George Clooney recently revisited his experience making Grizzly II: Revenge, widely considered the George Clooney worst reviewed movie of his career. The actor discussed the troubled production and aftermath, recalling it as a memorable and difficult entry in his filmography during interviews for his newest project.
Clooney Remembers a Tough Start to His Film Career
Looking back at his first movie role, Clooney offered candid thoughts about working on Grizzly II: Revenge, a film released decades after its original shooting. He stated,
“I was 22 years old, and I thought, ‘Hey, man, this is going to be great!’”
— George Clooney, Actor. What began as an exciting opportunity quickly turned into a challenging situation for the future Oscar winner.
He further recalled the on-set difficulties, noting,
“It was my first gig, so I was just happy to have a job. Then we were stuck in Budapest, they ran out of money and left us there.”
— George Clooney, Actor. André Szöts served as director, beginning filming in 1983, but major budget issues stalled the production, resulting in a nearly four-decade delay before its eventual release.
The Notorious Release and Critical Reception of Grizzly II
When Grizzly II: Revenge finally debuted in 2021, Clooney’s name helped draw attention, yet significant changes had been made.
“They cut it with all this stock footage of bears and things. It was just a disaster.”
— George Clooney, Actor. The finished film used whatever footage was available, along with additional material, and premiered on VOD platforms.
Today, Grizzly II: Revenge has an 8% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, ranking it among George Clooney’s lowest-scoring works. Despite the negative reaction, the film’s ensemble cast included Laura Dern, Charlie Sheen, Louise Fletcher, John Rhys-Davies, and an uncredited Timothy Spall, highlighting the future stardom that emerged from this early career misstep.
Reflecting on the Past with Co-Stars
Clooney shared that he and Laura Dern have looked back on their shared experience with humor.
“Laura and I were laughing about this the other day, saying, ‘We’re getting bad reviews for something we did 40 years ago.’”
— George Clooney, Actor. He went on to note,
“Laura was like 15, we get killed in the opening scene, and it’s like ‘Starring Laura and George!’”
— George Clooney, Actor. The film’s billing contrasted sharply with their actual screen time and roles in the movie.
A New Chapter in Collaboration
Recently, Clooney and Dern were reunited on screen in the 2023 feature Jay Kelly, alongside actors such as Adam Sandler, Greta Gerwig, Riley Keough, Isla Fisher, Eve Hewson, Patrick Wilson, and Stacy Keach. Jay Kelly earned much higher marks, securing a 79% Rotten Tomatoes score. Its limited theatrical debut began on November 14, with a wider audience set to tune in when it releases on Netflix on December 5. Their return to the screen together marks a notable evolution from their days on Grizzly II, reflecting both their endurance and growth in the film industry.
By recalling the challenges faced during Grizzly II’s production, Clooney provides insight into the unpredictable nature of early acting roles and how perseverance can lead to remarkable careers, even after a George Clooney worst reviewed movie.
