dekker

I was thinking about Napoleon Dynamite and the fact that even though it was a decent success, Jon Heder and the director Jared Hess haven't had a big hit since. It's been almost 9 years. I did read on IMDB that there's an animated series of Napoloen Dynamite and that Hess is supposed to be directing a new film with Jim Carrey. But I haven't heard of a lot of Jon Heder's subsequent films apart from Blades of Glory.

Blair Witch Project is another example. The director has made some films since like Altered but they haven't been monster hits. And the cast never went onto anything bigger.

Any other examples?

Mondo Kane

Nia Vardalos' follow-up romcoms have certainly gone no where.

As for Blair Witch, there were 2 credited directors, but one of them (Eduardo Sánchez) is starting to get back on the rise with Seventh Moon and Lovely Molly (Watched those for last year's Horror Challenge and liked both of them) and the V/H/S/ sequel (Which he's involved with) is being more applauded than the previous one.

Why So Blu?

When the Blair Witch exploded with success those guys just sat on the money and lived the life.

Napoleon Dynamite doesn't hold up well anymore. It's the birth of the hipster movement that made it a success.

Terminal

Napoleon Dynamite is unwatchable.

My Big Fat Greek wedding is unwatchable.

Eduardo Sanchez did really good for himself after BWP. The movie made money hand over fist, so he never really rushed to try to top or match its sucess.

Tarantino

Both of those movies are fantastic.

Terminal

To each their own.

RichC2

Napoleon Dynamite had a couple funny parts but I generally agree it isn't very good. Nacho Libre was actually a substantially bigger hit. Jon Heder had as consistent work as one could expect, and his biggest hit is Blades of Glory.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding was pure torture. Nia Vardalos is friends with Tom Hanks though so she'll have 50 more chances.

Richard Kelly comes to mind for me, bust out of the gate with Donnie Darko, then stunk it up with Southland Tales and The Box.

Bluelitespecial

The Box is such a god awful movie, thankfully I had a free ticket to see it. I would have been pissed off if I paid to see that shit.

GoldenJCJ

How about Troy Duffy. He directed Boondock Saints which turned into quite a big cult film then he did jack squat for 10 years until Boondock Saints II which totally fizzled upon its release.

Of course, I've also heard Duffy is a complete asshole who burned every bridge that was laid out for him so maybe that had something to do with it too.

Why So Blu?

That's actually why his career tanked.

There's that awesome documentary that chronicles his rise and fall. I forget the name, though, but it's on Youtube.

Why So Blu?

I didn't hate the film - I thought of it as a Twilight Zone episode of sorts. Then again, all of Richard Kelley's directorial works can be classified as Twilight Zone episodes, imo. Some are better than others.

Donnie Darko
Southland Tales
The Box

Groucho

Tony Kaye / American History X

Michael Corvin

It's called Overnight and it paints Duffy as a complete asshole. If even just a tenth of it is true then it's no wonder why the guy never did anything after Boondock Saints.

Adam Carolla has preached for years that it's his favorite documentary and ragged on Duffy for years because of it. Last year he brought Duffy on his podcast to talk about it. Duffy tried to paint himself in a better light but I think he came across as an even bigger douchebag.

Why So Blu?

Vincent Ward / What Dreams May Come

Charles Laughton / The Night of the Hunter

Tarantino

I loved that episode. Carolla had to cut him off if I remember correctly.

The documentary is fantastic.

Why So Blu?

Here's the scumbag's doc:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TvP7TLnkiB4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

PopcornTreeCt

The Avengers

PenguinJoe

Although it wasn't really a hit Universal had a lot riding on Kinka Usher when they had him do his superhero satire Mystery Men. Toys, video games, etc. Then it tanked.

hanshotfirst1138

Wasn't Vince Ward attached to that famous early draft "wooden planet" thing in Alien 3?

Why So Blu?

Yep. He actually still has story credit for it.

Terminal

Oh man. The Box and Southland Tales was a one two punch of suck.

Hokeyboy

Schnikies... drop the pipe son.

OK yeah, everything's subjective. FWIW we recently re-watched Greek Wedding, hadn't seen it since it first came out. What a terrible movie. Generic mismatched ethnic comedy #43. Written and directed with all the woeful mediocrity of an episode of a mid-90s Thursday Night at 8:30 NBC sitcom that couldn't hold on to Friends's audience.

Terminal

Spear headed by none other than Tom Hanks' utterly mediocre vanilla forgettable wife. Rita... something.

DvdClon

George Huang / Swimming With Sharks

Rockmjd23

I would've said Shane Carruth, but I guess he finally has a new movie.