Fight Club’s rocky release resurfaces as ex-Fox chief recalls Rupert Murdoch calling the film “sick”
Bill Mechanic revisits the internal clash that followed David Fincher’s controversial cult classic.
Although ‘Fight Club’ is now considered a cult classic from the late 1990s, its original release was far from a success. The film did not live up to expectations during its theatrical run and ended up being a box office flop. It wasn’t until its release on home video that it achieved true commercial success, selling over 14 million copies. This week, the film will return to theaters in a 4K remastered version, and recently Bill Mechanic, former CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment, spoke about the resistance the project faced from the studio’s top brass.
In the interview with Business Insider, Mechanic recalled how Rupert Murdoch, then the owner of Fox through News Corp, confronted him harshly during a meeting about the film’s premiere—an incident that would ultimately lead to his departure from the company.
“He starts attacking, and he said, ‘What kind of sick fucking human being would make a movie like this?’” Mechanic recalled Murdoch saying during a NewsCorp meeting he attended. “I said, ‘Me. David Fincher. We’re not embarrassed.’”
A not-so-subtle message at the end of the film
In one of the most iconic final scenes in the history of cinema, ‘Fight Club’ concludes with the destruction of several iconic Los Angeles landmarks, including Fox Plaza Tower. For years, it was believed that this decision was entirely director David Fincher’s idea, but in reality, it was a suggestion from Mechanic.
“David took me through the sequence. I think I was up in the actual building talking to him, and I asked David if he would put the Fox building in there for my tribute to Rupert. I just realized I went to work for the wrong person,” Mechanic added of Murdoch. “I think I got movies made that wouldn’t have been made, and there’s a price to pay.”
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‘Fight Club’ will be re-released in theaters for one night only tomorrow, April 22. The 4K Ultra HD Steelbook and 4K Digital versions will be available on May 12.
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