10 Movies That Did Crazy Things When They Ran Out Of Money
1. The Second Unit Was Sent Home Early - Masters Of The Universe
Production on 1987's live-action He-Man movie Masters of the Universe sure was a mess.
It was by far the most expensive film produced by The Cannon Group at the time, and they were desperate enough for a smash hit after a string of flops that they eventually added $7 million to the superhero flick's budget, bringing it to a hefty $22 million.
Nevertheless, Cannon were obsessed with cutting budgetary corners wherever possible, scrapping planned sequences and, at one point, even dismissing the film's second unit team.
Though the film does have a credited second unit, Cannon executives sent them home during filming rather than pay them to complete pickups, insisting instead that director Gary Goddard carry out any additional photography - that is, establishing shots and prop close-ups - himself.
It really sounds like it was a case of putting a band-aid on a gaping wound, though, given that the production clearly had so many other issues - its script, for one.
The film's commercial failure, along with those of Superman IV: The Quest for Peace and Lifeforce, ultimately contributed to Cannon Films' eventual closure.