30 Movies That RUINED People's Lives

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the most negative consequences of a film production for one or more people. These movies adversely impacted reputations and communities or were even tied to tragedy. Can you think of any other movies that ruined lives? Discuss in the comments.

“The Passion of the Christ” (2004)

Jim Caviezel

Some find Mel Gibson’s interpretation of Jesus’ crucifixion inspirational. Others see it as a relentless test of endurance. For Jim Caviezel, the experience was a bit of both. As a devout Catholic, Caviezel was dedicated to his role, but Jesus’ onscreen torment isn’t far from what the actor faced. In addition to getting pneumonia and hypothermia, Caviezel was accidentally lashed, dislocated his shoulder, and got struck by lightning, which was actually half the amount of times production assistant Jan Michelini was struck. Although the film broke box office records, Hollywood essentially turned its back on Caviezel. While Caviezel has since found success with a “Passion” sequel in development, his onset injuries and the film’s effects on his career remain a cross to bear.

“Napoleon Dynamite” (2004)

Carlos & Efren Ramirez

Going from Sundance darling to a surprise phenomenon, “Napoleon Dynamite” turned its cast into icons. For Pedro actor Efren Ramirez, this extended to his identical twin brother, Carlos. In what sounds like something out of a 90s sitcom, Carlos began making public appearances as Efren. Carlos claims he initially had his brother’s blessing since Efren couldn’t be everywhere. Over time, though, Carlos started impersonating his brother without permission. Carlos was also resentful regarding a girl Efren was dating. Efren eventually sent a cease-and-desist, threatening to sue Carlos for $10 million. Carlos stopped and expressed a desire to reconcile with his brother. Still, he suspected that “the magnitude of ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ and everything that has come along with it, has ruined [his] relationship with [his] twin.”

“Taxi Driver” (1976)

James Brady

This Martin Scorsese classic centers on Travis Bickle, a veteran compelled to assassinate a presidential candidate. While Bickle backs out, the film inspired John Hinckley Jr. to shoot then-President Ronald Reagan. Reagan was only wounded, but Officer Thomas Delahanty, Agent Tim McCarthy, and Press Secretary James Brady were caught in the crossfire. Where McCarthy fully recovered, nerve damage forced Delahanty into early retirement. Brady also survived, but his life changed the most. In addition to requiring a wheelchair, Brady was left with slurred speech, partial paralysis, and short-term memory impairment. Although his career in the White House was over, Brady became a major gun control advocate, leading to the Brady Bill. Brady’s life nonetheless ended tragically with the gunshot wound taking its toll in 2014.

“Death in Venice” (1971)

Björn Andrésen

This drama from Italian director Luchino Visconti turned relative newcomer Björn Andrésen into “the most beautiful boy in the world,” as the headlines put it. In the film, Andrésen played Tadzio, the young object of an aging composer’s affection. Andrésen was only a teenager at the time, feeling in retrospect that Visconti had sexualized him. Despite his young age, Andrésen became a sex symbol and an LGBTQIA+ icon. Andrésen isn’t gay, but many assumed he was. The crew even took him to a gay nightclub where grown men looked at him as if he were a “nice meaty dish.” The unwanted attention the role brought stayed with Andrésen, who grappled with substance use, depression, and trauma in the years that followed.

“The Birds” (1963)

Tippi Hedren

Although Melanie Daniels would be a star-making role for Tippi Hedren, her fame essentially began and ended with Alfred Hitchcock. Not only did the phone booth scene leave her with cuts, but for the climax, Hitchcock decided to switch out the mechanical birds with real ones at the eleventh hour, putting Hedren through five days of terror. The two nevertheless reunited for the film “Marnie,” which is where Hedren claims Hitchcock started making unwanted sexual advances. Hedren finished the film, but she was done with Hitchcock afterward. A few more roles came Hedren’s way, albeit none on par with Melanie or Marnie. While acting continued to run in her family, it’s debatable whether “The Birds” made Hedren’s career or prevented her from reaching greater heights.

“Roar” (1981)

The Crew & Cast

Remember when we said Tippi Hedren appeared in several other projects after ditching Hitchcock? One was “Roar,” which she made with husband Noel Marshall to spotlight African wildlife. After “The Birds,” you’d think Hedren would avoid working with live animals again. For “Roar,” though, the filmmakers used actual lions, tigers, and other large cats. Untrained ones, we might add! It’s been estimated that 70 people were injured working on the film with cinematographer Jan de Bont getting scalped. A lion bit Hedren in the neck and an African elephant fractured her ankle, giving her gangrene. Marshall also got gangrene following multiple life-threatening animal attacks. Even Hedren’s daughter, Melanie Griffith, was mauled, requiring facial surgery. There were no fatalities, but the scars left a lasting impression.

“The Blair Witch Project” (1999)

Heather Donahue

We’re still baffled that Heather Donahue won a Razzie for “The Blair Witch Project.” Her committed performance is one of the reasons so many believed the film was a legitimate documentary. Of course, when the truth came out, some audiences felt deceived, giving the film an infamous reputation. This made it harder for Donahue to find work and even led to her being harassed. Retiring from acting in 2008, Donahue became a medical marijuana grower and writer. She still struggled to separate herself from the film, sharing the same name as her character. For the 2016 “Blair Witch” sequel, which centers on Heather’s brother, Lionsgate made a conscious effort not to mention Donahue’s last name. Regardless, Donahue changed her name to Rei Hance in 2020.

“Last Tango in Paris” (1972)

Maria Schneider

When Maria Schneider was cast opposite Marlon Brando in this erotic romance, it seemed like a life-changing role. It was, but not for all the reasons Schneider hoped. While the actors were praised for their authentic performances, a particular scene hit too close to reality. Brando and director Bernardo Bertolucci devised an unscripted assault scene that Schneider only learned about right before filming. Brando’s onscreen actions might’ve been staged, but Schneider’s tears were real. The experience left her with a mix of anger, humiliation, and regret, feeling as if she had been assaulted. What followed was a spiral involving substance use, depression, and attempts on her own life. Schneider wished she had spoken up on set, but she became a prominent voice for women’s rights.

“Resident Evil: The Final Chapter” (2016)

Olivia Jackson

Director Paul W. S. Anderson pushed the action with each of his "Resident Evil" adaptations. With the sixth and final installment, he pushed too far. Stuntwoman Olivia Jackson was doubling for Milla Jovovich when her motorcycle crashed directly into a crane-mounted camera. Seventeen days later, she awoke from a coma to learn that her left arm was gone. It would be years before she recovered from other injuries and facial reconstruction. It turned out that Anderson had made a slight camera adjustment without informing Jackson. That was all it took for disaster to strike. Jackson may have won a lawsuit in 2020, but there's no compensation for the loss of her career and old life.

“The Amityville Horror” (1979)

Amityville Homeowners

A house in Long Island’s Amityville was the scene of Ronald DeFeo Jr.'s grisly familicide in 1974, then alleged paranormal activity the following year. This inspired a book that, in turn, inspired a film franchise spanning decades. The original house has had so many tourists that it’s been passed through a number of owners. But with all the residents scared off by the true terror of horror enthusiasts, the Lutz family cannot escape their fame over their supposedly supernatural trauma. They’ve also filed multiple lawsuits over defamation and the use of their brand in unrelated “Amityville Horror” sequels. Though even the Lutzes debate the facts in their story, they and that house’s other residents agree that they’ve been haunted by this franchise.

“American Me” (1992)

Mafiosos

Edward James Olmos took on the Mexican Mafia of Los Angeles with raw honesty. Of course, the Mexican Mafia felt that “American Me” was too honest, except where it potentially defamed La eMe legend Rodolfo Cadena. Danny Trejo, who consulted on the production, claims that about 10 colleagues were murdered for their involvement. It’s at least confirmed that three active or former mafiosos were targeted specifically over a scene depicting male-on-male assault. This mob takes machismo very seriously. Never mind the veil of secrecy and menace that Olmos tore down. According to “American Me,” these lives were already ruined by organized crime. Their being ended over a movie further exposes the madness that Olmos wanted to scare people away from.

“Sideways” (2004)

Merlot Growers

Alexander Payne's dramedy about two wine connoisseurs touring Santa Barbara County had a surprising ripple effect. Audiences seemed to have been paying close attention to the wine preferences of Paul Giamatti’s character, Miles. While sales of pinot noir, which he loved, saw a significant bump, those of Merlot, which he detested, fell by two percent. This proved financially disastrous in California’s wine country, where Merlot accounted for around 20% of sales. It took nearly two decades for the market to bounce back. In that time, many winemakers found their livelihoods compromised by one single movie. "Sideways" may be widely acclaimed, but it doesn't have as many fans in the wine industry as you'd think.

“The Goonies” (1985)

Sandi Preston

The Walsh house in Astoria, Oregon is the treasure of adventurous “Goonies” fans around the world. One such fan, a woman named Sandi Preston, bought the property in 2001 but realized that her dream was actually a nightmare. The house soon became overwhelmed with visitors, some of whom even stole her wallpaper. Preston subsequently became much less welcoming, thankfully without resorting to the Fratellis' attitude toward trespassers. She just briefly forbade visitors following the film’s 30th-anniversary event. In 2022, Preston listed the house for $1.65 million and it was sold in just six days! While that might not make up for over 20 years of intrusion, we hope the new owners get a better return on their investment.

“The Conqueror” (1956)

Cast & Crew

Hollywood’s dramatization of the rise of Genghis Khan was considered a disaster from the beginning. It’s now best-known for the shocking miscast of John Wayne as the fearsome Mongol leader. But there was another horrifically misguided production decision. Because so much of “The Conqueror” was filmed downwind of a nuclear testing site in Utah, the cast and crew were exposed to radiation over extended periods. About 41% of the crew went on to be diagnosed with cancer. Half of them did not survive. They were among the countless so-called “downwinders” who were contaminated by nuclear fallout from testing sites throughout the Western United States. It turns out that “The Conqueror” is not just a bad movie, but was an actual disaster.

“Deliverance” (1972)

The People of Rabun County
The groundbreaking thriller "Deliverance" practically made Georgia a highly sought-after film production destination. However, the movie still has a more mixed reputation among the residents of Rabun County, where it was shot. Sure, the economy flourished from tourism along the Chattooga River. But the local population has had to suffer overcrowding in their community and ruinous stigma beyond. "Deliverance" has been credited with widely popularizing degrading, frightening stereotypes about the Deep South that persist today. The people of Rabun County are, of course, facing this fallout more directly. Banjo boy Billy Redden may still encourage his community to embrace their place in film history. For many of his neighbors, though, that's not worth decades of negative perceptions.

“The Blind Side” (2009)

Michael Oher

For every fan of the sports biopic "The Blind Side", there's a critic of its questionable racial representation. One of them is Michael Oher himself, whose life the film is based on. The former NFL lineman felt that the movie belittled his intelligence and agency in his athletic career. He also alleged that this negatively affected his status on the field. Oher tried to set the record straight with an autobiography that elaborated on his disappointment in "The Blind Side" and its offensive liberties. But by then, the damage was seemingly already done. Just goes to show that even an underdog story with the best of intentions can apparently blindside its subject.

“The Conjuring” (2013)

Gerald Helfrich & Norma Sutcliffe

The Perron family may have dealt with supernatural intruders in 1971, but Gerald Helfrich and Norma Sutcliffe were later haunted by many physical ones. Ed and Lorraine Warren's paranormal investigation into the Perrons' farmhouse was the basis for the 2013 smash-hit "The Conjuring". This launched a film franchise and horror fan pilgrimages to the Rhode Island plot, then owned by Helrich and Sutcliffe. The couple not only dealt with trespassers, but vandalism and threats of violence. Naming some 500 incidents, they sued the film’s producers for damages in 2015. Four years later, Helrich and Sutcliffe finally sold the house to paranormal investigators who converted it into a museum. The nightmare was over, but with a family driven out of their home of 32 years.

“Natural Born Killers” (1994)

Copycat Crime Victims

Oliver Stone didn’t pull any punches in condemning America’s violence culture through the exploits of a serial killer couple. Many critics didn’t completely get the irony. Tragically, neither did some disturbed individuals. “Natural Born Killers” inspired a number of violent criminal acts and murder sprees by copycats, most of them teenagers. Perhaps the most famous crime was the Columbine High School massacre. Stone and Time Warner were hit with an incitement lawsuit that dragged on for six years, before being dismissed. There are always much deeper catalysts for copycat criminals than where they get their twisted ideas. Still, while “Natural Born Killers” has an important message behind its horror, the way in which it was delivered was adapted to cause so much suffering.

“Erin Brockovich” (2000)

Erin Brockovich

Single mother and paralegal Erin Brockovich saved a lot of lives by exposing groundwater contamination in Hinkley, California. The Julia Roberts-led film about her crusade was a massive success, and made Brockovich a celebrity environmental activist. This newfound status, however, came to be a major burden. Exhausting public pressure and professional obligations frequently tore Brockovich away from her children. She even struggled to find time to support her daughter Elizabeth through struggles with substance use disorder. More than 20 years later, Brockovich is still fighting the good fight in the public eye. Her family is also in good health. But as tough as their lives were before they became movie stars, fame apparently didn't bring much fortune.

“The Message” (1976)

B'nai B'rith Hostages

By the 1970s, misrepresentation of Islam was becoming widespread in Western media. Syrian-American filmmaker Moustapha Akkad responded with an epic dramatization of the religion’s founding. "The Message" was both critically acclaimed and controversial. Though Akkad was careful to avoid directly depicting the Prophet Muhammad, the extremist Hanafi Movement mistakenly believed that Hollywood star Anthony Quinn was cast in the part. They retaliated with an armed siege of the Washington D.C. chapter of the Jewish service group B'nai B'rith. This resulted in "The Message" being temporarily pulled from theaters and failing at the box office. Worse, the hostage crisis ended in the loss of two lives and unimaginable trauma. Despite Akkad's noble intentions, this tragedy shows the consequences of any movie's message being misconstrued.

“Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace” (1999)

Ahmed Best

Everyone knows the tragedy of “The Phantom Menace” wrecking Jake Lloyd’s career and childhood. Not enough people recognize what Ahmed Best went through as the voice and motion-capture performer of the near-universally hated Jar Jar Binks. What should have been Best’s breakout role wound up a stain on his career and mental health. He even considered taking his own life. Instead, he continued to play Jar Jar with utmost professionalism, at least until his Annie Award-winning spoof on “Robot Chicken.” Best is now in a good place, teaching at Stanford University and recast in “Star Wars” in the much more dignified role of Jedi Master Kelleran Beq. Still, that can’t make up for his particularly painful years of Jar Jar Binks.

“Le Mans” (1971)

David Piper

As an avid motorsports enthusiast, Steve McQueen was heavily invested in the production of his 1971 film about the racing tournament 24 Hours of Le Mans. The project was plagued by multiple difficulties and eventually bombed at the box office, with polarized reviews. This was by no means its only tragedy. Veteran driver David Piper participated in one of the racing sequences and crashed his signature Porsche 917 in the process. The resulting injuries were so severe that one of his legs had to be partly amputated. Piper would go on to race again years later, but what should have been a small movie part essentially turned out to be a life-changing tragedy.

“Dog Day Afternoon” (1975)

John Wojtowicz

On the afternoon of August 22, 1972, John Wojtowicz ruined his own life with a botched bank robbery in Brooklyn. At least he enjoyed celebrity status in prison when the story inspired the classic thriller “Dog Day Afternoon.” After he did his time, however, that status cost Wojtowicz professional and financial security. Any hope of leaving behind his old life was gone. Moreover, he claimed that the morally ambiguous Sonny Wojtowicz was still defamatory. Say what you will about John, but at least he was loyal to his partner in crime. Wojtowicz died almost 20 years after prison, having been living on welfare and with his mother. It’s no secret that crime doesn’t pay. But sometimes, true crime movies can be even more costly.

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937)

Adriana Caselotti

Children have dreamt of being a Disney Princess since the 1930s. The very first one, however, found that it was nothing to wish for. Adriana Caselotti’s enchanting voice work as Snow White should have guaranteed her lifelong stardom. But she was not credited in the movie and was forbidden to promote herself. Caselotti sued Disney for a soundtrack stipend, and she was hardly heard from again. The theory is that her voice was too distinctive for her to get other roles. It’s also rumored that Walt Disney had her blacklisted. Either way, aside from a few roles and reprising Snow White, Caselotti’s acting career was stagnant. She found success in opera, but her film fantasies were crushed by the realities of working for Disney.

“A Clockwork Orange” (1971)

Linda Grimm & Linda Wardill

Stanley Kubrick's examination of psychopathy in modern society is hailed as a masterpiece. But upon its release, "A Clockwork Orange" was condemned for going too far with its graphic violence. Alleged copycat crimes became so rampant that Kubrick personally had the movie banned from the U.K. in 1973. Nonetheless, the most high-profile case was in '89 and 2002, when Peter Foster murdered his wives Linda Grimm and Linda Wardill. The so-called "Clockwork Orange Killer" had a history of violence against women, but it escalated after he saw his favorite movie. Despite his self-censorship, Kubrick always held that disturbed minds are fundamentally responsible for copycats. Whatever would have inspired such ultraviolence otherwise, Grimm and Wardill suffered for their husband's love of one movie.

“WarGames” (1983)

Aaron Swartz

The dangers of computer hacking went mainstream with the '80s cult classic "WarGames." It even influenced the United States' Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The punitive measures the bill outlines might not be unreasonable for a hacker who nearly triggers a nuclear war. Alas, its broad definition of unauthorized computer access meant tragedy for internet activist Aaron Swartz. In 2011, Swartz was charged with hacking into MIT's network to download academic articles. The university didn't want to file charges, but with federal prosecutors taking over, Swartz was likely to face devastating fines and prison time. Just before his trial, he took his own life. Hacking may be no game, but this was just the most high-profile of many extreme legacies of the so-called "WarGames scare."

“Citizen Kane” (1941)

William Randolph Hearst, Marion Davies… & Orson Welles

Newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst’s yellow journalism was rarely as sensational as his own villainy. This was the main inspiration for Orson Welles’s "Citizen Kane." Despite Hearst’s efforts to suppress it, the film has become recognized as one of the greatest ever made. Heast’s true character was also popularly immortalized. Of course, his lover Marion Davies suffered more as the model for Charles Foster Kane’s talentless trophy wife. Herself a renowned entertainer, Davies saw her personal career and legacy permanently tarnished. As for Welles, he was very open about his dramatic artistic and financial decline ever since his feud with Hearst. “Citizen Kane” did indeed show how the mighty truly fall. While Hearst thrived despite his reputation, the innocent Davies and noble Welles fell hardest.

“The Crow” (1994)

Brandon Lee

“The Crow” is about a musician whose life is cut tragically short, but he returns as an immortal symbol. This story hauntingly mirrored reality in ways nobody could’ve predicted. Lee’s performance solidified him as a cinematic icon, but he didn’t live to see the ensuing success. As production neared its end, the crew still needed to film a scene where Lee’s character gets shot. The scene seemingly went as planned until the filmmakers realized Lee wasn’t getting up. The prop gun hadn’t been properly prepared, amounting to a fatal blast. Actor Michael Massee, who fired the revolver, was traumatized, enduring nightmares over a decade later. This accident reentered the zeitgeist in 2021 when a similar incident occurred while filming the Alec Baldwin Western, “Rust.”

“Twilight Zone: The Movie” (1983)

Vic Morrow, Renee Shin-Yi Chen, & Myca Dinh Le

“The Twilight Zone” is an iconic show, but its film counterpart is best known for one of the most notorious tragedies in Hollywood history. In a segment directed by John Landis, a set piece involving a helicopter claimed the lives of star Vic Morrow and two young performers, Renee Shin-Yi Chen and Myca Dinh Le. Some chalked the crash up to a freak accident, although others believed Landis prioritized his artistic vision over the safety of his actors. Landis and others involved were acquitted, although Warner Bros. would award $850,000 each to Morrow’s daughters, one of whom is Jennifer Jason Leigh. Steven Spielberg, who directed another segment, also severed ties with Landis. Wherever the blame lies, multiple lives were ruined that day.

“The Birth of a Nation” (1915)

The American People

D. W. Griffith’s dramatization of the American Civil War and Reconstruction gave birth to the Hollywood blockbuster. But the southern aristocrat had a disturbing view of that period. “The Birth of a Nation” promoted pro-Confederate rhetoric and horrifying anti-Black stereotypes, culminating in the “heroic” rise of the Ku Klux Klan. This film is not just another offensively outdated classic. It was massively controversial at the time, yet no one fully anticipated its impact. “The Birth of a Nation” was linked to an escalation in racial hostility and segregationist policies, as well as a popular resurgence of the KKK. Griffith may have revealed the technical power of movies. But with his hand in widespread hatred and terrorism, he also showed their political power in the worst way.