In the annals of cinema, few films have had as rocky a road to success as Risky Business. The 1983 classic, which catapulted a young Tom Cruise to stardom, was initially met with skepticism and disdain, not just from Warner Bros. Pictures, who rejected the script, but also from test audiences who found the movie too dark for their liking. Yet, against all odds, Risky Business emerged as a cultural touchstone, its influence resonating through the corridors of Hollywood even today.
The journey of Risky Business from script to screen was anything but smooth. Director Paul Brickman had a deal with Warner Bros. Pictures to write and direct the film. However, failing to grasp the movie’s tone, the studio deemed it not funny enough and rejected it.
Undeterred, Brickman took his script to Geffen Pictures. The studio saw potential in the unconventional narrative and decided to back the project, a decision that would prove to be a game-changer in the teen movie genre. Interestingly, the film’s production was also marked by the debut of both Megan Mullally and Bronson Pinchot, who would later become well-known figures in the entertainment industry.
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The initial reaction of the test audience was far from encouraging. The movie’s dark tone and unsatisfactory ending left the audience unimpressed, leading Brickman to contemplate walking off the film. He confessed,
“I felt the whole film was compromised by this cheesy happy ending. I came very close to walking off the film. Some critics picked up on what they saw there (in the ending) as phony, and what can you say? You’re a smart critic,”
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Despite the initial backlash, changes were made to the movie, including a shift to a more optimistic ending, aligning it with the popular theme of teen movies at the time. Notably, two endings were shot for the film, but Brickman only favored the original, which was more in line with his vision.
Despite the initial hurdles, Risky Business defied expectations, grossing $63 million domestically, a staggering ten times its budget. The movie’s success was not just limited to box office numbers. It launched Tom Cruise’s career and became a cultural touchstone, with scenes like Cruise dancing in his underwear to Old Time Rock and Roll by Bob Seger becoming iconic moments in cinema.
Behind the scenes, Cruise underwent a physical transformation to look more teenage in appearance. He worked out seven days a week to lose 10 pounds, then ceased working out and ate fatty foods to add a layer of baby fat, achieving that fresh-faced teenage look.
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Today, Risky Business is considered a classic, its legacy enduring despite the initial disdain of a test audience, a testament to the timeless appeal of its unconventional narrative.
Source: Variety
