On this day May 15, 1987, the adventure comedy Ishtar was released in theaters, directed by Elaine May and starring Dustin Hoffman, Warren Beatty, Isabelle Adjani and Charles Grodin. Despite featuring two of Hollywood’s biggest stars and a well known director, the film became one of the most infamous box office failures of the decade. With a budget of 51 million dollars, Ishtar earned only 14.4 million and was quickly labeled a major flop.
The plot followed two untalented lounge singers who get booked for a gig in Morocco and unintentionally become involved in a Cold War era spy plot. While the film attempted to mix absurd humor with political satire, it was met with mostly negative reviews upon release and suffered from behind the scenes production troubles, including location issues and creative disagreements.
Over time, however, Ishtar has undergone a quiet reappraisal from some critics and film historians who praise its unique tone, sharp performances and willingness to take risks. Today it remains a fascinating case study in Hollywood excess and media backlash.
Fun fact: Despite its failure at the box office, Ishtar was later championed by several directors and critics as an underrated comedy ahead of its time.
The plot followed two untalented lounge singers who get booked for a gig in Morocco and unintentionally become involved in a Cold War era spy plot. While the film attempted to mix absurd humor with political satire, it was met with mostly negative reviews upon release and suffered from behind the scenes production troubles, including location issues and creative disagreements.
Over time, however, Ishtar has undergone a quiet reappraisal from some critics and film historians who praise its unique tone, sharp performances and willingness to take risks. Today it remains a fascinating case study in Hollywood excess and media backlash.
Fun fact: Despite its failure at the box office, Ishtar was later championed by several directors and critics as an underrated comedy ahead of its time.
