The movie Battlefield Earth (2000) got made primarily due to John Travolta’s relentless push and producer Elie Samaha’s aggressive financing, despite overwhelming skepticism in Hollywood. Travolta, a devoted Scientologist, threatened to leave his agency William Morris if they didn’t support the project. Samaha financed it through Franchise Pictures, pitching it as “Planet of the Apes starring John Travolta” while downplaying its ties to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s novel.
Critics and insiders warned against it—Tom Cruise reportedly cautioned Warner Bros., while an anonymous producer called it “an $80 million vanity project for Travolta” with “the stench of death”. The production was plagued by creative clashes, with original screenwriter J.D. Shapiro later disowning the film, calling his altered script “embarrassing”. Franchise Pictures’ fraudulent budget inflation led to bankruptcy in 2007.
From a conservative lens, this fiasco exemplifies Hollywood’s moral decay—prioritizing celebrity vanity and cultish agendas over artistic integrity. Travolta’s ego and Samaha’s recklessness wasted millions, leaving hardworking taxpayers to foot the bill for such hubris. The film’s Razzie awards for “Worst Picture of the Decade” are a fitting monument to Tinseltown’s out-of-touch excess.
