directors and studio execs don’t always
mix well all your power and all your
privileges has to assume certain amount
of responsibility welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
down our picks for the top 10 movies
ruined by studio interference withdrawal
we will all die here for this list we’re
looking at films that showed great
potential and promise in there working
script or through the directors ideas I
know I would feel ashamed to show less
courage than that child but we’re
subsequently ruined by the studio
interfering and lessening the quality of
the movie did you try magnetizing them I
didn’t try magnetizing take heed future
screenwriters Hollywood isn’t as
creative and glamorous as you’d think
what number 10 Heaven’s Gate if we fail
the flag of the United States fails what
started as the film that could have
brought all westerns to their knees
instead brought down the western genre
and nearly bankrupted the studio behind
it could things have gone any worse
skipping dangers to be forward is
perfect director Michael Jimmy no truly
meant for this to be an epic movie and
his original work print version ran an
eye bleeding 5 hours and 25 minutes
after United Artists refused to release
this he cut it down to a still lengthy
three hours and 39 minutes but the movie
was panned upon release
you’re not my class kid you never will
be
Shammi knows erratic onset behavior and
endless editing process made the film go
massively over-budget and since the
movie tanked earning a little over three
million dollars from the 44 million
spent United Artists practically
collapsed to remember the good
gone days what is Jerusalem world number
nine kingdom of heaven nothing
everything when you hire Ridley Scott as
director you let him do what he wants
dammit this is the man that gave us
alien and Blade Runner it’s too bad she
won’t live but rather than release
Scott’s three-hour movie about the
Crusades 20th Century Fox decided that
nobody on earth would sit through a 189
minute movie and subsequently trimmed it
down to 144 what does that say what man
is a man who does not make the world
this cut vital character developments
and left important plot lines dangling
infuriating Scott and viewers alike when
you stand for God you cannot say but I
was told by others to do this well that
virtue was not convenient at the time
this will not suffice it also resulted
in a movie that wasn’t particularly
well-liked until Scott released his
director’s cut when Kingdom of Heaven
was seen in a new light and received all
the praise it originally deserved a
better world than has ever been seen
number 8
Cleopatra I will not be told where I can
go and where I cannot go the most
expensive film ever made at the time
Cleopatra could have been a true
historical epic chronicling the life of
Egypt’s Cleopatra the seventh but
instead it turned into a nonsensical
mess Catullus doesn’t approve of you why
haven’t you had him killed
because I approve of him originally
budgeted at 2 million dollars the film
ended up costing 20th Century Fox over
31 million this was due to their
insistence on reconstructing already
built sets firing crew members for their
seeming incompetence and general
irritation such as England’s problematic
weather
they also demanded that the six our
original print be cut in half and when
three hours of a movie are missing it’s
not surprising that a film will end up
being a disaster how dare you and the
rest of your barbarian set fire to my
library
despite being 1960 freeze
highest-grossing film Lea Patra earned
mixed reviews but it likely could have
been much more spectacular than it was
there cannot be enough hours in the days
of a queen and a Knights have too many
number seven all the Pretty Horses what
the hell would we want you with us for
cuz I’m an American sure adapting Cormac
McCarthy may not be the easiest job in
the world but his Western about a cowboy
who falls in love stars Matt Damon and
was directed by Billy Bob Thornton which
seems like it would be a winning formula
in at least in theory some crazy people
can say that God is here but God is not
here and to be fair it might have been
had we gotten the original three plus
our cut however producer Harvey
Weinstein ordered it to be cut down to
just under two hours
Lucille Anthony did Damon has publicly
criticized the edited version and
original composer Daniel Lanois has
since refused to license his score for
the release of an extended cut because
he felt insulted that Weinstein
originally scrapped his music for the
movie seen in theaters star that color
you never even heard of number six Once
Upon a Time in America I’m Chief of
Police not chief of the people what’s
that sergio leone you’re one of the most
well known and well respected directors
working today well this is America
nobody cares about quality or story well
that’s what we imagine Warner Brothers
said during production of this epic
crime drama anyway considering what
happened now if we listen to you would
still be rolling drunks for living who’s
the famous dare you broke don’t bust my
balls know what I am talking about real
money Leone’s masterpiece about
organized crime was edited down to 229
minutes for its can Film Festival
premiere
at the American studio Warner Brothers
had it cut down to one hundred and
thirty nine minutes for its wide release
in the United States what chance is that
a crazy thing like this might succeed
thought ask me ask max this resulted in
the cut of key plot lines and character
development as well as the reordering of
the movie into chronological order
probably because they thought we brain
dead masses wouldn’t be able to follow
along you’re really crazy you ever see
that to me say that to me again
the movie was thankfully restored and
shown it can in 2012 though further work
on a more complete version of Leone’s
initial 269 minute film is still under
development be ashamed to see a lifetime
of work go to waste
number 5 the amazing spider-man 2 select
seen ghosts when people heard that Sony
was rebooting the spider-man franchise
some were excited while others groaned
then they made the exact same mistake of
inserting too many villains into the
sequel I will control everything and I
did no one learn from 2007 spider-man 3
I know what it feels like in the 2014
movie spidey faces off against electro
Green Goblin and Rhino all at the behest
of Columbia who seems to think more
villains equals flashier action equals
more butts in seats
I just so I tell you I destroyed
well it didn’t turn out so well as the
film was considered inferior to all four
that came before it I want your money
come on everybody wants my money star
Andrew Garfield has publicly blamed the
studio for interfering too much and now
the spider-man franchise is being
rebooted yet again yay your spider I
love that
but I love Peter Parker more number four
the Golden Compass maybe we shouldn’t be
doing this kids don’t like darkness and
violence and can’t handle mature themes
right that’s what New Line Cinema
believes as they significantly changed
the story from the novel to the screen
in this adaptation of Philip Pullman’s
Northern Lights
he’s value your lives come no further
this means that they severely cut much
of the plots darker moments in an
attempt to cash in on the lighter young
adult stories of the time to discover
the source of dust I intend to travel to
these worlds with a sufficient source of
energy and wealth a sufficient source of
funds
Chris White’s lengthy script was edited
down in order to maximize revenue as
always and his Bleecker ending which was
in keeping with the novel was changed
for a lighter happier one that barely
anyone enjoyed so no fall sort out well
who else is gonna do it
besides brainless government the studio
had trouble choosing a director as well
reshot various scenes and ultimately cut
between 30 and 45 minutes all leading
the Golden Compass to underperform at
the u.s. box office receive negative
reviews and put on hiatus any plans for
future sequels maybe this isn’t such a
good idea
number three x-men origins Wolverine
country needs
I’m Canadian many superhero movies were
exploding onto screens in 2009 yet they
still managed to mess this one up you
can have that mouth on you Wade
perfect soldier this origin story about
Wolverine had the potential to be great
as it was written by Game of Thrones
David Benioff and had the oscar-winning
director Gavin hood at the reins turn
around walk into your feet bleed that is
until the producers came a-knockin
Deadpool a major selling point for the
film was reduced to a non-speaking role
so as not to detract from Wolverine
Stryker finally figured out how to shut
you up
hood also frequently clashed with film
executive Tom Rothman with the directors
idea of Wolverine having PTSD quickly
shot down because Fox wanted a lighter
happier tone for the movie because I’m
the best there is what I do what I do
best isn’t very nice number 2 Fantastic
Four we gave you 6 years and millions of
dollars and you gave us nothing seems
like people might be getting a little
tired of superheroes these days while no
one seemed particularly psyched about
this one in mid-2015 it ended up being
even worse than we could have imagined
you guys sure you’re in the best shape
to be doing this ok thanks to the reboot
20th Century Fox is behind one of the
worst reviewed movies of 2015 I can’t
fix this
the studio rewrote Josh Trank screenplay
without his permission or involvement
and re shot numerous scenes that they
weren’t satisfied with tranq then
publicly took to Twitter to denounce his
own movie stating that Fox completely
ruined it with their constant
interjections he want to be famous
I just want my work to make a difference
a 9% Rotten Tomatoes score would seem to
agree with him you opened
or you don’t know how to close you don’t
know anything about what’s going it’s
certainly incredible that this misfire
actually managed to make the previous
ill-fated film adaptations look a whole
lot better yeesh oh you’re hot why thank
you sure you before we look at our most
ruined pic here are some honorable
mentions everything was true God’s an
astronaut
ours is over the rainbow comedians where
the monsters live we need to work
together because I’m the only one with
technology to keep you alive
Dead or Alive you’re coming with me
this is crazy the line to the river but
this can’t be Manhattan where is this
place
I don’t know I ain’t been to Manhattan a
couple of weeks I hate to burst your
little crazy lady boat but it must not
have been all that great cuz I don’t
remember when your two is doing it’s
great always in the wrong place at the
wrong time elbow you beaker number 1
alien 3
alien was a horror masterpiece and
aliens and action masterpiece so
needless to say expectations were
through the roof for alien 3 and we got
this
the movie was plagued with production
problems from the beginning going
through numerous proposed plot lines and
involving up to five separate
screenwriters before they began shooting
without a completed script why should we
put our ass on the line for you your ass
is already on the line the only question
is what are you gonna do about it
Fox also constantly clashed with
director David Fincher throughout
filming reportedly locking him out of
editing and reworking the movie
themselves which led him to ultimately
disown his own film what’s a bit
uncharitable audiences weren’t too
pleased and if it hadn’t been for the
improved assembly cut years later aliens
3 would have likely faded into obscurity
you kidding do you agree with our list
conversations over what movie do you
think was ruined most by the studio’s we
call the roll and take a voice vote for
more entertaining top 10s published
every day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
you
mix well all your power and all your
privileges has to assume certain amount
of responsibility welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
down our picks for the top 10 movies
ruined by studio interference withdrawal
we will all die here for this list we’re
looking at films that showed great
potential and promise in there working
script or through the directors ideas I
know I would feel ashamed to show less
courage than that child but we’re
subsequently ruined by the studio
interfering and lessening the quality of
the movie did you try magnetizing them I
didn’t try magnetizing take heed future
screenwriters Hollywood isn’t as
creative and glamorous as you’d think
what number 10 Heaven’s Gate if we fail
the flag of the United States fails what
started as the film that could have
brought all westerns to their knees
instead brought down the western genre
and nearly bankrupted the studio behind
it could things have gone any worse
skipping dangers to be forward is
perfect director Michael Jimmy no truly
meant for this to be an epic movie and
his original work print version ran an
eye bleeding 5 hours and 25 minutes
after United Artists refused to release
this he cut it down to a still lengthy
three hours and 39 minutes but the movie
was panned upon release
you’re not my class kid you never will
be
Shammi knows erratic onset behavior and
endless editing process made the film go
massively over-budget and since the
movie tanked earning a little over three
million dollars from the 44 million
spent United Artists practically
collapsed to remember the good
gone days what is Jerusalem world number
nine kingdom of heaven nothing
everything when you hire Ridley Scott as
director you let him do what he wants
dammit this is the man that gave us
alien and Blade Runner it’s too bad she
won’t live but rather than release
Scott’s three-hour movie about the
Crusades 20th Century Fox decided that
nobody on earth would sit through a 189
minute movie and subsequently trimmed it
down to 144 what does that say what man
is a man who does not make the world
this cut vital character developments
and left important plot lines dangling
infuriating Scott and viewers alike when
you stand for God you cannot say but I
was told by others to do this well that
virtue was not convenient at the time
this will not suffice it also resulted
in a movie that wasn’t particularly
well-liked until Scott released his
director’s cut when Kingdom of Heaven
was seen in a new light and received all
the praise it originally deserved a
better world than has ever been seen
number 8
Cleopatra I will not be told where I can
go and where I cannot go the most
expensive film ever made at the time
Cleopatra could have been a true
historical epic chronicling the life of
Egypt’s Cleopatra the seventh but
instead it turned into a nonsensical
mess Catullus doesn’t approve of you why
haven’t you had him killed
because I approve of him originally
budgeted at 2 million dollars the film
ended up costing 20th Century Fox over
31 million this was due to their
insistence on reconstructing already
built sets firing crew members for their
seeming incompetence and general
irritation such as England’s problematic
weather
they also demanded that the six our
original print be cut in half and when
three hours of a movie are missing it’s
not surprising that a film will end up
being a disaster how dare you and the
rest of your barbarian set fire to my
library
despite being 1960 freeze
highest-grossing film Lea Patra earned
mixed reviews but it likely could have
been much more spectacular than it was
there cannot be enough hours in the days
of a queen and a Knights have too many
number seven all the Pretty Horses what
the hell would we want you with us for
cuz I’m an American sure adapting Cormac
McCarthy may not be the easiest job in
the world but his Western about a cowboy
who falls in love stars Matt Damon and
was directed by Billy Bob Thornton which
seems like it would be a winning formula
in at least in theory some crazy people
can say that God is here but God is not
here and to be fair it might have been
had we gotten the original three plus
our cut however producer Harvey
Weinstein ordered it to be cut down to
just under two hours
Lucille Anthony did Damon has publicly
criticized the edited version and
original composer Daniel Lanois has
since refused to license his score for
the release of an extended cut because
he felt insulted that Weinstein
originally scrapped his music for the
movie seen in theaters star that color
you never even heard of number six Once
Upon a Time in America I’m Chief of
Police not chief of the people what’s
that sergio leone you’re one of the most
well known and well respected directors
working today well this is America
nobody cares about quality or story well
that’s what we imagine Warner Brothers
said during production of this epic
crime drama anyway considering what
happened now if we listen to you would
still be rolling drunks for living who’s
the famous dare you broke don’t bust my
balls know what I am talking about real
money Leone’s masterpiece about
organized crime was edited down to 229
minutes for its can Film Festival
premiere
at the American studio Warner Brothers
had it cut down to one hundred and
thirty nine minutes for its wide release
in the United States what chance is that
a crazy thing like this might succeed
thought ask me ask max this resulted in
the cut of key plot lines and character
development as well as the reordering of
the movie into chronological order
probably because they thought we brain
dead masses wouldn’t be able to follow
along you’re really crazy you ever see
that to me say that to me again
the movie was thankfully restored and
shown it can in 2012 though further work
on a more complete version of Leone’s
initial 269 minute film is still under
development be ashamed to see a lifetime
of work go to waste
number 5 the amazing spider-man 2 select
seen ghosts when people heard that Sony
was rebooting the spider-man franchise
some were excited while others groaned
then they made the exact same mistake of
inserting too many villains into the
sequel I will control everything and I
did no one learn from 2007 spider-man 3
I know what it feels like in the 2014
movie spidey faces off against electro
Green Goblin and Rhino all at the behest
of Columbia who seems to think more
villains equals flashier action equals
more butts in seats
I just so I tell you I destroyed
well it didn’t turn out so well as the
film was considered inferior to all four
that came before it I want your money
come on everybody wants my money star
Andrew Garfield has publicly blamed the
studio for interfering too much and now
the spider-man franchise is being
rebooted yet again yay your spider I
love that
but I love Peter Parker more number four
the Golden Compass maybe we shouldn’t be
doing this kids don’t like darkness and
violence and can’t handle mature themes
right that’s what New Line Cinema
believes as they significantly changed
the story from the novel to the screen
in this adaptation of Philip Pullman’s
Northern Lights
he’s value your lives come no further
this means that they severely cut much
of the plots darker moments in an
attempt to cash in on the lighter young
adult stories of the time to discover
the source of dust I intend to travel to
these worlds with a sufficient source of
energy and wealth a sufficient source of
funds
Chris White’s lengthy script was edited
down in order to maximize revenue as
always and his Bleecker ending which was
in keeping with the novel was changed
for a lighter happier one that barely
anyone enjoyed so no fall sort out well
who else is gonna do it
besides brainless government the studio
had trouble choosing a director as well
reshot various scenes and ultimately cut
between 30 and 45 minutes all leading
the Golden Compass to underperform at
the u.s. box office receive negative
reviews and put on hiatus any plans for
future sequels maybe this isn’t such a
good idea
number three x-men origins Wolverine
country needs
I’m Canadian many superhero movies were
exploding onto screens in 2009 yet they
still managed to mess this one up you
can have that mouth on you Wade
perfect soldier this origin story about
Wolverine had the potential to be great
as it was written by Game of Thrones
David Benioff and had the oscar-winning
director Gavin hood at the reins turn
around walk into your feet bleed that is
until the producers came a-knockin
Deadpool a major selling point for the
film was reduced to a non-speaking role
so as not to detract from Wolverine
Stryker finally figured out how to shut
you up
hood also frequently clashed with film
executive Tom Rothman with the directors
idea of Wolverine having PTSD quickly
shot down because Fox wanted a lighter
happier tone for the movie because I’m
the best there is what I do what I do
best isn’t very nice number 2 Fantastic
Four we gave you 6 years and millions of
dollars and you gave us nothing seems
like people might be getting a little
tired of superheroes these days while no
one seemed particularly psyched about
this one in mid-2015 it ended up being
even worse than we could have imagined
you guys sure you’re in the best shape
to be doing this ok thanks to the reboot
20th Century Fox is behind one of the
worst reviewed movies of 2015 I can’t
fix this
the studio rewrote Josh Trank screenplay
without his permission or involvement
and re shot numerous scenes that they
weren’t satisfied with tranq then
publicly took to Twitter to denounce his
own movie stating that Fox completely
ruined it with their constant
interjections he want to be famous
I just want my work to make a difference
a 9% Rotten Tomatoes score would seem to
agree with him you opened
or you don’t know how to close you don’t
know anything about what’s going it’s
certainly incredible that this misfire
actually managed to make the previous
ill-fated film adaptations look a whole
lot better yeesh oh you’re hot why thank
you sure you before we look at our most
ruined pic here are some honorable
mentions everything was true God’s an
astronaut
ours is over the rainbow comedians where
the monsters live we need to work
together because I’m the only one with
technology to keep you alive
Dead or Alive you’re coming with me
this is crazy the line to the river but
this can’t be Manhattan where is this
place
I don’t know I ain’t been to Manhattan a
couple of weeks I hate to burst your
little crazy lady boat but it must not
have been all that great cuz I don’t
remember when your two is doing it’s
great always in the wrong place at the
wrong time elbow you beaker number 1
alien 3
alien was a horror masterpiece and
aliens and action masterpiece so
needless to say expectations were
through the roof for alien 3 and we got
this
the movie was plagued with production
problems from the beginning going
through numerous proposed plot lines and
involving up to five separate
screenwriters before they began shooting
without a completed script why should we
put our ass on the line for you your ass
is already on the line the only question
is what are you gonna do about it
Fox also constantly clashed with
director David Fincher throughout
filming reportedly locking him out of
editing and reworking the movie
themselves which led him to ultimately
disown his own film what’s a bit
uncharitable audiences weren’t too
pleased and if it hadn’t been for the
improved assembly cut years later aliens
3 would have likely faded into obscurity
you kidding do you agree with our list
conversations over what movie do you
think was ruined most by the studio’s we
call the roll and take a voice vote for
more entertaining top 10s published
every day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
you
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