20 Darkest Moments in Movie History
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VOICE OVER: Callum Janes
WRITTEN BY: Andy Hammersmith
Even the most world-renowned films can have dark histories attached to them. For this list, we'll be looking at the worst behind-the-scenes stories that shaped cinematic history. Our list includes Natalie Wood's Drowning from “Brainstorm” (1983), The Manson Murders, Hattie McDaniel at the Academy Awards for "Gone with the Wind” (1939), the Radioactive Set of “The Conqueror” (1956), and more.
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the 20 Darkest Moments in Movie History. For this list, we’ll be looking at the worst behind-the-scenes stories that shaped cinematic history. Did we forget a particularly awful piece of film lore? Let us know in the comments below.
Marilyn Monroe still ranks among the most famous stars in Hollywood history, reaching the height of her fame in the mid-to-late ‘50s with a bunch of classic comedies. She entered the 1960s with her fair share of success and a slew of personal obstacles, taking part in a proposed project named “Something’s Got to Give.” At this point in her career, Monroe was known for forgetting lines and missing work days. She was then fired and reluctantly rehired in a troubled production schedule. Overdosing in 1962, the actor’s hectic life came to a tragic end and entered into entertainment legend. Many still argue that she was taken advantage of during her life as well as in death.
“The Exorcist” (1973)
If you were working on “The Exorcist” back in the early 1970s, you might’ve thought there was much more than a fictional haunting happening. A series of accidents and strange occurrences plagued the production. Actor Linda Blair was hooked up to a rig for a scene where her character gets possessed, thrashing her around and injuring her back. This doesn’t even include bizarre events such as a set catching fire, mysterious warnings from a priest, and an additional injury to star Ellen Burstyn. William Friedkin’s terrifying vision is considered an absolute classic to this day regardless of the behind-the-scenes tales. Nine years later, the film “Poltergeist” would experience similarly spooky stories that led some to believe horror movie sets were cursed (xref).
A few decades into its creation, filmmaking became a powerful and dangerous tool for propaganda purposes. This was especially true for Nazis in the 1930s. Hitler rose to power and needed help from a filmmaker to get his hateful message across. Enter Leni Riefenstahl, the director that produced documentaries for the Third Reich and propped them up as a supposedly superior force. The work “Olympia” showcased the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, while her most infamous project was “Triumph of the Will.” It introduces rallies and speeches that espouse the false prosperity of a fascist takeover. Riefenstahl was commended for her technical abilities, but condemned for her association with and cinematic glorification of the Nazis.
John Belushi was one of the premier stars from the first series of “Saturday Night Live.” Starting in the late 1970s, the actor broke into films such as “Animal House.” He was as famous for his comedy stylings in projects like “The Blues Brothers” as he was for his hard-partying habits. Sadly, Belushi's vices eventually caught up with him. In 1982, he overdosed on a lethal combination of drugs. Hollywood is no stranger to these kinds of sudden deaths, but this one in particular was a wakeup call for many of the performers’ friends, colleagues, and fans. He left a significant hole in the future of comedy and continues to inspire a generation of imitators.
Hattie McDaniel was a trailblazing black artist during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Her performance in the epic “Gone with the Wind” earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first black person to win an Oscar. Unfortunately for her, she wasn’t properly celebrated for the achievement. The ceremony was held in 1940 and segregation was still very much a reprehensible part of American society. To account for this racist policy, the Academy placed McDaniel at a side table away from the white nominees. Her victory and speech that day gave some glimmer of hope for race relations in the United States, but the governing body ultimately failed to show her the respect she deserved.
Among the brightest stars of the 1950s, James Dean helped bring a new style of acting to Hollywood. His vulnerable parts in the likes of “East of Eden” and “Rebel Without a Cause” were landmarks for their decade. Dean had finished work on the movie “Giant” in 1955 when a car accident cut his life short. While driving his Porsche in southern California, the actor crashed and died from his injuries. His youthful energy was only beginning to reveal itself to audiences. Having only been credited for three films, the performer stunned people with his dynamic presence and became an example for many future actors.
Tippi Hedren received the opportunity of a lifetime to work with director Alfred Hitchcock. She was cast in the lead role of “The Birds,” but her experience with the filmmaker was nothing short of horrible. He subjected the star to scenes that put her in harm’s way, never seeming to care all that much about her safety. This included a sequence where actual birds hurt her. The performer’s story is unfortunately not unique, mirroring Stanley Kubrick’s poor treatment of Shelley Duvall while filming “The Shining.” Hitchcock harassed and threatened Hedren throughout their working relationship, which extended to another movie entitled “Marnie.” She states that the whole collaboration almost ended her career for good, but she persevered and later returned to acting.
Of all the movies throughout his career, “The Conqueror” stands as one of the few that completely miscast John Wayne. He’s completely out of place in his role as Genghis Khan, but the larger production had much more scientific problems to worry about. The production took place in Utah and was downwind of a nuclear testing site. There’s several theories about the potential health hazards that come from shooting in such a location. Many people associated with the production died from cancer, including Wayne, co-star Agnes Moorehead, and director Dick Powell. Some feel that it was just a coincidence, but the significant portion of crew members affected by cancer keeps the theory alive.
Over the course of the 2000s, Heath Ledger performed in films that received rave reviews such as “Brokeback Mountain.” The height of his acting powers arrived with his interpretation of the Joker character in “The Dark Knight.” Before that film was released, the actor started work on Terry Gilliam’s fantasy film “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.” Ledger failed to finish working on the project after a fatal overdose. Leaving behind an impressive body of work, his shocking death drew tributes from his contemporaries. The performer would even go on to be the second actor to posthumously win an Oscar. Gilliam would alter his movie in order to showcase the final work of the talented star, casting other actors to finish production.
A beloved Hollywood figure, Judy Garland began her professional life in the studio system. Her unforgettable performance in “The Wizard of Oz” and other musicals turned her into a superstar. The actor’s early success didn’t come without a cost, as she fell prey to abusive behavior behind the scenes. Garland was given pills at a young age to regulate her weight and to keep her alert for extended hours. Carrying over into her adult life, this drug intake turned into a dangerous dependency that also involved alcohol. The performer tried to keep singing and acting to varying degrees of success throughout the 1950s and 1960s. In 1969, the artist overdosed and was yet another fatality of the entertainment industry.
Upon its controversial release in 1972, “Last Tango in Paris” garnered mostly positive reviews for its lead performances by Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider. Both actors provided an abundance of vulnerability in their onscreen romance. For Schneider, certain moments felt all too real and even degrading. The infamous butter sequence was simulated for the movie, but the actor still mentioned feeling humiliated during the production. She blamed Brando and especially director Bernardo Bertolucci for mistreating her and not giving her more agency in regard to the most graphic scene. With this information in mind, the whole movie feels tainted by the filmmaker’s deplorable decisions.
Filming an independent western, Alec Baldwin was prepping for a shot involving a revolver. His gun went off and hit the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and director Joel Souza. Hutchins tragically died from the resulting injuries in what became a high-profile case of mismanagement on set. Some people blamed Baldwin for holding the gun and others questioned the armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the person responsible for preparing all weapons for the production. Others focused on the fact that live rounds somehow ended up on the set at all. Rumors and accusations continue to swirl as of this writing, but the victims in this case should have never been harmed in the first place.
Starting at an early age, Natalie Wood was a prominent actor in all sorts of classic films. She grew up on-screen and eventually starred in movies such as “West Side Story” and “Splendor in the Grass.” Wood later married fellow actor Robert Wagner and filmed the movie “Brainstorm” in the early 1980s. During a break in the production, she accompanied Wagner and her co-star Christopher Walken on a boat trip, which soon turned deadly. The actor then drowned under mysterious circumstances. People have their suspicions as to the ultimate cause of her death, but the bottom line remains that she died tragically and much too young at just forty-three.
On the set of the comic book adaptation “The Crow,” a tragic mistake killed the star. One scene required the use of a prop gun, which was not intended to fire anything other than a harmless dummy cartridge. The barrel was blocked by fragments of a previously fired blank and improperly inspected before being used. Practicing the proposed scene with the firearm, Brandon Lee was accidentally shot and killed by co-star Michael Massee. His death sparked renewed concerns about set safety standards that continue to this day. Members of the production, including Massee, were haunted by the incident and the finished film was dedicated to Lee’s memory.
Decades after the “The Twilight Zone” show was released, filmmakers came together to create a cinematic adaptation. This included an anthology format with a new director helming each section of the movie. John Landis directed a story involving actor Vic Morrow, whose character finds himself in a disturbing trip through horrific episodes in history. One sequence involved the use of a helicopter and pyrotechnics. Defying child labor laws, Landis and others allowed young actors to be on set for a night shoot that went horribly wrong. The helicopter crash resulted in the deaths of Morrow and two child performers. Landis and certain members of the production were tried and acquitted for their actions leading up to the tragedy.
In the earliest days of movie making, racist stereotypes were employed as a means of entertainment. This predates the medium and stretches back to the days of stage performances that used blackface in minstrel shows. With the invention of sound, white performers continued to play other races in a variety of roles. This both kept certain stereotypes alive as well as taking away jobs from people of color. The use of makeup and other prosthetics allowed for white actors to pretend to be other races in poorly-dated films. Everyone from Fred Astaire to Judy Garland can be seen in blackface during the early days of Hollywood, revealing the extensive history of racism in cinema history.
In the years following World War II, America experienced a wave of anti-Communist sentiment. Many proponents of the movement were worried about possible Soviet influence in the US film industry. This led to the creation of the House Un-American Activities Committee, which set out to find alleged Communists and their sympathizers. The Hollywood blacklist resulted in a number of artists being unable to work for years. This was partially carried out through the testimony of many fellow film workers, some of whom named friends and colleagues in order to save their own careers. The larger movement finally died down in the 1960s, but irrevocable damage had already been done to various people in Hollywood.
Directed by D. W. Griffith, “The Birth of a Nation” sparked controversy upon its release in 1915. It’s an adaptation of the book “The Clansman,” which takes a look at post-Civil War America with a heavy slant towards pro-Confederate bigotry. This includes graphic depictions of the Ku Klux Klan and their racist actions in the Reconstruction era of the United States. Any of Griffith’s cinematic achievements were overshadowed by the main narrative’s racism and promotion of the KKK. The project was also credited with influencing a resurgence of the terrorist group not long after the movie's release.
Cult leader Charles Manson assembled a cast of misfits and indoctrinated them with a twisted ideology. At the very end of the 1960s, members of his so-called “family” terrorized the Los Angeles area. This included the murders of actor Sharon Tate and others, in especially brutal attacks. There’s still some legal uncertainty surrounding Manson’s ultimate connection to the crime. Popular belief suggests that it was allegedly under his orders to go to various houses and commit horrible acts. These gruesome events brought a dark close to the decade and traumatized many people associated with Tate.
At one time one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, producer Harvey Weinstein’s behavior finally caught up with him. A 2017 exposé started a firestorm of revelations about the man's abuses of women in the industry. Many actors came forward to tell their story and several of them cited similar tactics from the producer. Weinstein assaulted women, harassed many people, and threatened to ruin careers if any stories about him leaked. He’s since been the subject of legal action, and will possibly serve the remainder of his life behind bars. The surrounding discussion about his crimes and others like it partly inspired the rise of the #MeToo movement.
Marilyn Monroe’s Death
“Something’s Got to Give” (Unreleased)Marilyn Monroe still ranks among the most famous stars in Hollywood history, reaching the height of her fame in the mid-to-late ‘50s with a bunch of classic comedies. She entered the 1960s with her fair share of success and a slew of personal obstacles, taking part in a proposed project named “Something’s Got to Give.” At this point in her career, Monroe was known for forgetting lines and missing work days. She was then fired and reluctantly rehired in a troubled production schedule. Overdosing in 1962, the actor’s hectic life came to a tragic end and entered into entertainment legend. Many still argue that she was taken advantage of during her life as well as in death.
Set Accidents
“The Exorcist” (1973)
If you were working on “The Exorcist” back in the early 1970s, you might’ve thought there was much more than a fictional haunting happening. A series of accidents and strange occurrences plagued the production. Actor Linda Blair was hooked up to a rig for a scene where her character gets possessed, thrashing her around and injuring her back. This doesn’t even include bizarre events such as a set catching fire, mysterious warnings from a priest, and an additional injury to star Ellen Burstyn. William Friedkin’s terrifying vision is considered an absolute classic to this day regardless of the behind-the-scenes tales. Nine years later, the film “Poltergeist” would experience similarly spooky stories that led some to believe horror movie sets were cursed (xref).
Nazi Propaganda
“Triumph of the Will” (1935)A few decades into its creation, filmmaking became a powerful and dangerous tool for propaganda purposes. This was especially true for Nazis in the 1930s. Hitler rose to power and needed help from a filmmaker to get his hateful message across. Enter Leni Riefenstahl, the director that produced documentaries for the Third Reich and propped them up as a supposedly superior force. The work “Olympia” showcased the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, while her most infamous project was “Triumph of the Will.” It introduces rallies and speeches that espouse the false prosperity of a fascist takeover. Riefenstahl was commended for her technical abilities, but condemned for her association with and cinematic glorification of the Nazis.
John Belushi’s Death
John Belushi was one of the premier stars from the first series of “Saturday Night Live.” Starting in the late 1970s, the actor broke into films such as “Animal House.” He was as famous for his comedy stylings in projects like “The Blues Brothers” as he was for his hard-partying habits. Sadly, Belushi's vices eventually caught up with him. In 1982, he overdosed on a lethal combination of drugs. Hollywood is no stranger to these kinds of sudden deaths, but this one in particular was a wakeup call for many of the performers’ friends, colleagues, and fans. He left a significant hole in the future of comedy and continues to inspire a generation of imitators.
Hattie McDaniel at the Academy Awards
“Gone with the Wind” (1939)Hattie McDaniel was a trailblazing black artist during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Her performance in the epic “Gone with the Wind” earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first black person to win an Oscar. Unfortunately for her, she wasn’t properly celebrated for the achievement. The ceremony was held in 1940 and segregation was still very much a reprehensible part of American society. To account for this racist policy, the Academy placed McDaniel at a side table away from the white nominees. Her victory and speech that day gave some glimmer of hope for race relations in the United States, but the governing body ultimately failed to show her the respect she deserved.
James Dean’s Crash
Among the brightest stars of the 1950s, James Dean helped bring a new style of acting to Hollywood. His vulnerable parts in the likes of “East of Eden” and “Rebel Without a Cause” were landmarks for their decade. Dean had finished work on the movie “Giant” in 1955 when a car accident cut his life short. While driving his Porsche in southern California, the actor crashed and died from his injuries. His youthful energy was only beginning to reveal itself to audiences. Having only been credited for three films, the performer stunned people with his dynamic presence and became an example for many future actors.
Tippi Hedren’s Mistreatment
“The Birds” (1963)Tippi Hedren received the opportunity of a lifetime to work with director Alfred Hitchcock. She was cast in the lead role of “The Birds,” but her experience with the filmmaker was nothing short of horrible. He subjected the star to scenes that put her in harm’s way, never seeming to care all that much about her safety. This included a sequence where actual birds hurt her. The performer’s story is unfortunately not unique, mirroring Stanley Kubrick’s poor treatment of Shelley Duvall while filming “The Shining.” Hitchcock harassed and threatened Hedren throughout their working relationship, which extended to another movie entitled “Marnie.” She states that the whole collaboration almost ended her career for good, but she persevered and later returned to acting.
Radioactive Set
“The Conqueror” (1956)Of all the movies throughout his career, “The Conqueror” stands as one of the few that completely miscast John Wayne. He’s completely out of place in his role as Genghis Khan, but the larger production had much more scientific problems to worry about. The production took place in Utah and was downwind of a nuclear testing site. There’s several theories about the potential health hazards that come from shooting in such a location. Many people associated with the production died from cancer, including Wayne, co-star Agnes Moorehead, and director Dick Powell. Some feel that it was just a coincidence, but the significant portion of crew members affected by cancer keeps the theory alive.
Heath Ledger’s Passing
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” (2009)Over the course of the 2000s, Heath Ledger performed in films that received rave reviews such as “Brokeback Mountain.” The height of his acting powers arrived with his interpretation of the Joker character in “The Dark Knight.” Before that film was released, the actor started work on Terry Gilliam’s fantasy film “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.” Ledger failed to finish working on the project after a fatal overdose. Leaving behind an impressive body of work, his shocking death drew tributes from his contemporaries. The performer would even go on to be the second actor to posthumously win an Oscar. Gilliam would alter his movie in order to showcase the final work of the talented star, casting other actors to finish production.
Judy Garland’s Troubled Career & Death
A beloved Hollywood figure, Judy Garland began her professional life in the studio system. Her unforgettable performance in “The Wizard of Oz” and other musicals turned her into a superstar. The actor’s early success didn’t come without a cost, as she fell prey to abusive behavior behind the scenes. Garland was given pills at a young age to regulate her weight and to keep her alert for extended hours. Carrying over into her adult life, this drug intake turned into a dangerous dependency that also involved alcohol. The performer tried to keep singing and acting to varying degrees of success throughout the 1950s and 1960s. In 1969, the artist overdosed and was yet another fatality of the entertainment industry.
Manipulation Behind the Scenes
“Last Tango in Paris” (1972)Upon its controversial release in 1972, “Last Tango in Paris” garnered mostly positive reviews for its lead performances by Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider. Both actors provided an abundance of vulnerability in their onscreen romance. For Schneider, certain moments felt all too real and even degrading. The infamous butter sequence was simulated for the movie, but the actor still mentioned feeling humiliated during the production. She blamed Brando and especially director Bernardo Bertolucci for mistreating her and not giving her more agency in regard to the most graphic scene. With this information in mind, the whole movie feels tainted by the filmmaker’s deplorable decisions.
The Death of Halyna Hutchins
“Rust” (TBA)Filming an independent western, Alec Baldwin was prepping for a shot involving a revolver. His gun went off and hit the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and director Joel Souza. Hutchins tragically died from the resulting injuries in what became a high-profile case of mismanagement on set. Some people blamed Baldwin for holding the gun and others questioned the armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the person responsible for preparing all weapons for the production. Others focused on the fact that live rounds somehow ended up on the set at all. Rumors and accusations continue to swirl as of this writing, but the victims in this case should have never been harmed in the first place.
Natalie Wood’s Drowning
“Brainstorm” (1983)Starting at an early age, Natalie Wood was a prominent actor in all sorts of classic films. She grew up on-screen and eventually starred in movies such as “West Side Story” and “Splendor in the Grass.” Wood later married fellow actor Robert Wagner and filmed the movie “Brainstorm” in the early 1980s. During a break in the production, she accompanied Wagner and her co-star Christopher Walken on a boat trip, which soon turned deadly. The actor then drowned under mysterious circumstances. People have their suspicions as to the ultimate cause of her death, but the bottom line remains that she died tragically and much too young at just forty-three.
Brandon Lee’s Death
“The Crow” (1994)On the set of the comic book adaptation “The Crow,” a tragic mistake killed the star. One scene required the use of a prop gun, which was not intended to fire anything other than a harmless dummy cartridge. The barrel was blocked by fragments of a previously fired blank and improperly inspected before being used. Practicing the proposed scene with the firearm, Brandon Lee was accidentally shot and killed by co-star Michael Massee. His death sparked renewed concerns about set safety standards that continue to this day. Members of the production, including Massee, were haunted by the incident and the finished film was dedicated to Lee’s memory.
Helicopter Crash
“Twilight Zone: The Movie” (1983)Decades after the “The Twilight Zone” show was released, filmmakers came together to create a cinematic adaptation. This included an anthology format with a new director helming each section of the movie. John Landis directed a story involving actor Vic Morrow, whose character finds himself in a disturbing trip through horrific episodes in history. One sequence involved the use of a helicopter and pyrotechnics. Defying child labor laws, Landis and others allowed young actors to be on set for a night shoot that went horribly wrong. The helicopter crash resulted in the deaths of Morrow and two child performers. Landis and certain members of the production were tried and acquitted for their actions leading up to the tragedy.
Blackface & Racist Stereotypes
In the earliest days of movie making, racist stereotypes were employed as a means of entertainment. This predates the medium and stretches back to the days of stage performances that used blackface in minstrel shows. With the invention of sound, white performers continued to play other races in a variety of roles. This both kept certain stereotypes alive as well as taking away jobs from people of color. The use of makeup and other prosthetics allowed for white actors to pretend to be other races in poorly-dated films. Everyone from Fred Astaire to Judy Garland can be seen in blackface during the early days of Hollywood, revealing the extensive history of racism in cinema history.
Hollywood Blacklist
In the years following World War II, America experienced a wave of anti-Communist sentiment. Many proponents of the movement were worried about possible Soviet influence in the US film industry. This led to the creation of the House Un-American Activities Committee, which set out to find alleged Communists and their sympathizers. The Hollywood blacklist resulted in a number of artists being unable to work for years. This was partially carried out through the testimony of many fellow film workers, some of whom named friends and colleagues in order to save their own careers. The larger movement finally died down in the 1960s, but irrevocable damage had already been done to various people in Hollywood.
“The Birth of a Nation” (1915)
Directed by D. W. Griffith, “The Birth of a Nation” sparked controversy upon its release in 1915. It’s an adaptation of the book “The Clansman,” which takes a look at post-Civil War America with a heavy slant towards pro-Confederate bigotry. This includes graphic depictions of the Ku Klux Klan and their racist actions in the Reconstruction era of the United States. Any of Griffith’s cinematic achievements were overshadowed by the main narrative’s racism and promotion of the KKK. The project was also credited with influencing a resurgence of the terrorist group not long after the movie's release.
The Manson Murders
Cult leader Charles Manson assembled a cast of misfits and indoctrinated them with a twisted ideology. At the very end of the 1960s, members of his so-called “family” terrorized the Los Angeles area. This included the murders of actor Sharon Tate and others, in especially brutal attacks. There’s still some legal uncertainty surrounding Manson’s ultimate connection to the crime. Popular belief suggests that it was allegedly under his orders to go to various houses and commit horrible acts. These gruesome events brought a dark close to the decade and traumatized many people associated with Tate.
The Weinstein Revelations
At one time one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, producer Harvey Weinstein’s behavior finally caught up with him. A 2017 exposé started a firestorm of revelations about the man's abuses of women in the industry. Many actors came forward to tell their story and several of them cited similar tactics from the producer. Weinstein assaulted women, harassed many people, and threatened to ruin careers if any stories about him leaked. He’s since been the subject of legal action, and will possibly serve the remainder of his life behind bars. The surrounding discussion about his crimes and others like it partly inspired the rise of the #MeToo movement.
