Brad Pitt Opens Up About the One Film That Caused Him Too Much Trouble

Brad Pitt has carefully curated one of the most respected filmographies in Hollywood history, but even an actor of his caliber has a few skeletons in the closet. While film enthusiasts often point to early missteps like the bizarre hybrid Cool World or the slasher-comedy Cutting Class as his creative nadir, Pitt himself reserves a special kind of disdain for a different 1990s project.

In a candid 1997 conversation with Empire magazine, the star was asked to identify the low point of his career. Despite having several early-career “stinkers” to choose from, Pitt alluded to the immense friction he experienced during the production of the IRA thriller The Devil’s Own.

I have just got myself into a load of trouble over remarks I made about The Devil’s Own, he confessed to the publication. I am not going to make the same mistake again. Sorry.

The “mistake” Pitt referred to was his previous blunt honesty regarding the film’s chaotic development. In an interview with Newsweek that was intended to promote the movie, he had famously described the production as a total disaster and a nightmare of inefficiency.

We had no script, Pitt had previously admitted about the project, which saw him starring as an IRA soldier alongside Harrison Ford. Well, we had a great script, but it got tossed for various reasons. To have to make something up as you go along, Jesus, what pressure! It was ridiculous.

The actor’s frustration stemmed from a belief that the lack of preparation was an insult to the craft. It was the most irresponsible bit of filmmaking, if you can even call it that, that I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t believe it, he noted with surprising candor for a major Hollywood lead.

While the film received mediocre reviews, with many critics particularly targeting Pitt’s questionable Irish accent, it became a case study for the actor in the perils of public honesty. Although he later attempted to soften his stance by claiming to appreciate the final product, the experience clearly left him wary of the press cycle.

As of early 2026, those days of “making it up as you go along” are firmly in the past for the 62-year-old icon. Pitt is currently riding a wave of critical and commercial acclaim for his sports drama F1, which officially hit theaters and streaming last year. It has recently secured four Academy Award nominations, including a nod for Best Picture.

The actor is also currently in the spotlight for the highly anticipated The Adventures of Cliff Booth. This project marks a historic reunion between Pitt and director David Fincher, with a script penned by Quentin Tarantino. Set as a sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

In addition to his return as the legendary stuntman, Pitt is set to star in Heart of the Beast, an action-adventure film directed by David Ayer. Filmed primarily in the rugged wilderness of Queenstown, New Zealand, the movie features Pitt as a former Navy SEAL trying to survive a catastrophic accident alongside his retired combat dog and co-star J.K. Simmons.

Do you think Brad Pitt’s brutal honesty about The Devil’s Own was a refreshing change of pace for a celebrity, or was he right to regret being so public about his frustrations? Share your thoughts in the comments.