Despite a plethora of successful movies in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career, there remains one film that he is still embarrassed about due to its lackluster reception. The 1993 action-comedy Last Action Hero didn’t achieve the blockbuster status he had hoped for.
In the recently released three-part Netflix docuseries, Arnold delves into the diverse career of the bodybuilder-turned-star-turned-governor, offering a glimpse into the remarkable highs and lows of his journey as an action icon. One of the moments explored is the failure of John McTiernan’s Last Action Hero at the box office.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Was Upset By His Film’s Reception
In the docuseries, Arnold Schwarzenegger candidly expressed his deep disappointment with the reception of Last Action Hero, describing how it hurt his feelings and left him embarrassed. He admits to needing some time to process the setback but emphasizes the importance of moving forward, inspired by his mother-in-law’s wise advice.
“I cannot tell you how upset I was,” Schwarzenegger said. “It hurts you. It hurts your feelings. It’s embarrassing… I didn’t want to see anyone for a week. But you keep plodding along. And my mother-in-law also said this all the time: ‘Let’s just move forward.’ It’s a great message.”
In the self-referential comedy Last Action Hero, Schwarzenegger takes on the role of Jack Slater, a fictional action hero who forms an unlikely but strong connection with a young movie enthusiast named Danny. Transported into Slater’s world, Danny and Jack’s camaraderie becomes a central theme, as the film playfully satirizes Schwarzenegger’s own iconic star image.
Despite an $85 million production budget, Last Action Hero only managed to rake in $15.3 million in its domestic box office opening. The film’s global theatrical run brought in a total of $137 million, falling short of Schwarzenegger’s typical box office prowess during that period. The film also featured Charles Dance, known for his role in Game of Thrones.
James Cameron Reached Out To Arnold Schwarzenegger
In the docuseries, Schwarzenegger admits that Last Action Hero was released at a time when he had reached the pinnacle of his career after the massive success of Terminator 2, which was the highest-grossing film of the year worldwide.
“When ‘Last Action Hero’ came out I had reached my peak after ‘Terminator 2,’ having the most successful movie of the year worldwide,” Schwarzenegger said.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day made a stunning impact, raking in $31.8 million during its opening weekend at the domestic box office and eventually reaching an impressive global total of $520.9 million. This remarkable success positioned it as the third-highest-grossing film of all time at that point, trailing only Star Wars and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
Within the Netflix docuseries, director James Cameron revisits his initial conversation with Schwarzenegger following the release of Last Action Hero in cinemas. “He sounded like he was in bed crying,” said Cameron. “He took it as a deep blow to his brand. I think it really shook him.“
Arnold is available for streaming on Netflix. The docuseries sheds light on many aspects of Schwarzenegger’s journey from being a bodybuilder to a renowned actor.
Source: Variety
