Movie 43 (released in theaters on January 25, 2013) is an experimental anthology of ribald, pitch-black comedy sketches framed by a desperate producer (Dennis Quaid) pitching insane scripts to a skeptical executive (Greg Kinnear) or, in alternate versions, a search for the world’s most “forbidden” film on the dark web.
The plot is a fragmented series of vignettes that lean into the absurd and the grotesque, featuring a staggering lineup of Hollywood A-listers in roles that defy their prestige.
Highlights include Kate Winslet on a disastrous blind date with Hugh Jackman, who hides a bizarre physical deformity under his chin, and Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber as parents who take “homeschooling” to a disturbing, socially experimental extreme.
The chaos continues as Anna Faris asks her boyfriend (Chris Pratt) for a truly disgusting romantic gesture, and Emma Stone engages in a foul-mouthed, sexually charged argument over a supermarket intercom with Kieran Culkin.
The film also features Richard Gere as an executive dealing with the design flaws of the “iBabe,” a music player shaped like a naked woman, and Terrence Howard as a 1950s basketball coach giving his team hilariously race-conscious advice.
Other sketches feature Halle Berry playing a high-stakes game of Truth or Dare, and Gerard Butler appearing as a foul-tempered leprechaun.
With Elizabeth Banks, Kristen Bell, and Jason Sudeikis involved in superhero-themed speed dating, the film relentlessly pushes the boundaries of good taste and logic.
Emma Stone in Movie 43 (Photo/Relativity Media)
Reception for Movie 43
Movie 43 grossed $4.8 million on its opening weekend, finishing seventh at the box office.
The film would gross $32.4 million worldwide.
Legacy
The legacy of Movie 43 is its reputation as one of the most polarizing and notorious projects in modern cinema history.
While it was savaged by critics upon its release, its legacy has evolved into that of a modern cult curiosity, a piece of anti-comedy performance art that challenges the very idea of what a star-studded movie should be.
It remains a permanent fixture in discussions regarding the “worst” films ever made, a title that its supporters argue is a badge of honor for a film so committed to being intentionally offensive.
By gathering an unprecedented amount of Oscar-winning talent for a series of gross-out gags, Movie 43 stands as a unique, unrepeatable moment in film history that proves even the biggest stars are willing to risk their dignity for a truly unconventional laugh.
