Kevin Smith has apologized to Shannen Doherty after she revealed to him his 1995 cult movie “Mallrats” killed her film career.
Doherty was reminiscing about the movie with Smith, a guest on her “Let’s Be Clear” podcast, when she pointed out that despite becoming a fan favorite, it had fared poorly at the box office when it was originally released.
“That’s kind of the interesting thing about ‘Mallrats,’ right, is that it wasn’t a box office success,” she told Smith, who replied “Oh, it died.”
“It died,” Doherty agreed. “So did my film career. That was it.”
Doherty was the most famous member of “Mallrats” when the movie came out, having already starred in “Heathers” and “Beverly Hills, 90210.” Smith even admitted during the podcast that it was largely because of Doherty’s involvement the film got greenlit.
When he asked Doherty during the podcast if she really never went on to make another feature, she replied: “No, that was it. People literally thought that I was carrying the movie so therefore it was a box office failure it was completely on me. So there was no film career after that, which was a little brutal.”
“I really thought ‘Mallrats’ was going to kick me into that gear [of making movies,” she added.
Contemplating the situation, Smith said later on in the podcast: “She’s right, man. It’s like, if this works, here goes the movie career. And it really did not. Boy, I apologize for that.”
Smith revealed that no one had expected the movie, which also starred Jason Lee, Ben Affleck and Jeremy London, to bomb so badly after it tested well with audiences at San Diego Comic Con. “Tom Pollock, who was the head of Universal Studios at that point, he’s there and he’s like, ‘I was there for the Animal House test screening and this is that. This movie is going to make $100 million.’ And he was off by $98 million.”
But the duo noted that “Mallrats” eventually found its audience. “So Mallrats comes out and dies this miserable death and then has this ten year ascension to cult classic,” Smith said, adding that over the years numerous film industry colleagues and peers, including Elizabeth Olsen, told him they were huge fans of the film.
Smith and Doherty also said during the podcast they are both up for making a sequel. “When are we doing ‘Mallrats 2?’” the director said. “We’ve had a script for quite some time…I’m game.”