In the annals of cinema, few films have had as rocky a road to success as Risky Business. The 1983 classic, which catapulted a young Tom Cruise to stardom, was initially met with skepticism and disdain, not just from Warner Bros. Pictures, who rejected the script, but also from test audiences who found the movie too dark for their liking. Yet, against all odds, Risky Business emerged as a cultural touchstone, its influence resonating through the corridors of Hollywood even today

Risky Business: From Rejection to Production

A Test Audience’s Verdict and a Director’s Dilemma

The initial reaction of the test audience was far from encouraging. The movie’s dark tone and unsatisfactory ending left the audience unimpressed, leading Brickman to contemplate walking off the film. He confessed,

“I felt the whole film was compromised by this cheesy happy ending. I came very close to walking off the film. Some critics picked up on what they saw there (in the ending) as phony, and what can you say? You’re a smart critic,”

Against the Odds: Success, Legacy, and Trivia

Despite the initial hurdles, Risky Business defied expectations, grossing $63 million domestically, a staggering ten times its budget. The movie’s success was not just limited to box office numbers. It launched Tom Cruise’s career and became a cultural touchstone, with scenes like Cruise dancing in his underwear to Old Time Rock and Roll by Bob Seger becoming iconic moments in cinema.

Today, Risky Business is considered a classic, its legacy enduring despite the initial disdain of a test audience, a testament to the timeless appeal of its unconventional narrative.