Ben Stiller Reflects On His Disney $17.6M Comedy Flop That Became A Cult Classic: “Not Sure They Are Aware They Made It”

Ben Stiller is a prolific comedic actor, writer, and director. Right now, it is Stiller’s behind-the-scenes work that is getting him the most recognition. He serves as a writer, director, and producer for the hit Apple TV+ series Severance, which is currently in season 2 for the streamer. Prior to the sci-fi series, Stiller helped develop the miniseries Escape at Dannemora, which was critically acclaimed. In addition to his TV directing, Stiller has also helmed films such as Reality Bites and Zoolander.

While his career in directing and producing is flourishing now, Stiller’s most iconic work is the work that he has done as an actor. Sometimes, he is in front of the screen for his own projects, such as when he played the lead in Zoolander. His other famous work has included Meet the Parents and its sequels, Tropic Thunder, and There’s Something About Mary. Now, Stiller speaks about his 1990s comedy flop that ended up becoming a cult classic decades later.

Stiller Thinks Disney Forgot About Heavyweights

Heavyweights Flopped In Theaters


Gerry and Roy from Heavyweights

Stiller speaks about his 1990s comedy Heavyweights and whether it is one of Disney’s most underappreciated works. Released in 1995, the dark comedy tells the story of a group of overweight kids who are pushed into joining a camp to promote their weight loss, only to discover that the ex-fitness instructor running it is an overly intense fanatic. Stiller plays Tony Perkis, the camp leader in the film, whose cast also includes Tim Blake Nelson, Aaron Schwartz, Allen Covert, and Tom McGowan. Heavyweights did not do very well at the time of its release, making just $17.6 million in theaters.

Speaking on social media, Stiller reacts to Heavyweights reception over time. The actor was responding to a post that called Heavyweightsthe most underrated Disney movie of all time.” While Stiller insists that he had fun making the movie, he writes that he is “not sure they’re [Disney] aware they made it.” And he “doesn’t think it will be at the head of the Disney+ queue ever.”

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However, Disney+ also posted a response to this statement, confirming they remember the film.

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Our Take On Stiller’s Heavyweights Sentiment

The 30th Anniversary Could Renew Interest In The Movie

Disney has produced a lot of films over the years, so it is unsurprising that there are a lot of flops in their filmography, as they have to dedicate their marketing efforts towards some films more than others. That said, it will be interesting to see if Disney+ makes any more of a promotional effort with Heavyweights as it enters its 30th anniversary year. Given how many hits he has made, Stiller’s Heavyweights has developed enough of a cult following over time that it could have some streaming success many years later.

Source: Ben Stiller and Disney+

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