Arnold Schwarzenegger has had no shortage of hits throughout his career, but hes still embarrassed by the lackluster reception of one of his would-be blockbusters, the 1993 action comedy Last Action Hero.
In the new three-part Netflix docuseries Arnold, the bodybuilder-turned-star-turned-governor details his varied career, providing insights into his momentous highs and lows as an action icon, including the time that John McTiernans Last Action Hero flopped at the box office.
I cannot tell you how upset I was, Schwarzenegger says in the doc. It hurts you. It hurts your feelings. Its embarrassing I didnt want to see anyone for a week. But you keep plodding along. And my mother-in-law also said this all the time: Lets just move forward. Its a great message.
The very meta comedy starred Schwarzenegger as the fictional action hero character Jack Slater, who bonds with a young movie fan Danny (Austin OBrien). At the start of the film, Danny gets magically transported into Jack Slaters fictional world. The two form a formidable bond as the film riffs on Schwarzeneggers star persona.
Against an $85 million production budget, Last Action Hero opened to $15.3 million at the domestic box office. It finished its global theatrical run with $137 million far from Schwarzeneggers usual drawing power at the time.
When Last Action Hero came out I had reached my peak after Terminator 2, having the most successful movie of the year worldwide, Schwarzenegger reveals in the docuseries.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day earned $31.8 million at the domestic box office in its opening weekend, finishing with a total of $520.9 million worldwide. At the time, it was the third-highest grossing film ever, after Star Wars and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
In the Netflix docuseries, Terminator director James Cameron recalls his first conversation with Schwarzenegger after Last Action Hero opened in theaters.
He sounded like he was in bed crying, said Cameron. He took it as a deep blow to his brand. I think it really shook him I said, What are you gonna do? He said, Im just gonna hang out by myself.' Cameron added, Thats the only time Ive ever heard him down.
Arnold and Schwarzeneggers new scripted series Fubar are streaming on Netflix.