10 Genius Times Studios Beat The Film Director
5. Having Richard Lester Reshoot Most Of The Movie (And Still Turning A Huge Profit) - Superman II
The first two Christopher Reeve-starring Superman movies were initially shot back-to-back with Richard Donner set to helm both movies, but once 75% of Superman II had been shot, it was decided to focus on completing the first film due to disagreements between Donner and producers over the schedule and budget.
And so, Superman was completed and released to considerable success, after which Donner was fired from Superman II and replaced with director Richard Lester, who in order to receive a directing credit re-shot the majority of Donner's Superman II footage.
The theatrical "Lester Cut" of Superman II consisted primarily of Lester's new footage combined with a little of Donner's, and despite the astronomical costs involved in reshooting so much material, it still grossed more than triple its $54 million budget, even if it wasn't nearly as well-received as its predecessor.
And all the better, Warner Bros. were effectively able to leverage the controversy surrounding the film's production to double-dip decades later, when they allowed Donner to complete editing the "Donner Cut," which was released on home video to strong reviews in 2006.
Take all the behind-the-scenes manoeuvring away and Warner Bros. got to make profit from two versions of the same movie.