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Curated playlist

Films adapted into comics

The Great Silence, a 1968 snow Western, gave its hero no voice because its star spoke no English. Each of these twelve films picked up an odd story on the way to the screen. Fifty thousand angry letters reached Warner Bros. over the casting in Batman. RoboCop lost its lead actor midway, partly because the suit was too bulky to move in. Highlander began as a UCLA class assignment that sold for $200,000. Magical Mystery Tour started as a blank page with a circle drawn on it.

  • Batman (1989 film)Fifty thousand protest letters hit Warner Bros. when Michael Keaton was cast as Batman. Fans knew him from comedies.
  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)Walt Disney once acted out all of Snow White for his animators, playing every character.
  • Blade RunnerBlade Runner exists in seven versions, but Ridley Scott controls only one.
  • 2001: A Space OdysseyAt the New York premiere of 2001: A Space Odyssey, 250 people walked out. The poster later said "the ultimate trip."
  • RoboCopRoboCop's leading actor was fired partway through filming. The 1987 film's suit was too bulky for him to move in.
  • Ben-Hur (1959 film)MGM bet its future on Ben-Hur, a 1959 epic whose budget more than doubled to $15.175 million.
  • Erik the VikingIn the 1989 film Erik the Viking, a missionary who denies every god saves the crew by blowing a magic horn.
  • Highlander (film)The 1986 film Highlander began as a UCLA student's class assignment. Gregory Widen sold the script for US$200,000.
  • Magical Mystery Tour (film)The Beatles' film Magical Mystery Tour began as a blank sheet of paper with a circle on it.
  • Yellow Submarine (film)One voice actor in Yellow Submarine was arrested before he finished recording George's lines.
  • The Great SilenceThe Great Silence, a 1968 snow Western, has a mute hero because its star spoke no English.
  • The Red Badge of Courage (1951 film)MGM cut John Huston's war film The Red Badge of Courage from two hours to 70 minutes.

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