In 2010, the comedy film Cop Out hit theaters, marking a significant moment in the careers of director Kevin Smith and actor Bruce Willis. However, the collaboration between the two turned out to be anything but smooth, and the film ultimately became a box office disappointment. Here’s a look back at the story behind Cop Out, the clashes on set, and the lessons learned.
The Film: Cop Out
Cop Out follows veteran detective Jimmy Monroe (Bruce Willis), who teams up with his partner Paul (Tracy Morgan) to recover a stolen baseball card worth $52,000. The card is crucial to funding Jimmy’s daughter’s wedding, but their quest leads them into a dangerous encounter with a sports-memorabilia-obsessed gangster.
The script, originally titled A Couple of Dicks, was written by Rob and Mark Cullen and gained attention after landing on Hollywood’s Black List, a catalog of the best unproduced scripts. Kevin Smith, known for indie classics like Clerks, took on the project as his first time directing a film he didn’t write. Smith was drawn to the buddy-cop dynamic, comparing it to his own Clerks characters.
Despite the promise of the script, the $30 million budget was far larger than Smith’s usual indie projects. Bruce Willis, who hadn’t done a straight comedy in years, was a major draw, but the partnership between the two would prove to be troubled.
Clashes on Set
The production of Cop Out was marred by tension between Kevin Smith and Bruce Willis. Smith later described Willis as “the most dour person” he had ever worked with, citing uncooperative behavior, lateness, and a lack of engagement. Smith admitted in interviews that the experience was soul-crushing and left a lasting impact on him.
Willis’s camp denied the rumors of conflict, stating that the actor enjoyed working with Smith and Tracy Morgan. However, other accounts from the set painted a picture of a difficult environment. One talent representative claimed Smith was disengaged, while Smith countered that Willis’s behavior made the process unbearable.
Box Office Performance
Cop Out premiered on February 26, 2010, earning $18.2 million in its opening weekend but ultimately grossing $55.6 million worldwide against a budget of nearly $40 million. The film faced stiff competition from Shutter Island and Alice in Wonderland and received largely negative reviews, contributing to its box office struggles.
Ironically, Cop Out remains Kevin Smith’s highest-grossing film, despite its financial underperformance and critical reception.
Time Healed the Wounds—Sort Of
The experience with Cop Out had a profound effect on Kevin Smith, who returned to his indie roots with films like Red State and focused heavily on podcasting. Smith also became vocal about his disillusionment with big studio projects and the challenges of directing a film he didn’t write.
In 2022, when Bruce Willis stepped away from acting due to a diagnosis of aphasia, Smith publicly apologized for his past criticism, expressing sympathy for Willis and his family during a difficult time.
Lessons Learned
The story of Cop Out highlights several lessons for filmmakers:
- Collaboration Matters: Creative partnerships can make or break a project. The friction between Smith and Willis significantly impacted the film’s production and reception.
- Know Your Strengths: Smith’s decision to step outside his indie comfort zone and direct a studio film didn’t yield the desired results, proving the importance of staying true to one’s creative identity.
- Star Power Isn’t Everything: While big-name actors can drive interest, they don’t guarantee success—especially if the working environment is unhealthy.
- Despite its flaws, Cop Out remains a fascinating chapter in the careers of Bruce Willis and Kevin Smith. While the film didn’t achieve commercial or critical success, it offers valuable insights into the challenges of filmmaking and the complexities of creative collaboration.
