15 Directors Who Publicly Hated Their Own Movies

15. Richard Stanley almost ruined his career with The Island of Dr Moreau

Richard Stanley almost derailed his career with The Island of Dr Moreau, a film mired in chaos that even led him to return undercover as a background extra. The production was full of antics, including a lead actress being forced back onto the set and Marlon Brando even getting a Razzie for the Worst Supporting Actor. | © New Line Cinema

14. Tomas Alfredson was dissatisfied with The Snowman

Tomas Alfredson was disappointed with The Snowman, pointing out that 10-15% of the script never made it to the screen. He compared editing the film to completing a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces, noting that the short shoot in Norway left the story incomplete. | © Universal Pictures

13. Ridley Scott disowned Kingdom of Heaven

Ridley Scott disowned the theatrical cut of Kingdom of Heaven, insisting that the Director's Cut is the true version of the film. The changes went so far that even casting was affected, with Edward Norton pushing for a different role. | © 20th Century Studios

12. Stephen Soderbergh hated The Underneath

Stephen Soderbergh made no secret of his dislike for The Underneath, saying that even the opening credits were unbearably long and a sign of deeper issues. He bluntly called the film dead on arrival, capturing his overall disappointment in just a few words. | © Gramercy Pictures

11. David O. Russell scrubbed his name from Accidental Love

David O. Russell scrubbed his name from Accidental Love, a troubled political rom-com originally titled Nailed that was shut down 14 times over pay issues. Even after his success with films like The Fighter, the studio released it under a different director's name, leaving him to distance himself from the project. | © Alchemy

10. Mathieu Kassovitz called Babylon AD a stupid movie

Mathieu Kassovitz dismissed Babylon AD as a stupid movie, noting that 15 full minutes were cut, which robbed it of its intended depth. He explained that while the action scenes were meant to carry a meaningful message, much of the film ended up feeling like a poorly written TV episode. | © 20th Century Studios

9. Jerry Lewis was ashamed of The Day the Clown Cried

Jerry Lewis felt deep shame about The Day the Clown Cried, saying its mix of sorrow and humor was completely off track. He chose to keep the film hidden from the public, a decision that only deepened his regret over the project. | © Jerry Lewis

8. Kevin Reynolds publicly hated Waterworlds

Kevin Reynolds made it clear that Waterworld didn’t live up to his expectations, noting that it wasn’t any better or worse than other films in its genre. He even suggested that Kevin Costner should only star in movies he directs, so they could avoid the missteps that marked Waterworld. | © Universal Pictures

7. Stanley Kubrick tried to destroy Fear and Desire

Stanley Kubrick tried to erase Fear and Desire from his legacy, calling it a clumsy, uninspired mess he couldn’t stand to remember. He went as far as urging a studio to discredit it publicly, describing the film as a failed, amateur exercise that was far from anything he was proud of. | © Joseph Burstyn

6. Alan Taylor don't like Thor: The Dark World

Alan Taylor was disappointed with Thor: The Dark World, saying the movie changed completely in post-production. While his original cut had more wonder and magic, the final version left him disheartened and hoping never to go through a similar experience again. | © Walt Disney Studios

5. David Lynch regrets filming Dune

David Lynch rarely talked about Dune, admitting that filming it was mostly a nightmare. He later explained that, even though the film offered many creative possibilities, he regretted ever making it. | © Universal Pictures

4. Joss Whedon didn't love Age of Ultron

Joss Whedon admitted that Age of Ultron didn’t live up to his high expectations, leaving him frustrated with many aspects of the film. Despite his overall pride in the project, he was so disappointed by its shortcomings that he vowed never to make another Marvel movie. | © Marvel Studios

3. Steven Spielberg apologized for making Temple of Doom

Steven Spielberg admitted that Temple of Doom was not his best work, calling it too dark, too scary, and lacking his personal touch. Yet he found a silver lining in making it, as the film led him to meet his future wife, Kate Capshaw. | © Paramount Pictures

2. Joel Schumacher apologized to the public for making Batman & Robin

Joel Schumacher later apologized for Batman & Robin, saying he owed every fan an apology for letting them down. He described the film as a complete disaster, even comparing his work to a terrible mistake that he could never forgive himself for. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

1. David Fincher isn't a fan of Alien 3

David Fincher never warmed up to Alien 3, as the script was rushed and thrown together in just five weeks. He fought hard for every detail over two years, and even today, he openly admits that he hates the movie more than anyone else. | © 20th Century Studios