10 Directors Who Absolutely Hated Their Own Movies

Tony Kaye is a renowned music video director who has created the visuals for some huge rock hits, including Soul Asylum’s Runaway Train, and Dani California by Red Hot Chilli Peppers. But he is best known for making one of the cult movie hits of the late-nineties, American History X (1998). The movie infamously tells the story of two brothers' involvement in the white power/neo-Nazi skinhead movement.

In the role of the elder sibling was an Edward Norton who was well on his way to becoming a superstar and was just one year away from career-defining role in David Fincher’s Fight Club (1999). As the younger brother, there was Edward Furlong in his most prominent role since his debut in James Cameron’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).

But despite American History X's relative success, Kaye would disown his involvement in the movie after he clashed with New Line Cinema in post-production, and the producers allowed Edward Norton in on the editing process against Kaye’s wishes. The final theatrical cut was longer than Kaye intended and featured scenes that he did not want included.

Instead of promoting the film as per his contract, Kaye decided to speak out against Norton, the producers and his treatment by New Line. He attempted to remove his name from the credits and even tried to unsuccessfully sue the studio; none of which did his reputation as a director any favours in terms of future filmmaking opportunities.