Top 10 Shocking 90s Movie Scandals

“Any Given Sunday” (1999)

American Football is an adrenaline-fuelled sport where bone-crushing tackles and brutal collisions are all part of the game. And it appears Jamie Foxx and LL Cool J might have taken this a little too literally on the set of Oliver Stone’s sports drama “Any Given Sunday”. Tensions supposedly began riding high between the pair when Foxx cracked one too many jokes at the rapper’s expense. LL Cool J apparently didn’t see the funny side and the heated exchange resulted in Foxx being knocked in the hea, which prompted the latter into retaliating with a hit of his own. Thankfully the two would ultimately set aside their differences and even collaborated on the song ‘Best Dress’. Proving once and for all, what happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch.

“Barb Wire” (1996)

By the mid-nineties, Pamela Anderson had become something of a cultural phenomenon, with that iconic red swimsuit adorning the cover of magazines and bedroom walls across the globe. Riding high off the back of her marriage to Mötley Crüe rocker Tommy Lee, Pammy set her sights on the big screen. Unfortunately, her first theatrical feature, “Barb Wire,” in which she nabbed the lead, was a box office bomb. Its disastrous reception was in part due to the media, the movie itself and a certain infamous private tape being stolen from the couple’s home. The resulting scandal completely eclipsed Anderson’s fledgling movie career, relegating her mostly to the occasional cameo role, her Baywatch character or smaller parts.

“Showgirls” (1995)

Elizabeth Berkley rose to fame starring as Jessie Spano in the popular high-school sitcom “Saved by the Bell”. So when Berkley left the show to pursue a career in Hollywood, few could have imagined her first role would be playing a stripper in Paul Verhoeven’s erotic drama “Showgirls”. Seeing the “Saved by the Bell” actress graduate from high school student to showgirl shocked both fans and the media alike. However, it was her attempt to be taken seriously within the industry that failed as Berkley was relentlessly ridiculed for her performance. Some even claimed that her acting was single-handedly responsible for the movie’s box-office failure, though it’s more likely that its NC-17 rating, the story and other factors also contributed.

“Three Kings” (1999)

Production of David O. Russell’s “Three Kings” was troubled from the start. Even before the cameras had begun to roll, Russell found himself in hot water with John Ridley, who had previously written the script that supposedly gave Russell the idea for his own. And this was just the start of his problems. After shooting began, members of the cast and crew were said to have become disillusioned by his unorthodox directing methods. Tensions rose when George Clooney accused Russell of mistreating his fellow workers. The stage was set and they would eventually come to blows during one heated exchange. Despite their onset brawling, the film would go on to be a huge success. While Clooney and Russell reportedly reconciled, this wasn’t the only time that the director’s alleged mistreatment of others came to light.

“Eyes Wide Shut” (1999)

Power couples don’t come much more formidable than Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. At the peak of their fame, they appeared as a vision of silver-screen opulence and were considered Hollywood’s hottest property. When it broke out that they’d be starring together in Stanley Kubrick’s erotically charged “Eyes Wide Shut”, the news reverberated throughout the film world. But rumors of onset tension soon began to surface, with some claiming the couple demanded to be on-set during each other’s love scenes. Many believe the movie’s intimate subject matter and intense shooting schedule caused an irreparable rift in the couple’s relationship. The movie would signal the last time Cruise and Kidman appeared on the big screen together and they would divorce just two years after the film’s release.

“Natural Born Killers” (1994)

The impact of movie violence on the viewer has always been a controversial subject. So when a multitude of violent criminals began naming “Natural Born Killers” as an influence in their crimes, director Oliver Stone found himself in hot water. “Natural Born Killers” is a not-so-subtle examination of the media’s glorification of violence. It tells the story of Mickey and Mallory Knox, two cold-blooded people who fall head over heels in love, seemingly over their shared fondness for murder. Sadly the movie’s initial success was marred by its growing reputation for reportedly spurring copycat crimes. Oliver Stone would distance himself from the backlash, claiming “it’s not a film’s responsibility to tell you what the law is.”

“South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut” (1999)

Despite studio pressure to limit or soften South Park’s outrageous adult content, creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker insisted the show’s first and so far only big-screen outing would be faithful to its television counterpart. And thankfully, they were true to their word. To this day, the R-rated movie has the honor of including more swear words than any other animated feature, according to the Guinness World Records. Studio concerns that audiences would be put off by the movie’s over the top violence and relentless expletives couldn’t have been more misplaced and “South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut” would go on to be a huge success, even being nominated for an Oscar.

“American Beauty” (1999)

This award-winning tale about the dark realities of American suburban bliss was well-received at the time of its release. However, many would agree the movie hasn’t aged too well. And this isn’t just because of Kevin Spacey’s seismic fall from grace. A controversial topless scene featuring an underage Thora Birch makes for uncomfortable viewing by today's standards. Especially when you consider her parents were required to be on set during filming due to her status as a minor. Unfortunately, this appears to be a habit that her father - once her manager - struggled to break. On the set of Birch’s later movies, the former adult entertainment actor became notorious for getting too involved, even supposedly making unwelcome directorial suggestions during his daughter’s intimate scenes.

“Basic Instinct” (1992)

Some might say this movie’s success was down to Paul Verhoeven's excellent direction. Others might point to its gripping plot line and its stellar acting performances. But the more cynical amongst us would argue it was down to ‘that scene’. The scene in question sees Sharon Stone at her sultry best. She plays Cathrine Tramell, who while being interrogated by detectives reveals a little more than expected, and we’re not talking about a confession. The infamous leg uncrossing set pulses racing around the world. Even Stone herself hadn’t realized how revealing it was going to be and is said to have slapped Verhoeven across the face before storming out of a test screening and phoning her lawyer.

“Nine Months” (1995)

The success of Brit rom-com “Four Weddings and a Funeral” turned Hugh Grant into an overnight sensation worldwide. So when he was in Los Angeles promoting his Hollywood debut, “Nine Months”, he might be forgiven for wanting to celebrate and let off a little steam. Unfortunately, what began with a few drinks ended with him being arrested for publicly receiving services from sex worker Divine Brown. The fallout from the illicit encounter was huge, as Grant’s infamous mugshot was plastered on front pages across everywhere. Divine Brown claims to have made millions from the liaison despite not realizing who her famous client was. Although his squeaky clean image was tarnished forever, Hugh Grant would still bounce back and find Hollywood success.