Rollerball: The Box Office BOMB That Landed Its Director in Jail

[@MediaPastimes]

Join the Pastimers Club to get access to perks: kzbin.info/door/FyySCRtDo_toclmgYrmQNQjoin *FYI: This video originally had a clip from an episode of WWE Smackdown, where LL Cool J, Chris Klein, and Rebecca Romijn appeared at an event to promote the Rollerball remake. WWE copyright claimed my video because of that clip, so there's a weird jump cut at **7:44** where I had to cut the clip out with KZbin's editor tool (ironically, seconds after I criticized the Rollerball remake for having weird jump cuts 😅)* Watch the movies discussed (free on tubi): • Rollerball (1975) - tubitv.com/movies/305835/rollerball • Rollerball (2002) - tubitv.com/movies/389845/rollerball • and if you really hate yourself, Futuresport (1998) - tubitv.com/movies/468467/futuresport

[@iwasanangryyoungman]

No wonder…you even land cameos from Shane McMahon and Jim Ross Can’t get any more WWE brand centric than that

[@ianwestc]

That's bullshit. That would absolutely be allowed under fair use.

[@MediaPastimes]

vince need his munny 💰🤑

[@Johnnypaycheck77]

This movie ruined Chris Kleins carrer he had to make hallmark movies after this and tge AP sequels😂.

[@jptrostle3275]

Yeah, this is just greed. A short clip like that in a critique definitely falls under fair use. And, ok, embarrassment that they were caught promoting Rollerball 2002. ;) (Not on the same level but with the same level of blinkered corporate greed: the award-winning multi-part documentary "Eyes on the Prize" couldn't be aired for over 20 YEARS because a couple of record labels were demanding millions in royalties for songs that were playing on radio in the background during archive interviews with some of the leaders of the civil rights movement. They eventually relented when execs were called out for their greed and racism.)

[@baxterwilson368]

I worked at a theater when this came out and my co-workers and I had a field day tearing it apart at the screening. It holds a special place in my heart. I miss the early 2000s.

[@Popcultureguy3000]

Were your coworkers three small robots, one with a bird like beak and a radar antenna on its head, another with a Gumball machine dome for a forehead, and the last one a purple snake like robot?

[@graememceachren1118]

@@Popcultureguy3000MST 3K. I miss it.

[@Popcultureguy3000]

@@graememceachren1118 …. It just got a new season last year and into this year. It’s still pretty uneven, but it’s been better than the previous two revival seasons. Munchy deserves every jab at it’s hideous uncanny valley stiff rubber face. They really had no excuse, even for a low budget picture.

[@theitfactorjameswheezer2852]

Between this and Street Fighter: the legend of chun li, Chris Klein didn’t have the smartest of career moves

[@MediaPastimes]

It's wild that he was discovered in a high school while the director of "Election" was doing a location scout, too. His acting definitely improved over the years, but he was pretty bland in this movie.

[@theitfactorjameswheezer2852]

@@MediaPastimes yeah I do like him, he is kind of a poor man’s Keanu reeves tho

[@screenwriterjohn]

He's a generic white guy. He's like Ronald Reagan in that he's a decent actor and well behaved on set.

[@KenMasters.]

@@theitfactorjameswheezer2852 The only things Chris Klein has that Charlie Nash has: Being a 6'1" American... That's all!

[@jeremysiron9622]

Yeah, Hollywood was very unforgiving at that time if up-and-coming stars had a couple bombs, Jamie Kennedy had the same problem. Couldn’t even get a gig after “Son of the Mask“…..

[@John.Angell]

The story of John McTiernan is crazy. To think he directed 2 of the best action films ever made but is an obscure name all these years later.

[@jasonblalock4429]

And *The Hunt For Red October* is also a damn good movie, on par with Predator and Die Hard. Its only 'problem' is that it's so closely tied to cold war politics that it's kind of a relic these days, so I don't think as many people have seen it lately.

[@mattjindrak]

Just goes to show that trying is pointless.

[@theblobconsumes4859]

4 of the best. Die Hard 1 and With A Vengeance, and Predator. And then The Hunt For Red October. Great films, all of them

[@ToxicNeon]

Idk about you but the 13th warrior was really good too.

[@theblobconsumes4859]

​@@ToxicNeon Yeah, pretty enjoyable.

[@bob7975]

The original has 0 graphic effects. The ball is real, it's made of steel, and most of the actors are doing their own stunts. Hard to duplicate, and impossible to surpass.

[@valentien9042]

I thought this movie was badass

[@TheMrRobert]

Steel? 😂

[@Jan-hx9rw]

They filmed the original movie in Munich Germany while I was stationed 30 miles away in the US Army. They came up to our base and advertised they wanted a bunch of US troops in civilian clothes as extras to shout and whoop it up. One of my neighbors made $50 and free lunch for a day, and since monthly pay for his rank was $550, it was kind of a huge amount of cash for one day of doofing around and drinking,

[@jmalmsten]

Hard, yes. Impossible? No, nothing is impossible. But I think it would need a madman like Verhoeven to pull it off at the time. I'm not sure however who, in today's market, would have the necessary Hard R sensibilities and mastery of satire needed to pull it off.

[@jacksonjacob7791]

The original movie was really good. James Caan was in some excellent movies back then.

[@jesusnthedaisychain]

Technically, I helped boost Rollerball's box office receipts. My cousin was 17 and I was 18, and we wanted to see Collateral Damage. They wouldn't sell a ticket to my cousin and they had already seen us together, so I couldn't just get 2 tickets to CD. Those pricks would've stopped it. So we bought tickets to PG-13 Rollerball and went to CD instead. Thug life.

[@cidrain]

I worked at a theater when Rollerball came out. We had a notice at the box office stating that the night vision scene was intentional and that there was nothing wrong with the print.

[@evertonporter7887]

The British comic 2000AD had a strip called Harlem Heroes, also set in the future, featuring a game called Aeroball, which is inspired by the movie Rollerball. It's later incarnation, Inferno, is much darker. It's well worth checking out.

[@ComicBookGuy420]

2000AD was badass

[@salvagedb2470]

That was a great Strip , the Artwork was awesome.

[@8bitsnkboy472]

@evertonporter7887 The British comic Action (not to be confused with DC's famous publication) featured an earlier Rollerball inspired sport called spinball, in the comic strip deathgame 1999 (beginning in issue 13 on the 8th of May 1976). The strip was drawn by several artists, some of who later worked on 2000AD including Massimo Bellardinelli (who contributed to the afore mentioned Inferno strip) and Ian Gibson (judge dredd, robohunter, halo jones etc.). It's certainly as dark as the later strips, with the teams consisting of prisoners fighting for their lives - The UK's Action comic was famously banned and pulled from the shelves in November 1976 over concerns regarding the 'lurid' depiction of violence in it's pages.

[@cane6074]

Harlem Heroes also takes place in the Judge Dredd universe, one of the main characters son becomes Judge.

[@steviewolfeofficial]

You know it's kinda nuts how much stuff 2000ad inspired

[@Lamtitude]

John McTiernan was a phenomenal director. It’s a shame we didn’t get more from him in the last 20 years.

[@vengeanceconscious9774]

Nvm I got him confused with tony Scott

[@vengeanceconscious9774]

John mctiernan is an excellent director, I agree it’s a shame

[@stickynorth]

Yup. His work just before Rollerball was his best. He's such a 90's action movie director to me and we need these types of films again... Modern movies are either pretentious and too serious like the most recent Ghostbusters films (post 2016 female GB) or retreads just are basically shot for shot remakes with new casts and tweaked premises...

[@cjewe1z]

@@stickynorth What films are you referring to? I thought his best films were mid '80s to late '90s.

[@jameswade2007]

When this came out, I had the option of watching this or lord of the rings as a kid at theaters. I chose Rollerball cause it looked so bad ass..

[@MediaPastimes]

You were a kid, so your sins have been forgiven.

[@RichV20]

I think Ive watched Rollerball 2001 twice. I fell asleep halfway through LOTR on VHS in 2002.

[@matthewmosier8439]

​@@RichV20LoTR isn't for casual moviegoers. The trilogy is probably the most impressive cinematic achievement of the last 30 years, but a person has to care to enjoy it.

[@Particulator]

I never saw this movie but as a sign company employee at the time, I've made a few props for it. We produced two giant full size banners of the Horsemen team, the red white and black with the triangle at the bottom. Each was around 16-18 feet wide by 80 high. We also applied only the horse head of the logo, again giant size, to the tail of a Hercules Canadian Air Force transport plane, that one I won't forget.

[@j3i2i2yl7]

What I liked about the origional was a world ruled by oligarchs viewed by a well- meaning musclehead, as he slowly saw how the world was controlled. The action was great, but the message was captured in one chilling exchange: Doctor: Sir, there are rules! Johnathan E: No there aren't. There aren't any rules at all.

[@defiraphi]

Same as the movie Death Race 2000 starring Caradine & Stallone or the original Planet of the Apes starring Charlton Heston which somehow had the same messages .

[@zaphodthenth]

The reason the Powers That Be wanted Jonathan E. to retire is because Rollerball had been created to emphasize that INDIVIDUAL actions were less important than combined efforts- Like the Multicorporations worked- which is why killing an opponent was legal. Johnathan E. disproved this, which the Executives hated. The remake was far inferior to the original and was about a "Blood" sport in another country: And to liven up the game the organizers were sabotaging the games in order to cause "Accidents" that could claim the lives of the players. This remake was badly made and the brief bare boobed scene only lowered the movie further.

[@LTPottenger]

The powers that be wanted McTiernan to retire, too, and got their wish.

[@theitfactorjameswheezer2852]

What are you an incel lol

[@zaphodthenth]

@@theitfactorjameswheezer2852 No. Just someone who won't watch bad remakes like this one.

[@christco120]

The original film is massively underrated, I adore it

[@imaadshahrukh4829]

It's a favorite of mine as well.

[@Channeleven2345789]

Given the comments here, I highly doubt the original Rollerball is underrated, everyone loves the shit out of it.

[@gabrieljewett4042]

It’s not underrated it came out almost 50 years ago, it isn’t in the public consciousness anymore.

[@christco120]

@@gabrieljewett4042 it's both. This isn't hard to grasp. Sunset Blvd is out of the public consciousness, but it is by no means underrated. Citizen Kane is largely out of the public consciousness, it is far from underrated. Rollerball is both out of the public consciousness AND underrated. See my point here?

[@chizorama]

I would put it down as a cult classic.

[@Formakiwi]

McTeirnan has to be by far the finest director to have so many enormous flops on his CV: Rollerball (2002) joins Last Action Hero (1993) and The 13th Warrior (1999) as one of the cosliest bombs of all time, and the one that finally sunk the career of the man who gave us proper unvarnished action classics like Die Hard (1988) and Predator (1987).

[@MediaPastimes]

Yeah it’s unfortunate because I actually really like “Last Action Hero”, it was ahead of its time.

[@docphill]

@@MediaPastimes It didn't help that Last Action Hero released during the same time Jurassic Park was released. And I agree, Last Action Hero was definitely ahead of it's time

[@johntowers1213]

13th warrior was in my opinion an entertaining movie if a little light on plot...it might have been a critical flop, but as flops goes it falls squarely into the "if its on and I'm passing..I'll sit down and watch it" category..

[@Bicloptic]

I’d gladly watch the 13th warrior or last action hero over some of the bland middle of the road movies coming out today.

[@dnasty312]

​@@docphillArnold asked Columbia to push the release date *June 18th, 1993* back by three weeks but they wouldn't

[@derworfnet]

I’d add _The 13th Warrior_ to the list of great films McTiernan directed. I mean, it’s not perfect and it isn’t quite the Version he originally intended (still waiting for a Directors Cut) but I dig it’s vines. It’s Epic, for lack of a better word. And underrated. And that a movie of this quality came out the other end of such a torturous production is kind of awesome, actually.

[@droppinloot4960]

I love reading about this story because I can't believe someone went to jail over Rollerball. Not just someone but a legendary action director

[@bobbarker1593]

He should of went to jail for pretending a broad could compete with men in a man's sport. Maybe the director should of drank less soy.

[@fernie-fernandez]

@@bobbarker1593Now imagine the case for Paul WS Anderson’s use of heroine…

[@seanturner1197]

And to think, 20 years ago as a kid, I wanted the dvd set of this film, until I saw it on television , 2 years later.... Later on I did watch the original and I found it more entertaining.

[@56postoffice]

I forgot *"Rollerball"* had a remake made by John McTiernan. Plus, *"Idiocracy"* is now seen as a documentary, which is possibly THE most relevant film ever made.

[@christianninsananda9626]

His other 2 flop - Last Action Hero and 13th Warrior - were actually pretty good. I think this one had more studio interference than normal.

[@Diggy22]

I remember the first time I heard about the Rollerball remake was on the MTV Show, Real World/Road Rules Challenge 2000. There was a game event on the show that involved a Rollerball-styled point game, and one of the Road Rules contestants won the event for his team, and also won a bit part in the Rollerball movie as one of the players. Tbh, the only main draw of the movie at the time was the fact that LL Cool J was in it, since he was a solid draw at the box office and his rap career was still booming. I remember the Booker T/LL face off on Smackdown too, since the supermarket attack wasn’t that far back from it. The only really good thing about the remake was that it got people like me interested in the original.

[@Pwnulolumad]

I loved the supermarket attack fight it was awesome

[@plissken2156]

John McTiernan likes to work in 2's: - He's worked twice with Pierce Brosnan: Nomads (1986) and The Thomas Crown Affair (1999). - He's worked twice with Arnold Schwarzenegger: Predator (1987) and The Last Action Hero (1993). - He's worked twice with Bruce Willis: Die Hard (1988) and Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995). - He's worked twice with Sean Connery: The Hunt for Red October (1990) and Medicine Man (1992). - He's worked twice with Samuel L. Jackson: Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) and Basic (2003). - He's worked twice with composer Bill Conti: Nomads (1986) and The Thomas Crown Affair (1999). - He's worked twice with cinematographer Steve Mason: Rollerball (2002) and Basic (2003). - He's worked twice with cinematographer Jan DeBont: Die Hard (1988) and The Hunt for Red October (1990). - He's remade two Norman Jewison films: The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) and Rollerball (2002).

[@MediaPastimes]

Damn, good point. Thanks Snake!

[@pinegrove0076]

Don't forget three times with composer Michael Kamen: Die Hard (1988), Last Action Hero (1993) and Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995). Twice with producers Joel Silver and Lawrence Gordon: Predator (1987) and Die Hard (1988). But editor John Wright takes the crown with six collaborations total: The Hunt for Red October (1990), Last Action Hero (1993), Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), The Thomas Crown Affair (1999), The 13th Warrior (also '99), and Rollerball (2002).

[@plissken2156]

@@pinegrove0076 Yes, John Wright wins the race. Also, discovered these members of the 2-timers club: - Worked twice with cinematographer Donald McAlpine: Predator (1987) and Medicine Man (1992). - Worked twice with cinematographer Peter Menzies Jr.: Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995) and The 13th Warrior (1999). - Worked twice with cinematographer Steve Mason: Rollerball (2002) and Basic (2003). - Worked twice with composer Jerry Goldsmith: Medicine Man (1993) and The 13th Warrior (1999). - Worked twice with editor John F. Link: Predator (1987) and Die Hard (1988).

[@pinegrove0076]

@@plissken2156 Can't wait to see who he works with next!

[@plissken2156]

@@pinegrove0076 According to his IMdB page, his next project is a science-fiction revenge flick called 'Tau Ceti Foxtrot' starring Uma Thurman and Travis Fimmel (both 1st-timers).

[@RaymLovesEggs]

Social commentary, action... Imagine if friggin' Paul Verhoeven directed this movie. "Would you like to know more?"

[@detroitarrow794]

A Rollerball series would be awesome because you could get so many more matches on screen, I liked the original rollerball as a kid and was a teenager when the remake came out and I was entertained by the beginning as well, but then it just fell apart in epic fashion.

[@MediaPastimes]

It is kind of cool to think about who could act as the showrunner, and who would star in the series in modern times. They could definitely involve James Caan's son Scott as a side character as a wink to the fans.

[@UncleUnbated]

Another great video! It's crazy how much of a relic a movie like this is for early 2000s nostalgia. Basically someone was like "what if we took roller derby and added a ball and motorcycles that'll reel the younger generation in"

[@Flickawho]

I tried to see the Mothman movie at a theater, and it sold out. Rollerball came out the same weekend and was the only other option. I must admit, it’s the first movie I ever “hate watched”. Never took it seriously. Began my love for “so bad they’re good” movies. This one really is just a stinker, tho.

[@crazyinsane500]

Oh god the night vision scene. I was on board with the movie being early 00's schlock, exactly what I want from a streaming service like Tubi, but then that scene ruined even that experience. They were trying to make the movie all "Extreme" but that screams they thought about shooting that *conceptually* but disregarded how nobody does that for a good reason. IIRC that was a *reshoot.* So there exists that footage without the filter, done slightly differently, and nothing would've been missed in the plot.

[@GeorgHaeder]

2:19 That's the BMW Headquarters in Munich, also noteworthy is that all of the the Rollerball game sequences were filmed in the 1972 Olympic Basketball Arena in Munich, Germany. The exterior shots of the bowl-shaped library building are actually of the old BMW museum.

[@johnwatson3948]

Thanks for the info always wondered what was going on with this - always liked the 1975 Rollerball and still think a more direct updated remake would be a hit.

[@Whalewraith]

I didn't realise they had remade this. The original was incredible and you can tell just from the trailer (which is showing everything but Rollerball,) it was going to be awful. A thing about Rollerball is with it all being practical effectd it still looks good today.

[@mitrooper]

Gen-Xers might know this, the game that was inspired by Rollerball, Speedball and it's sequel Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe, both originally released on the Commodore Amiga during the late 1980's.

[@MediaPastimes]

I did come across those during my research, I was raised on the NES in the early-mid 90s so I definitely want to check them out. The co-founder of bitmap brothers hilariously said "we actually weren't inspired by rollerball, it's just a coincidence that our game is very similar to the movie"... YEAH, OKAY.

[@JulianClarkFilms]

Your best one yet. Thanks for making these. You’re the only interesting video essayist on KZbin rn

[@MediaPastimes]

Thanks dude! I'm not really big on watching a lot of video essay content, but one of the few I do watch that you also might like is Hats Off Entertainment: www.youtube.com/@HatsOffEntertainment

[@JulianClarkFilms]

Nice I’ve seen his Leslie Nielsen vid, will check more out

[@job489]

I only heard of the Rollerball remake, because I watched WWE Raw at the time. I only watched it, because Paul Heyman was in it.

[@j.r.cruzaguirre2734]

Thank you for making this video. I have been a long time McTiernan fan, but I never really knew the details as to why he and his career suddenly went to shit. No I know. Thank you!

[@LykatheCat]

I wonder if the original cut still exists somewhere.

[@bighuge1060]

Thank you for making this video. I liked the '70s Rollerball when I first saw it and have come to really like and admire it. I loathed the remake and found I could not get more than two or three minutes here and there when it debuted on cable -- most likely on HBO. I may take another look at it to see if I can make it through the entire movie. Watching the clips in your video, I don't think I'd be able.

[@MediaPastimes]

The original Rollerball had been on my watchlist for a while, and I watched it after the remake while I was making this episode. I'm thankful that I watched them in that order, because the remake was so bad that any and all of the flaws (if you could even call them flaws) of the original were easy to ignore. I can't wait to revisit the original again in a year or two, but I'll probably never watch the remake again.

[@bighuge1060]

It's interesting to watch movies again after a span of time as maturity and life-experiences do impact one's enjoyment. The last time I watched the original Rollerball was two months ago on my sister's streaming (even though I own the DVD of the movie). This time I watched it for the craft; acting, directing, writing, art direction, etc. and I grew a better appreciation of it. It is weird watching his teammate after seeing him as Shoulders (because he often rides on the road's shoulders) in The Big Bus. @@MediaPastimes

[@JeffreyDeCristofaro]

Talk about a career low!!! Also, it's crazy that JM landed in jail for this but John Landis managed to avoid jail time for the carnage that occurred during the shooting of his segment for TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE!!!

[@BigEOT3]

The best thing about the Rollerball remake was the commentator played by former ECW owner, former WCW manager, and current WWE manager & manager of Tribal Chief Roman Reigns, Paul E Dangerously/Paul Heyman.

[@MediaPastimes]

Paul had the most energy out of the entire cast, everyone else seemed dead inside.

[@andrewdunn5568]

Yeah and at the time ECW had just lost their tv deal and Heyman told the ECW roster he was going out to LA to shop around for a new tv deal. He was filming this movie instead.

[@MediaPastimes]

I saw an article online disproving that theory, as Rollerball was mostly filmed in Minnesota and Canada.

[@FoxtailCinematics]

The 2000s truly was a lawless time when it came to the movies that were released. But damn they were fun! 😂

[@MediaPastimes]

A lawless time for movies, TV shows, and video games. I remember licensed games based on TV shows and movies being released like, once a week. It was wild.

[@ComicBookGuy420]

You think 2000 was lawless, look back at the 80s early 90s Movies used to have cocaine in the budget under "incidentals"😂

[@MediaPastimes]

The movies produced in the 2000s were the result of all the booger sugar being used in the 80s, it rotted all of the producers brains 😅

[@ComicBookGuy420]

@@MediaPastimes 😂

[@whaddyathink949]

not completely lawless. That was the prime time period of cutting films to lower the ratings, which ruined what many 'would be' R-rated films.

[@the9-2-5outlawgamer]

Can’t believe the Director of Die Hard And the Hunt for Red October got locked up.

[@kevinthetruckdriver353]

To me, Rollerball 1975 wasn't about the sport of Rollerball. The story was about how conglomerates & government merged into one entity. *DON'T BELIEVE ME.* Replace Rollerball with Football. Or worst yet.Take out sports & put in *SOCIAL MEDIA.*

[@nihilismistheonlyway4680]

Love that you stuck a clip of Hal in there. I'm re-watching Malcolm in the Middle atm. Great show. 😊

[@MediaPastimes]

One of my all-time favorites, especially as the youngest in a family with four kids. It’s so damn accurate.

[@The-Shadow-Realm]

I haven’t thought about SOBE in so long until you said it - now I can’t stop feeling nostalgic for it! 😂

[@gatsu8634]

Idk why but the nostalgia flashbacks I'm getting from remembering how a Sobe Pina Colada tastes is causing me to experience an existential crisis. Sick vid to the max, stay x-treme my mountain dewd. ✌️😎🤙

[@scottmcclary594]

I just baught this movie on bluray a few weeks ago and if I'm the only one that loves this movie in happy standing in that box alone... this movie isn't bad at all!

[@glenharrison983]

I stand in that box with you.

[@inmyOWN_world]

I feel like a lot of movies I love critics or the majority hates it

[@tonybeluga2796]

It’s overrated

[@marcel1372]

when the FBI wiretaps you for wiretapping

[@Goku22411]

I remember seeing this movie in KZbin movies for free; after this video, I definitely need to see it now.

[@MediaPastimes]

I'll probably never watch it again after making this video, but I can definitely see myself revisiting the original 1975 version someday. I wouldn't be against a modern day adaptation of it, either.

[@GEMINIEARTHWALKER]

I still love this movie, and not because I just happened to be a blurry extra in the background in the San Francisco scene, but I genuinely enjoy it.

[@waferty6027]

Here is a fun fact for me : This movie had some filming locations in Quebec (Canada) and one of my teacher in primary school was an extra in this movie. She told the class with pride that she was a journalist in the movie. I don't know why, but that details come to my mind 20 years later. So I watched the movie and tried to find her. So, I watched one of the worst movie ever made frame-by-frame and still cannot find her.

[@nihilismistheonlyway4680]

Its kind of fun re hashing some of the drama surrounding early 2000's cheesy movies. Crazy time. I miss it.

[@beavercleaver5770]

I'll admit I haven't seen the rollerball remake in years but I thought it was ok. I bought the DVD back in the day and watched it a few times. It definitely is not the worst movie ever made.

[@MediaPastimes]

I definitely don’t consider it one of the worst movies ever made, but a lot of people despised it upon release. It’s way more entertaining than some of the worst movies I’ve ever seen.

[@beavercleaver5770]

@@MediaPastimes I remember liking it but I was pretty young. It probably wouldn't hold up today. I think the worst movie is probably mortal kombat annihilation if I had to pick

[@MediaPastimes]

I have MK Annihilation on blu-ray for a "so bad its good" viewing every few years, truly an abomination but I loved it when I was a kid.

[@generationwhyentertainment2455]

Funny because this movie actually has one more connection with pro wrestling ECW owner and head booker Paul Heyman basically took off on ECW while it was in a horrid state financially, having lost a tv deal and being very in the red. Wrestlers weren't being paid and they had no TV deal. Essentially Paul Heyman left wrestler tommy dreamer in charge, stating that he was in LA trying to get a new TV Deal, it turns out he was shooting his scenes for Rollerball, and a few months later ECW would shut down and Heyman would take a job with WWF, leaving a bunch of his workers unemployed and in debt

[@wilmingtonlongman]

Good video. Thanks. If there is to be a remake, let's hope it's that first dystopian future version

[@MediaPastimes]

With Amazon’s budget behind it, it’d better be.

[@connorupton4200]

Was not expecting a ghost recon wildlands reference to pop up at the end of this. That game was amazing to play with friends.

[@pegcity4eva]

That Green night scene and the Boing sound effect lol.

[@Monkey_Boy9602]

The only way I remember this thing is because of "The Real World/Road Rules Challenge". They had the stars do some crazy stunts on in-line skates and promised a role in the movie to the winner. Since I never saw the movie, I have no idea if dude made the cut.

[@paullastnamehere3295]

I never watched the original or even heard about it when I first watched the 2002 version. I actually like this version and watch it often. I'll admit that it falls into a B-rated movie (lower for some), but there are a couple of good movies out there that are either B-rated or box office flops that people actually like. You brought up Idiocracy and that movie flopped thanks to the studio pulling it out of the theaters, and now it is a cult classic.

[@sicdavid6292]

I was on the set of the first Fast and Furious when the director and a producer were looking for a third production to make with Triple X. In those days you could go to Prague and shoot 3 films for the price of 2. Only after they asked i told them the Rollerball remake was for sale cheap. I was so pissed when RB came to theaters.

[@NeptunePirate]

I remember me and my best friend seeing this in the theater at release. 😆 🤦‍♂️

[@LeonLein82]

Another excellent video my man 🔥💪

[@MediaPastimes]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@aaroncook7036]

I love showing off the original to the uninitiated. That ending

[@X_Baron]

The irony of dumbing the movie down because the masses allegedly don't want to see a plot about corporations dumbing everything down to control people better.

[@defaultusername123]

I remember as a kid, playing Simpsons Hit and Run when this movie came out on TV. I remember flipping it on for like 30 seconds and being like “no thanks” even back then lol

[@homelessjesse9453]

Killed Chris Klein's Hollywood career to the point where he had to come back for American Pie 4.

[@Bubba__Sawyer]

Why didn't he come back for American Wedding in 2003?

[@bradleyrocks618]

I love this movie personally. Always had a soft spot for it.

[@glenharrison983]

I saw this movie at the cinema back in 2002 (in fact, I saw it more than once). I lked it then and I still like it now. Yes, it has it's flaws and you can tell it's been messed about with, but I liked the near-future setting and I really enjoyed the fact that it took place in Asia, unlike 90 - 95% of American movies that not only exclusively take place in (where else?) America, but act as though the rest of the world doesn't exist. And I thought the night vision sequence showed great imagination and was quite unique. Rollerball fans unite!

[@JadisAmalthea]

I watched the original Rollerball on DVD and thought it was one of the most incoherent, depressing sci-fi films I've ever seen. I never had any interest in the remake until recently when I learned that the great and immortal Paul Heyman was in it. I might just see this one day, solely cuz of the Wiseman lol.

[@Carlitonsp1]

0:56 - True origins of the Jack-O pose.

[@FunkStyles]

The most surprising thing about this video, is learning that Last Action Hero bombed at the box office, that movie was awesome.

[@ShiksaWithChutzpah1]

It opened around the same time as Jurassic Park and that wasn't the wisest decision because JP was a box office juggernaut. And I don't think most people in the 1990s were on board with the concept of "meta". I watched LAH on video a year after it was released and I thought it was really good and clever. I think it still holds up very well.

[@KneelB4Bacon]

_" . . . in order to appeal to a wider audience . . ."_ * sigh *

[@ancipital]

The original film is fantasic, showing a distopian future where the games are a violent spectacle for the masses, probably not unlike the original gladiators in roman times. They try everything to stop Jonathon E but in the end, he triumphs above the system.

[@chrissheppard5068]

I saw the original Rollerball in the Cinema. You know when you have watched a great film when the audience are quiet and sat in shock at the end.

[@cottonmouth6369]

I was in a movie forum and I never even knew there was an original and darker rollerball. Loved seeing this video covering it. I think the PG13 rating did a lot of damage that took wind out of its sails

[@cottonmouth6369]

Btw the forum was discussing what would be a good movie to remake and this movie caught my eye

[@doublep1980]

So, let me get this straight. The director John McTiernan ( a veteran film maker who made modern classics like Die Hard & Predator), hired a shady "fixer", to wiretap the producer because he believed that the producer "sabotaged" his shitty movie by spreading bad word about it? The guy was then caught, sentenced to jail & his career is basically over. That is some wild stuff... Hell, you could turn this story into a movie by itself!

[@MediaPastimes]

The show "Ray Donovan" was loosely based on the fixer guy.

[@doublep1980]

@@MediaPastimes Makes you wonder what other shady shieet is going on behind the scenes of Hollywood, on a regular basis...

[@MrJ1Horrordirector]

the theater went wild when slipknot was on screen! beautiful memory! ❤

[@imaadshahrukh4829]

I'm surprised the video doesn't mention The Thomas Crown Affair, because that was a much better remake of a Norman Jewison film by John McTiernan than Rollerball ended up being.

[@BillyRamirez]

I dig your channel, homie.

[@JonathanRodriguez-hm7jp]

I remember seeing the poster for this movie as a kid and thinking “man that looks pretty cool” never went to go see it though lol

[@williamcat3159]

It's not like McTiernan didn't do social commentary. Last action hero has Charles Dance shouting that he just killed somebody and a passer by is like "yeah buddy, whatever".

[@BipandBatsDN]

Actual roller derby has a bunch of badasses on roller skates!

[@MrEMann]

Oh man! Flash back... Sobe? I remember drinking way too many of those... 😮

[@TonyElTigre-kq4ri]

Roller ball was a fun movie I watched it a bunch of times as a kid. But you’re right the dialogue was jumpy and sometimes I got lost lol

[@edwardjohnson5527]

I remember seeing this movie at the cinema and I thought it wasn't that bad. Not one of the worst movies ever made. That would be The Roller Blade Seven. I've never seen the original Rollerball though, so I had no expectations.

[@TheBonkleFox]

Oh my GOD, can you even call Roller Blade Seven a movie? They didn't even have a script or anything; they just shot whatever they felt like.

[@adamgreenspan4988]

McTiernan: They’re making bad buzz about my bad movie! Also McTiernan: I’m cutting all the interesting parts from the well-reviewed script!

[@tun-tunninc.6492]

Who would've known "Ox" was a jinx to whatever script he read. 🤣🤣

[@agent95_]

OK I’m a just be honest off of that advertisement alone. If you’re not already following him you should because other channels will make you sit there and go through 30 to 60 seconds of an entire at even more sometimes completely doing away with the simple fact that some of us paid to avoid ads. This man came in and said yo this is a sponsored us, paying the bills with that on the way back to the video. Man came in. Let me know what he was all about in less than 10 seconds you back in the video I love this freaking channel.

[@MediaPastimes]

Are you talking about the Tushy thing? That was just a joke 😅 I was pointing out the fact that corporations will sponsor youtube videos which already have ads to begin with - as a play on Rollerball's commentary about corporations running the world.

[@agent95_]

@@MediaPastimes 🤣 I didn’t realize it was a play on the movie… that makes it even better. But I assumed it was a joke. Doesn’t change how much I love this channel!!! 🥹

[@jamesrowles9249]

70 MILLION?! Damn. Somebody is walking around with tens of millions of dollars in his bank account!

[@MediaPastimes]

70 million is nothing compared to the cost of big budget movies in 2023. And studios will sometimes under-report a film's budget just in case it flops, so they don't look as bad.

[@forsaken841]

I woulda never thought James Caan had ever put on a pair of roller skates

[@MediaPastimes]

It blew my mind the first time I watched the original Rollerball, too. He always seemed the strong silent type, super weird seeing him in skates.

[@phil6844]

When you have rappers and Wrestlers in a movie, you know it’s gonna be a “banger” 😂

[@yannickdecorte89]

I actually really like the remake and never quite understood the intense hatred for it. I've seen it a bunch of times over the years and watched it again two weeks ago, and it feels like a movie you'd expect to get an RT score in the high 30s or low 40s. The execution is a bit lacking but it's incredibly entertaining and there's a lot in the film that is only hinted at but is kinda fascinating, like some of the players getting a number tattooed on their face, and Aurora gets a tattoo on the side of her face that isn't scarred, so there's a neat little moment where she hides her face from Jonathan, who knew she was ashamed of her scar. I also quite liked the jump cuts and disagree that they're purely a result of reediting. There are plenty of moments where there was some other shot to cut to and they choose not to and go for a jump cut. The action scenes are full of jump cuts as well so I always took it as a stylistic editing choice. It gives the film a very raw and energetic style. My biggest regret is the blood being replaced by sweat really robs certain scenes of their intended shock value, and I will never understand why they used that stock "boiiiiing" sound effect, TWICE. I came to assume a temp sound effect that was either left by mistake or left intentionally by someone unhappy with the final product. The very end also feels like it was cobbled together in the editing room rather than written and shot as a real ending. So I can see the flaws but the positives completely outweigh them for me. I think it's at the very least just a fun time with fantastic set and costume design, with deeper themes hinted at throughout the runtime.

[@rodneykingston6420]

I always thought the original was over-rated, but man, this one was UNWATCHABLE!

[@richardhart9204]

Yep, this movie literally has no plot. My wife and I rented it just after it became available on VHS, (DVD?) and to this day, we have no clue what was going on.

[@jmalmsten]

I do wonder if we can get a chance to some day see the hard R version of McTiernans Rollerball. He knows very well how to use violence. And having seen the first movie, any remake really has to be hard R. I have my doubts though.

[@MediaPastimes]

I doubt that MGM/Amazon will ever want to dump more money into this remake. If it had a #ReleaseTheSnyderCut campaign behind it, maybe? But I just don't see it happening, unfortunately.

[@theitfactorjameswheezer2852]

The constant wwe refrences is glorious as a wrestling fan, plus ll cool j sizing up to booker t was hilarious

[@MediaPastimes]

The grocery store slam had me DYING

[@theitfactorjameswheezer2852]

@@MediaPastimes 😂

[@ComicBookGuy420]

Suckaaaaa😂

[@TristynRusselo]

Now that would be really dystopian... could you imagine being sponsored by a company called "Tushy"

[@MediaPastimes]

They essentially controlled KZbin and half of the podcast world in 2020/2021, it was a bleak time.

[@monkeykeyfu2868]

John McTiernan recently said he wanted Mathew McConaughey as the lead actor, but his producer refused and chose Chris Klein, and McTiernan says Klein was lazy and bad on set of this Rollerball. And the producer prevented the director from following the script of the film planned for filming.

[@SirPumpkinSlice]

This is the movie Heyman pissed his time on, rather than try to save ECW as he promised.

[@trygullx]

I find it hilarious I have been on a week long hate journey of Steven Seagal and figured "know what how bout something different" then I come here and find that everyone in the production of that movie were Stevens Seagals buds XD

[@rjwasser8312]

11:15 Can somebody please explain to me why Last Action Hero flopped? Am I the only person who thoroughly enjoyed the ridiculousness of that film?

[@MediaPastimes]

It released during the same time as Jurassic Park, which obviously dominated the box office and pop culture during that time. Arnold and John McTiernan wanted to have it pushed back but the studio wouldn't listen... real smart.

[@bonglandgreg]

The original was never supposed to be an action blockbuster, but a satire based on how sports are rigged by high management in order to create suspence within a community that is almost entirely impossible to make 100% fare. To remake it as somekind of spectacular blockbuster is the first step towards failure.

[@ian.swift.31614]

I'm 35 and remember the massive promotion for the movie. I only saw the movie finally about 5 months ago. It wasn't so terrible. It was on the same level as another 2000s remake - The Mod Squad. I do prefer the original Rollerball by a million miles though. It is sad they turned it into something else for the remake.