Buzz
LAPD detective John Kimble, on a mission to locate the ex-wife and son of a determined drug dealer, takes on an unusual undercover role as a kindergarten teacher in Oregon after his partner becomes ill. With his unconventional methods, Kimble earns the trust of both the children and staff. Directed by Ivan Reitman, this marks his second collaboration with Arnold Schwarzenegger, following their hit Twins two years prior. In celebration of its 25th anniversary, here are some fascinating details about Kindergarten Cop—and no, it's not a tumor.
1. BILL MURRAY, PATRICK SWAYZE, AND DANNY DEVITO DECLINED THE ROLE OF KIMBLE.
Despite working with Reitman on films like Meatballs (1979), Stripes (1981), and the Ghostbusters series, Murray declined the offer without explanation. Similarly, Swayze and DeVito (who starred in Twins) also passed on the role.
2. PENELOPE ANN MILLER WAS INITIALLY UNCERTAIN.
Miller (Big Top Pee-wee, Carlito’s Way) questioned whether joining the film was the right career move. She shared her thoughts in an interview with The A.V. Club: “Having just worked in theater and alongside Robert De Niro in Awakenings (1990), I wondered, ‘Arnold Schwarzenegger? The action star?’” Ultimately, she accepted the role of Joyce Palmieri/Rachel Crisp and was pleased with how the film turned out.
3. THE FILMING TOOK PLACE IN ASTORIA, OREGON.
Reitman was drawn to the town’s aesthetic, particularly its misty and rainy ambiance. For nine days, students from kindergarten to fourth grade at John Jacob Astor Elementary School earned $35 daily as extras. Nearby, The Goonies (1985) had been filmed. However, the classroom scenes were shot on a Universal soundstage in Los Angeles to allow Schwarzenegger to stay close to his family.
4. ARNOLD REQUIRED HIS GYM.
Determined to maintain his fitness regimen, Schwarzenegger demanded that a gym be set up specifically for him while filming in Astoria.
5. SCHWARZENEGGER CHOSE REITMAN AS DIRECTOR FOR HIS SKILL WITH CHILDREN.
Schwarzenegger trusted Reitman’s ability to handle the young cast, which is why he “insisted” on having him direct the film. Arnold connected with the kids by engaging in activities like jumping jacks alongside them.
6. REITMAN FACED CHALLENGES DIRECTING THE CHILDREN.
"By the end of the first day of shooting, I was completely drained," the director shared with the Los Angeles Times. "My shirt was soaked, my voice was gone, and I had a look of sheer panic in my eyes. That’s when I came up with the five Reitman rules for filmmaking—listen, stay natural, understand your character, avoid looking at the camera, and maintain discipline." He admitted the experience was “incredibly challenging.”
7. SEVERAL OF THE CHILD ACTORS LANDED SIGNIFICANT ROLES LATER.
Odette Annable (Cloverfield, House), who portrayed Rosa, delivered the famous Spanish response to Arnold’s question, “Who is your daddy and what does he do?” This was her first audition ever, and she was so young she barely understood she was part of a movie. Adam Wylie, who played Larry, later appeared as Brad Langford in Gilmore Girls. Ross Malinger, who starred as Harvey, took on the role of Tom Hanks’ son Jonah in Sleepless in Seattle in 1993.
8. IVAN REITMAN’S RENOWNED SON ALSO HAD A ROLE.
Jason Reitman, a four-time Oscar nominee, has carved a successful directing career with films like Juno (2007), Up in the Air (2009), and Young Adult (2011). His part as “Kissing Boy” in Kindergarten Cop was notable because it marked his real-life first kiss. “It was incredibly awkward,” Jason admitted. “My kissing was almost as bad as my acting. I’m not sure if Tiffany, the girl I kissed, even realized it was my first kiss.”
9. SCHWARZENEGGER DELIVERED AN UNEXPECTED COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS AT A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL.
The 1990 graduating class of Astoria High School received an unexpected treat when the famous actor delivered a speech while filming in the area.
10. SCHWARZENEGGER SHOWED SOME HYPOCRISY REGARDING FERRETS.
In the film, Kimble introduces a ferret as the class mascot. However, owning ferrets has been prohibited in California since the 1930s. Although a bill to lift the ban was passed in 2004, it was ultimately vetoed by then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
11. MILLER GUIDED SCHWARZENEGGER ON HOW TO KISS PROPERLY ON SCREEN.
She advised him to embrace her firmly before the kiss to avoid making it appear as though they were “devouring each other.”
12. STEPHEN ROOT’S SCENE WAS REMOVED FROM THE MOVIE.
The versatile actor, known for roles like Jimmy James in NewsRadio, Bill in King of the Hill, and Milton in Office Space, portrayed a sheriff in a scene that ended up on the cutting room floor. He also faced a similar fate in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004).
13. WITHOUT SCHWARZENEGGER’S INVOLVEMENT, HUMMERS MIGHT NOT HAVE GONE PUBLIC.
Schwarzenegger first noticed a fleet of military Humvees while filming in Astoria, Oregon. He personally negotiated with the executives of the military contractor, signing waivers to obtain one for himself. His persistence eventually led the company to develop a civilian version, which hit the market in 1992.
14. A PLANNED SCHOOL TRIP TO WATCH THE MOVIE WAS CALLED OFF.
Judy Bigby, principal of John Jacob Astor Elementary School, initially intended to organize a trip for all 400 students to watch the movie. However, after previewing the film, she decided against it, deeming it too violent for the children (it carried a PG-13 rating). A 9-year-old from Astoria, who saw the movie, shared his thoughts in People Magazine, calling it “pretty good” and clarifying, “I don’t want to make Mrs. Bigby sound bad, but I’d say it’s more of a comedy than a violent film.”
15. SCHWARZENEGGER BELIEVED THE VIOLENCE HURT THE FILM’S EARNINGS.
He speculated that the backlash resulted in a loss of roughly $25 million at the box office. “It should have attracted the same audience as Twins, which grossed over $110 million; Kindergarten Cop only made $85 million,” he explained in an interview with Interview Magazine.
16. DESPITE THIS, IT REMAINS HIS FAVORITE FILM.
Schwarzenegger revealed this to James Corden during a 2015 episode of The Late Late Show.
17. A DIRECT-TO-DVD FOLLOW-UP FEATURING DOLPH LUNDGREN IS ON THE WAY.
In the upcoming film, a flash drive containing crucial witness protection data is misplaced and ends up in a kindergarten classroom, with Lundgren playing the cop tasked with retrieving it. The movie was filmed in Vancouver.
