# Who greenlighted this cinematic shitshow? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [May 1, 2026, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703 "2026-05-01T18:25:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/221 "2026-05-13T02:56:41Z")
> [@caligulathegod](#): > > I wish they could have included the Sea Hag and Alice the Goon. Budget and film length. Great sequel, tho However, Everything Is Food and “I Yam What I Yam” are both pretty good. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F8TRoMSG-5I/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHuAoAC0AGKAgwIABABGGUgWyhQMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDKE84lD8Ohf-G0V59HOnFBeRlYwA "Popeye - I Yam What I Yam - Robin Williams Shelley Duvall") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8TRoMSG-5I) ---
**Author:** ![caligulathegod](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caligulathegod/32/9685_2.png) [@caligulathegod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caligulathegod)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/222 "2026-05-13T03:25:04Z")
Apparently, Nilsson wrote and recorded the music right there in Malta wanting to be close to the scene, lending credence to my assertion he appears to have written lots of it the night before, thanks to the copious cocaine on set. Catch phrase repeated 3-4 times for a chorus and then a variation nearly every verse and chorus verse chorus 5-6 times and there’s your song. Quirky songs that I honestly have an affection for, but he’s no Ashman-Menken. I was relistening to some and Popeye’s opening song Blow Me Down really sounds like Nilsson. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/223 "2026-05-13T08:49:34Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > I remember going to see “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid” with Steve Martin when I was in college, and walking out of the theatre before it finished. Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid isn’t so much “funny” as “clever”. The concept was brilliant and the blending of old clips and new footage was spectacularly well done. Costumes by Edith Head and all that. It is in many ways a masterclass in film design. And then we were given running “I was just adjusting your breasts” jokes. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/224 "2026-05-13T15:02:49Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > The problem was cocaine. > > Any problems with the film can be blamed by the massive amount of blow being done on set. And yet, under the same conditions, _The Blues Brothers_ was a brilliant film, a modern day classic. Who knows? > [@Gyrate](#): > > My apologies to Mr Williams. Oh he doesn’t get off free. There’s a couple shitshows out there with his name on them. _Phantom of the Paradise_, anyone? Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/225 "2026-05-13T15:12:26Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid isn’t so much “funny” as “clever”. I liked it. It was better than I expected, but not a must-see. And Rigby making his “famous cuppa joe” scene was brilliant. CLEANING WOMAN! ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/226 "2026-05-13T15:13:46Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > > [@Gyrate](#): > > > > My apologies to Mr Williams. > > Oh he doesn’t get off free. There’s a couple shitshows out there with his name on them. _Phantom of the Paradise_, anyone? Anyone? Hehe, I thoroughly dislike the movie. But I went and read its wiki entry and found that some people think pretty fondly on it. There’s even a festival for it. Oh well, they obviously didn’t make it for me. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/227 "2026-05-13T15:29:09Z")
They made it for the likes of **me**. I love that movie. ---
**Author:** ![Meatwater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meatwater/32/20074_2.png) [@Meatwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatwater)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/228 "2026-05-13T19:07:06Z")
Surprised to not see these movies mentioned yet, but the ones that come to my mind when I think cinematic shitshow are: [Nothing but Trouble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_but_Trouble_(1991_film)) [The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Buckaroo_Banzai_Across_the_8th_Dimension) and [Maximum Overdrive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_Overdrive) I like these movies, however as to the question who greenlit them. I think the answer for _Nothing but Trouble_ was Akroyd is just odd and with _Maximum Overdrive_ I think King wanted other directors to stop adapting his works in ways he didn’t like so he ‘took matters into his own hands’. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/229 "2026-05-13T19:14:36Z")
> [@Meatwater](#): > > The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension It lost $$, but has a cult following. A poor choice to them to greenlight, yes, , but maybe not a full out cinematic Shitshow. I liked parts of it. ---
**Author:** ![Meatwater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meatwater/32/20074_2.png) [@Meatwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatwater)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/230 "2026-05-13T19:20:40Z")
Don’t get me wrong I like all 3 of those movies. They are artistically… _bizarre_, and financial failures which is what I gathered was the criteria for which we are judging. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/231 "2026-05-13T19:24:45Z")
> [@Meatwater](#): > > . They are artistically… _bizarre_, and financial failures which is what I gathered was the criteria for which we are judging. That is a major criteria, but IMHO a film can make a teeny profit on paper and still be a shitshow. I think what the critics say and what the fans say are also important. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/232 "2026-05-13T19:48:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@Meatwater](#): > > > > The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension > > It lost $$, but has a cult following. A poor choice to them to greenlight, yes, , but maybe not a full out cinematic Shitshow. I liked parts of it. I go back and forth on this one, which I enjoy a lot. But it’s kind of a shambolic shitshow of a plot and unprofitable, and I am bewildered that it was greenlit, so there you go. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/233 "2026-05-13T20:33:53Z")
> [@Meatwater](#): > > _Maximum Overdrive_ I think King wanted other directors to stop adapting his works in ways he didn’t like so he ‘took matters into his own hands’. King’s reasoning at the time was likely more along the lines of “These Hollywood guys have some great cocaine, and lots of it!” King himself says he was out of his mind on coke during the filming, and crew members recount him showing up for 6 AM roll calls with a beer in his hand. A year after the film released, King’s family staged an intervention for him, and he finally got sober. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/234 "2026-05-13T21:01:06Z")
> [@Meatwater](#): > > with _Maximum Overdrive_ I think King wanted other directors to stop adapting his works in ways he didn’t like so he ‘took matters into his own hands’. Again: cocaine. Too much cocaine. > [@](#): > > _ **I went into it, and the thing is, at that time, I was doing a lot of cocaine and I was drinking a lot. You can tell! But, the thing is, man, I thought I knew how to make movies…** _ [https://screenrant.com/stephen-king-maximum-overdrive-directing-reflection/](https://screenrant.com/stephen-king-maximum-overdrive-directing-reflection/) We can probably blame hard drugs on a lot of bad decisions in Hollywood. ETA: I swear I didn’t see @Miller 's post right above before I posted this! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/235 "2026-05-13T21:22:33Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > > [@Gyrate](#): > > > > Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid isn’t so much “funny” as “clever”. > > I liked it. It was better than I expected, but not a must-see. > > And Rigby making his “famous cuppa joe” scene was brilliant. > > CLEANING WOMAN! I love all 4 of the Steve Martin/Carl Reiner collaborations but this was my least favorite of the 4. ---
**Author:** ![Meatwater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meatwater/32/20074_2.png) [@Meatwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatwater)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/236 "2026-05-13T21:45:02Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > King’s reasoning at the time was likely more along the lines of “These Hollywood guys have some great cocaine, and lots of it!” King himself says he was out of his mind on coke during the filming, and crew members recount him showing up for 6 AM roll calls with a beer in his hand. Who can blame him. Wasn’t everyone, during that decade? > [@Moriarty](#): > > Again: cocaine. Too much cocaine. No doubt. But I can’t attribute too much to coke for the cinematic shitshow since he was still doing coke and writing novel after novel. He just seems so bent out of shape that his work was being poorly adapted (to him) and he came in with an overconfidence… probably cause of the cocaine. ---
**Author:** ![Mavis\_Topholese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7feea3/32.png) [@Mavis\_Topholese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mavis_Topholese)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/237 "2026-05-14T02:24:42Z")
I was the exact target audience for _Buckaroo Banzai -_ the studio sent a promo team out to our local comic con to hand out Buckaroo Banzai headbands, screen the trailer and generally whip up interest, and they did a great job, at least among my cohort. Then we saw the movie, and it was an action film without any action, a comedy with extremely dry humor, with a science fiction movie sort of superimposed on top of the whole thing. Not really a combination that leads to success, box office or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/238 "2026-05-14T02:53:21Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > And yet, under the same conditions, _The Blues Brothers_ was a brilliant film, a modern day classic. Who knows? Some people can handle their drugs a lot better… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/239 "2026-05-14T05:25:08Z")
Oh my ghod, that’s how I got _my_ BB headband at a convention in Seattle! At least it was better than the promo tour for Howard The Duck. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703/240 "2026-05-14T06:17:00Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Some people can handle their drugs a lot better… 🙂 How’s Belushi doing these days? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-greenlighted-this-cinematic-shitshow/1029703.md?page=13)