The Emotional Breakdown of an Action Icon: Arnold Schwarzenegger's Last Action Hero
The Rise and Fall of an Action Hero
In the 1980s and early '90s, the box office was a battleground for two muscle-bound giants: Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. I, for one, was always team Arnie. His movies had a certain cool factor, and he brought a lightheartedness to his roles that made him a joy to watch. Unlike Stallone, who seemed a bit too intense, Schwarzenegger's self-awareness added a layer of humor to his larger-than-life action flicks.
Schwarzenegger's iconic role as the Terminator not only defined his career but also influenced his portrayal of human characters. They were often stoic, focused on the mission, and, well, blew stuff up! But even the toughest of heroes have their vulnerabilities, and for Arnie, it was a film that made him cry.
The Last Action Hero: A Misguided Spoof
Released in June 1993, Last Action Hero was supposed to solidify Schwarzenegger's dominance over Stallone. With hits like Total Recall and Terminator 2 under his belt, Arnie was at the pinnacle of his career. Meanwhile, Stallone was having a rough patch with films like Oscar and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.
However, Stallone made a comeback with Cliffhanger and Demolition Man, proving that he was still a force to be reckoned with. But Schwarzenegger had John McTiernan (Predator, Die Hard) directing and Shane Black (Lethal Weapon) writing, so Last Action Hero seemed like a surefire hit. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of the most notorious flops of the '90s.
In Last Action Hero, Schwarzenegger plays Jack Slater, a maverick cop and the star of a fictional blockbuster franchise. The film is a send-up of his own screen persona, with 10-year-old Danny Madigan (Austin O'Brien) as his biggest fan. Danny, from a broken home, escapes his reality by immersing himself in Slater's adventures. When he's transported into the movie with a magic ticket, the action spills into reality, and things get messy.
The Making of a Flop
From the get-go, Last Action Hero faced writing challenges. Shane Black, David Arnott, and several script doctors had to tone down the adult-oriented screenplay. The budget, already substantial, skyrocketed due to Schwarzenegger's $15 million paycheck. Test screenings led to a rushed re-shoot, and Sony poured more money into an extravagant marketing campaign, even putting the film's logo on a NASA rocket.
But the real threat to the film's success was its release date. Going head-to-head with Jurassic Park, Last Action Hero couldn't compete with Steven Spielberg's groundbreaking creature feature. It made $137 million against an $85 million budget, but with the extra marketing costs, Sony took a hit.
The Emotional Fallout
For Schwarzenegger, Last Action Hero was a personal blow. In the Netflix documentary Arnold, he admitted feeling embarrassed and hurt. He isolated himself for a week, but as his mother-in-law wisely said, "Let's just move forward." It was a message he took to heart.
James Cameron, who had directed Arnold in two Terminator films, recalled checking on him. Schwarzenegger sounded devastated, taking it as a blow to his brand. Cameron said, "I've never heard him so down."
A Comeback and a Reflection
Schwarzenegger bounced back with Cameron's True Lies the following year. Despite the costly Last Action Hero debacle and the film's $100 million budget (a first for Hollywood), True Lies proved successful. However, Last Action Hero marked the beginning of the end for Arnie's Hollywood heyday and the gung-ho blockbusters he lampooned.
And this is the part most people miss: the emotional impact of failure on these larger-than-life icons. It's a reminder that even the toughest of heroes have their vulnerabilities.
What are your thoughts? Do you think Last Action Hero's failure was a turning point for action movies? Or was it just a blip on the radar of Schwarzenegger's legendary career?
