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Hollywood lives and breathes drama — but well, folks, the literal action happens off-screen. Be it screaming matches or brawls, some of the biggest names in the industry have clashed behind the scenes, which left a trail of broken friendships, bruised egos, and unfathomable feuds.
Some fights ended with handshakes. Others? Not so much.
Bill Murray vs. Lucy Liu
The set of Charlie’s Angels had more than high kicks and undercover missions. Lucy Liu alluded in 2021 that Bill Murray stopped filming to unload on her. He hurled insults and claimed she “couldn’t act.” Drew Barrymore later backed her up, saying she witnessed the whole stuff. Liu didn’t just take it; she threw punches before crew members separated them.
Murray’s grudge ran deep. If Liu were in it, he refused to return for the 2003 sequel, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle. The studio didn’t budge. Murray was out. Bernie Mac stepped in.
Christian Bale vs. Shane Hurlbut
Christian Bale’s rant on Terminator Salvation was extravagant. The target was cinematographer Shane Hurlbut, who entered Bale’s line of sight during an intense scene. The meltdown immediately went viral.
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Some crew members defended Bale, but the actor later admitted, “I acted like a punk.” He apologized publicly, but the damage was done. His fiery temper became as talked about as the movie itself.
Shia LaBeouf vs. Tom Hardy
Some crazy stuff happened between Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy in Lawless (2012).
LaBeouf showcased their on-set wrestling matches as playful until one got out of hand. Hardy reportedly walked in on LaBeouf and his then-girlfriend during a private moment. Things escalated. According to Hardy, Hardy ended up getting tossed over LaBeouf’s shoulder and knocked out.
But director John Hillcoat told another version. He confirmed a real fight in a 2016 Reddit AMA, but it wasn’t as playful as LaBeouf made it sound. The two actors had to be physically separated before it got worse.
Tom Hardy vs. Charlize Theron
Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron’s on-screen bond in Mad Max: Fury Road was explosive, but their off-camera relationship was toxic.
Hardy admitted the pressure of taking over Mel Gibson’s role as Max got to him. Theron later said she hadn’t realized just how much. In 2022, Blood, Sweat, and Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road revealed new details. Theron recalled feeling “scared s***less” of Hardy. She was so shaken after one heated confrontation—when Hardy showed up to set three hours late—she had a producer shadow her for protection.
Despite the off-screen hostility, the movie was a triumph, winning six Oscars from ten nominations.
Tony Kaye vs. Edward Norton
Director Tony Kaye and Edward Norton never agreed on American History X. Even before filming started, Kaye trashed Norton, calling him “a narcissistic dilettante” who lacked acting chops.
But their feud hit another level in the editing room. Norton wanted a different final cut. Kaye fought back so aggressively that New Line Cinema’s boss banned him from the editing suite. Kaye lost it when the studio went with Norton’s version—punching a wall and breaking his hand.
Then came the bizarre part. Kaye tried to remove his name from the movie entirely, asking it to be credited as “A Humpty Dumpty film.” He even attempted to change his name to Humpty Dumpty legally. The movie earned Norton an Oscar nod. Kaye? It took him more than a decade to direct another film.
Harrison Ford vs. Ridley Scott
Harrison Ford and Ridley Scott spent years arguing about Whether Rick Deckard was a replicant in Blade Runner (1982).
Scott said yes, but Ford insisted no. They clashed constantly over it. Ford also hated Scott’s cold directing style and the grueling conditions on set.
By the time Blade Runner 2049 (2017) happened, their feud was still alive. Director Denis Villeneuve experienced it firsthand at a pre-production dinner, where Ford and Scott kept rehashing their old fight. Villeneuve wisely avoided taking sides, leaving the replicant mystery open-ended.
Herbert Ross vs. The Cast of Steel Magnolias
Director Herbert Ross feuded with all of them.
The cast of Steel Magnolias — Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Dolly Parton, and Julia Roberts — later called Ross out for his criticism. Roberts, still a newcomer at the time, had it worst. Field and MacLaine had to stand up for her when Ross mocked her acting and even suggested she remove the mole under her eye.
Parton had her run-in with the director. He told her she needed acting lessons. She asserted, “I’m not an actress… I’m a personality who has been hired to do this movie. You’re the director. It’s your job to make me look like I’m acting.”
Despite the on-set hostility, the cast formed a lifelong bond. None of them attended Ross’s funeral in 2001.
David O. Russell vs. George Clooney, Lily Tomlin & Amy Adams
David O. Russell has a long history of fighting with actors.
George Clooney clashed with him on Three Kings (1999) after Russell mistreated extras. When Clooney called him out, Russell said, “Why don’t you just f***ing remember your lines for once?” The two nearly came to blows. Clooney swore he’d never work with Russell again—and hasn’t.
On I Heart Huckabees (2004), Russell screamed at Lily Tomlin mid-scene, a moment caught in a now-infamous behind-the-scenes video. Tomlin later downplayed the fight, saying she had moved on.
Amy Adams had a rough time, too. She broke down in tears on American Hustle ‘cause of Russell’s aggressive directing style. Like Clooney, she vowed never to work with him again.
For more such stories, check out Hollywood News.
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