Kubrick did not really help his cause by mainly avoiding big interviews, especially those on TV and stuff. People who worked with him usually seemed to like him, though.
He did avoid big stars except for Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise. Cruise came recommended from other directors like Spielberg. Nicholson was probably not only a good choice, but fit Kubrick’s desire to be a big box office hit. The Shining was, in part, because Kubrick saw Star Wars blow up even though it was not as good as his 2001. The Shining is probably one of the few times he set out to make a box office hit…and he did.