The 20 Most Cursed Productions in Movie History

Some movies seem doomed from the start, plagued by accidents, conflicts, or bizarre circumstances that make their creation a nightmare. These cursed productions often leave behind stories as wild as the films themselves, captivating fans with tales of chaos.

Below, I explore 20 films whose productions were marred by disasters, disputes, or eerie events. From injuries to financial flops, these stories reveal the chaos behind the scenes of some iconic and infamous movies.

The Omen (1976)

‘The Omen’ is a chilling horror film about a boy, Damien, who might be the Antichrist, starring Gregory Peck. Its creepy vibe gripped me, but the production felt like it was under a real curse. Lightning struck a plane carrying Peck, another hit the director’s hotel, and a crew member’s car crashed after filming a cemetery scene.

Lead actor Harvey Stephens’ dog attacked a stuntman, and a zookeeper was killed by lions during a shoot. I’m amazed they finished the film with all that eerie chaos swirling around.

The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)

‘The Island of Dr. Moreau’ starred Marlon Brando as a mad scientist creating human-animal hybrids. Its bizarre plot intrigued me, but the production was a mess. Director Richard Stanley was fired early, replaced by John Frankenheimer, who clashed with Brando’s eccentric demands, like wearing ice buckets on his head.

Hurricanes hit the Australian set, and Val Kilmer’s erratic behavior frustrated the cast. I think the chaotic vibe bled into the film, making it a cult oddity.

World War Z (2013)

‘World War Z’ was a zombie epic with Brad Pitt fighting a global outbreak. I loved its intense action, but production was a logistical nightmare. Hungarian authorities seized 85 prop guns, halting filming over legal issues, and the budget ballooned to $200 million due to reshoots.

A 40-minute original ending was scrapped after test audiences hated it, forcing a rewrite. I’m impressed Pitt and director Marc Forster pulled it together, but it was a close call.

Jaws (1975)

‘Jaws’ terrified me with its shark-hunting thrills, led by Roy Scheider. Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece faced endless setbacks. The mechanical shark, nicknamed Bruce, kept breaking down, forcing Spielberg to rely on suspenseful camera work, which became iconic.

Storms delayed ocean shoots, and the crew suffered seasickness. I think these struggles shaped ‘Jaws’ into a lean, gripping classic, but the team paid a heavy price.

Waterworld (1995)

‘Waterworld’ was a post-apocalyptic adventure with Kevin Costner as a drifter on a flooded Earth. Its ambitious scope hooked me, but production costs soared to $175 million, a record at the time. Sets sank in Hawaiian storms, and a stuntman nearly drowned.

Costner and director Kevin Reynolds clashed, with Reynolds walking off, leaving Costner to finish directing. I admire the film’s scale, but its cursed shoot nearly sank Universal.

Cleopatra (1963)

‘Cleopatra’ starred Elizabeth Taylor as the Egyptian queen in a lavish epic. I was drawn to its grandeur, but the production was a financial disaster, costing $44 million—about $400 million today. Taylor’s illness delayed filming, and her affair with co-star Richard Burton sparked scandal.

Sets were rebuilt after moving from London to Rome due to weather, and director Joseph Mankiewicz struggled with a bloated script. I’m amazed it got finished at all.

The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018)

‘The Man Who Killed Don Quixote’ was Terry Gilliam’s passion project, starring Adam Driver. Its meta-story captivated me, but it took 25 years to complete. Floods destroyed sets in 2000, and lead actor Jean Rochefort’s injury halted the first attempt.

Funding fell apart multiple times, and legal battles over rights persisted even after release. I respect Gilliam’s persistence, but this film felt cursed from day one.

The Revenant (2015)

‘The Revenant’ stunned me with Leonardo DiCaprio’s raw performance as a frontiersman seeking revenge. The brutal shoot in Canada and Argentina faced freezing temperatures, dropping to -25°F, causing crew injuries and equipment failures.

DiCaprio endured eating raw bison liver and sleeping in animal carcasses for authenticity, pushing him to the brink. I think the hardship made the film visceral, but it was a grueling ordeal.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ blew me away with its relentless action, led by Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron. Director George Miller’s vision came at a cost. The Namibian desert shoot faced sandstorms and extreme heat, damaging equipment and delaying production.

Hardy and Theron’s on-set feud created tension, and the budget hit $150 million. I love the final film’s energy, but the cast and crew endured hell to make it.

The Abyss (1989)

‘The Abyss’ was James Cameron’s underwater sci-fi epic with Ed Harris leading a diving team. Its visuals amazed me, but the shoot was punishing. Actors spent hours in freezing, chlorinated water, risking hypothermia, and Harris nearly drowned during a dive.

The underwater set leaked, and Cameron’s intense demands pushed the crew to exhaustion. I admire the film’s ambition, but it was a nightmare for everyone involved.

Fitzcarraldo (1982)

‘Fitzcarraldo’ is Werner Herzog’s tale of a man, played by Klaus Kinski, dragging a steamship over a mountain. Its bold story hooked me, but the Peruvian jungle shoot was chaos. Kinski’s volatile temper led to fights, and a local tribe offered to kill him for Herzog.

Planes crashed, crew members were injured, and disease swept the set. I’m stunned Herzog finished it, but the film’s raw energy reflects its cursed creation.

Heaven’s Gate (1980)

‘Heaven’s Gate’ was a Western epic with Kris Kristofferson, but it bankrupted United Artists. I found its ambition compelling, yet the $44 million production was a disaster. Director Michael Cimino’s perfectionism led to endless retakes, with one scene shot 50 times.

Animal cruelty allegations and budget overruns fueled bad press, and the film flopped. I think Cimino’s vision was bold, but the chaos doomed it.

The Exorcist (1973)

‘The Exorcist’ terrified me with Linda Blair as a possessed girl. Its horror was unmatched, but the set felt haunted. A fire destroyed the main set, delaying production, and injuries plagued actors, with Ellen Burstyn suffering a permanent back injury.

Crew members reported eerie events, like unexplained equipment failures. I believe the film’s dark energy came from its troubled shoot, making it even creepier.

Apocalypse Now (1979)

‘Apocalypse Now’ is Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam War masterpiece with Martin Sheen. Its raw intensity gripped me, but the Philippine shoot was hellish. Typhoons destroyed sets, Sheen had a heart attack, and Marlon Brando arrived unprepared, forcing rewrites.

The budget doubled to $31 million, and Coppola nearly lost his sanity. I love the film’s depth, but its production was a descent into madness.

The Crow (1994)

‘The Crow’ is a dark superhero tale with Brandon Lee as a resurrected avenger. Its moody vibe drew me in, but tragedy struck. Lee was fatally shot on set due to a prop gun error, halting production and casting a grim shadow.

The crew faced injuries and lightning strikes on set, fueling curse rumors. I admire the film’s completion, but Lee’s loss haunts its legacy.

Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)

‘Twilight Zone: The Movie’ was an anthology film with four directors, but its production was marred by tragedy. During John Landis’ segment, a helicopter crash killed actor Vic Morrow and two child actors, leading to legal battles and safety reforms.

The accident overshadowed the film, and I felt uneasy watching it, knowing the cost. The set’s chaos made it a grim milestone in film history.

Poltergeist (1982)

‘Poltergeist’ scared me with its suburban horror, directed by Tobe Hooper. Rumors of a curse followed it after multiple deaths. Actress Dominique Dunne was murdered by her boyfriend, and young Heather O’Rourke died during the trilogy’s production.

Real skeletons used in props added to the eerie vibe, unsettling the cast. I love the film’s chills, but its tragic losses feel like a real curse.

The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928)

‘The Passion of Joan of Arc’ is a silent masterpiece with Renée Falconetti’s haunting performance. Its emotional depth moved me, but the shoot was brutal. Director Carl Dreyer pushed Falconetti to exhaustion, filming grueling scenes of her suffering.

The original negative was destroyed in a fire, forcing Dreyer to reconstruct it from outtakes. I’m in awe of its beauty, but the production’s pain lingers.

Roar (1981)

‘Roar’ is a cult film with Tippi Hedren and 150 untrained big cats. Its wild premise fascinated me, but the shoot was a disaster. Over 70 cast and crew were injured by lions and tigers, with cinematographer Jan de Bont needing 120 stitches after a scalp wound.

Filming took 11 years, costing $17 million, and it flopped. I’m stunned anyone survived, but the film’s raw danger is unforgettable.

Titanic (1997)

‘Titanic’ is James Cameron’s epic romance with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. I adored its sweeping love story, but the $200 million production was cursed by chaos. Crew members were hospitalized after someone spiked the soup with PCP, and Winslet nearly drowned during water scenes.

Cameron’s relentless demands pushed the cast to breaking points, and budget overruns panicked the studio. I think the film’s triumph came at a staggering human cost.

Which cursed movie production shocked you most, or is there another chaotic shoot I missed? Share your thoughts in the comments!