Made 5.8 mil, cost 11, so probably 15-20 mil with marketing added.
I think the premise just didn't hook people.
I never followed numbers back then, but this movie was pretty heavily promoted so I believe it. 94 was a rough time for metal. Times they were a changing. Bill and Ted was 89, probably the height of such things. Wayne's World was 92, last big wave. A couple years later was just too late. Rock scene had already become old hat. I mean just look at the premise alone. Rock band takes radio station hostage and demands their single gets played on the air. What year would you guess that movie is set in? I'd guess 87. It's 94! We want to watch Charlie Sheen fuck Kristy Swanson in a road chase that eerily pre-dates the OJ Bronco chase. That's what's hip.
shareThey make a joke against Seattle music which is funny as that's what was big, so they were dissing what's popular.
The stars in it weren't household names when this came out. Steve Buscemi, Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, Michael Richards.
Personally, Michael Richard's slapstick comedy fell short for me. He never really worked outside of his Kramer character.
Sandler is too underplayed. Only one bit where he yells I go "oh there he is."
I think the Richards casting was a misstep. A few friends of mine back in the day specifically pointed out their dislike for his character. I was a fan, I loved him in UHF. But his slapstick character hijinks brought a very uneven tone to the film. What is this, witty satire with dick jokes, or a screwball comedy? The film wouldn't commit to either side.
shareExactly! We get a whole bunch of dick jokes and then Richards managing to set himself on fire and fall through air vents.
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