want to portray an 'ugly ogre.'
8. Ghost Ship (2002)
The horror film Ghost Ship failed to strike a chord with both critics and audiences, receiving mostly unfavorable reviews. It grossed only $68 million globally upon its release in 2002. Despite its initial reception, the film later developed a cult following, with many fans fond of the soundtrack and the film's iconic opening scene.
Upon release, the lack of excitement around the movie could be attributed to its original vision. Initially intended as a psychological thriller, the film underwent major script changes by the producers, steering it towards a ghost and horror narrative.
Moreover, the opening sequence, which garnered so much love from viewers, was later debunked by MythBusters, who demonstrated that a snapping cable could not cause the horrific damage shown in the movie. The cable's snap, depicted as slicing through limbs and necks, was deemed unrealistic in reality.
The ship featured in the movie, the Antonia Graza, was inspired by the real-life SS Andrea Doria, an Italian cruise ship. In 1956, the Andrea Doria collided with the MS Stockholm during a dense fog while en route from Italy to the United States.
The Andrea Doria took 11 hours to sink after the collision. Due to the ship listing to the starboard side, many of its lifeboats were rendered unusable, contributing to the tragic loss of 46 lives.
7. Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
In 2003, Freddy vs. Jason brought in $114 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing entry in the Friday the 13th franchise and the second highest in the Nightmare on Elm Street series. This film marked Robert Englund's final performance as Freddy Krueger and was also Kelly Rowland’s acting debut.
A little-known fact among fans is that Tommy Jarvis was originally intended to be a central character in Freddy vs. Jason. However, his storyline was eventually scrapped as it would have made an already lengthy film even longer. Additionally, there was an early draft involving a plot twist where Freddy was revealed to be Jason's father, but this was later abandoned because it didn't quite fit the narrative.
In another tragic story, the role of Will was initially offered to Brad Renfro. However, he was dismissed from the production a week before filming was set to begin after showing up on set “completely strung out.” The part was then reassigned to Jason Ritter. In 2008, Renfro tragically passed away from a heroin overdose at the age of 25.
6. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
The Passion of the Christ is a divisive biblical drama from 2004, which faced criticism for its graphic violence and accusations of promoting anti-Semitism through subliminal messages. Despite the controversy, it grossed over $600 million at the global box office, making it the most profitable non-English language film in history.
Jim Caviezel, who portrayed Jesus in the film, endured significant hardships during production. He was accidentally whipped twice, struck by lightning twice, and dislocated his shoulder while filming the scene where he carried the cross. At that point, it wouldn't have been surprising if he wished the role had gone to the initially considered actor, Macaulay Culkin.
Adding to the controversy, tickets for the film in Malaysia were only available through Christian churches. In an interesting piece of trivia, the movie set a record for the highest number of presold tickets ever.
5. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Adapted from a short story by Annie Proulx and directed by Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain garnered critical acclaim, winning multiple awards, including three Oscars. However, it lost the Best Picture Oscar to Crash. The film ran for over 130 days in theaters and earned $178 million worldwide.
What some may not know is that Jake Gyllenhaal had to undergo a “cowboy training camp” to master the skills of sheep wrangling, wood chopping, and horse riding. Additionally, Ang Lee faced a number of issues with the film's sheep, leading to many of them being replaced by digitally animated versions.
In the movie, the late Heath Ledger spoke in an unusual manner—his lips pursed and barely moving. While many believed this was a deliberate acting choice, it was later revealed that he was actually trying to keep flies from entering his mouth.
4. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
In 2006, the dark fantasy film Pan’s Labyrinth debuted at the Cannes Film Festival before being released globally. Despite earning only $83 million, it was widely praised by critics, winning multiple awards, including three Oscars. It remained the top-grossing Spanish-language film in the U.S. for seven years.
Guillermo del Toro, the filmmaker behind Pan’s Labyrinth, faced a major crisis when he accidentally left a notebook full of four years' worth of notes, character sketches, and plot details in a cab. Luckily, the driver found the book and returned it to him at his hotel.
Del Toro chose not to film in Hollywood due to a negative experience working on Mimic in the 1990s. As a result, Pan’s Labyrinth was shot in Spain during a drought. This posed challenges, as the location was meant to resemble a forest, and artificial grass and other plants had to be used to compensate for the lack of natural greenery.
On a different note, the film inspired Bjork to create a song titled 'Pneumonia.' It also features references to Pink Floyd and the Spanish artist Francisco Goya.
3. Up (2009)
Up premiered in May 2009 as the opening film at the Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first 3-D and animated film to receive this distinction. It later grossed over $730 million globally and earned five Oscar nominations.
While Up is often remembered for its emotional opening sequence, it also features plenty of humorous moments, perfectly blending heart and comedy. Initially, this opening was meant to include dialogue, with Carl and Ellie finishing each other's sentences.
Pixar spared no effort in their commitment to perfecting the film, even bringing a group of ostriches to the studio for reference. They also consulted an architect to ensure the scene with Carl's house being lifted by 10,297 balloons appeared as realistic as possible.
The characters of Carl and Russell were designed with intention. Carl is depicted as square, representing his rigid and introverted nature, which is intensified by the loss of Ellie. In contrast, Russell is round, symbolizing his joy and energetic spirit.
2. Twilight (2008)
Whether you love it or hate it, Twilight took the world by storm in 2008 when it hit theaters. Earning over $393 million at the box office, it went on to become the best-selling DVD of the following year.
The creation of Team Edward almost didn’t happen as more than 3,000 actors auditioned for the role. Although Stephenie Meyer favored Henry Cavill, his age was an issue.
Robert Pattinson's audition at director Catherine Hardwicke’s home made it clear that he was the perfect fit to portray the brooding vampire. He was later asked to wear braces to improve his teeth before filming. Interestingly, Pattinson had planned to quit acting just a day before landing the role of Edward Cullen.
Pattinson also contributed to the soundtrack by performing the song “Never Think,” which plays during the iconic dinner scene between Bella and Edward.
Other fascinating details include Jennifer Lawrence auditioning for Bella’s role, Taylor Lautner having no idea what Twilight was about when he tried out for Jacob Black, actors in the wolf pack being required to prove their Native American roots, and Pattinson shedding tears over the idea of taking his shirt off during his audition.
1. I Am Legend (2007)
Guillermo Del Toro was initially approached by Will Smith to direct I Am Legend, but he declined in favor of directing Hellboy II. This came after Smith landed the role that could have gone to Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson, or even Michael Douglas. Released in December 2007, I Am Legend earned $585 million and became the highest-grossing non-Christmas film to debut during the holiday season in the US.
Director Francis Lawrence spent a week on set before deciding that the prosthetics for the infected weren't believable enough and switched to CGI. This change raised the budget and extended the production timeline. The scene depicting the collapse of the Brooklyn Bridge alone cost $5 million and took six days to shoot.
It was reported that Will Smith became so attached to his canine co-star, dog Abbey, that he tried to adopt her. However, her trainer refused to allow it. Smith also made a blunder in Japan by revealing the movie’s ending to reporters during an interview.
It appears that a reboot of the movie may finally be in development, a decade after its original release.
