How the Legendary Franchise Fizzled Out - The Fall of Police Academy
"Police Academy" is a world-famous American comedy film franchise that began its existence in the first half of the 80s! IN 1984 The first and most successful part of the film was released on the big screens, which became a big debut for the series! With a budget 4.5 million dollars, the picture managed to collect more than 150 million dollars in worldwide box office. Then Warner Bros. realized that this is a gold mine, which is worth putting on the conveyor! However, with each new part, everything became exactly the opposite.
First of all, the fault was a clear drop in quality. And it's not about visual issues. But first, a little background. The idea of the film came from the producer during the filming "Guys what you need". Paul Maslansky turned his attention to young police cadets, who blocked the streets for filming and kept order. However, the guys did their job very ineptly ... But this is precisely what inspired Maslansky to write the script for the future franchise, which everyone knows today as "Police Academy"!
The most successful part of the franchise was first. Although compared to subsequent series, it had the most modest budget - $ 4.5 million. Based on this, the actors were chosen young and unpretentious, but who already had experience. So, they took the main role Steve Guttenberg, which came to the spectator and the team to their liking! Alas, after fourth parts he left the project.
If the second and third parts were still successful at the box office, despite the fact that critics and viewers were unhappy with what had become of the Police Academy, then fourth became revolutionary - unfortunately, not in the best sense of the word. The film took 17 million dollars, but fees amounted to only 77 million, which is half that of the first part. As one critic put it, “only a ten-year-old child can take anything out of this movie!” In a word - failure.
However, the studio did not give up, and the shooting of the fifth part began. The cast has undergone changes, and as a result - another failure. The same thing happened with the sixth series. BUT seventh became the biggest failure in the history of the franchise. Seeing what was captured in Moscow not in the best period for that, Warner Bros. decided to put an end to the franchise.
Fun fact: the producer himself claims that from the very beginning - that is, since 1984 - the plans were to shoot 10 films about the Academy! I wonder if this is true, or plans were born after the colossal success of the first part ...
