Mark Wahlberg has spoken candidly about his film choices, once calling the 2008 thriller The Happening a “bad movie.”
M. Night Shyamalan wrote and directed this science fiction thriller, featuring Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo, and Betty Buckley. The film centers around a strange event that causes widespread suicides, a plot that puzzled many viewers.
While working on The Fighter, Mark Wahlberg told Collider a story about a previous film he’d made. He explained that he’d had lunch with a potential co-star before she agreed to work with him, and he’d discussed a “bad movie” he’d been in – one she thankfully avoided. He eventually revealed the film was The Happening.
Wahlberg expressed frustration, saying, ‘Honestly, what’s done is done.’ He jokingly added some expletives while explaining he didn’t want to pretend to be a science teacher, and was relieved he wasn’t cast as a police officer or criminal, referencing the fact that his co-star, Amy Adams, hadn’t taken part in the project.
Even though Mark Wahlberg admitted the movie wasn’t great, The Happening still did well in theaters, making $163 million around the world on a $60 million budget.
Despite the initial excitement, critics generally disliked the film. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a low 17% rating based on 185 reviews, with one critic calling it a promising start that quickly became confusing and unconvincing. Metacritic scored it a 34 out of 100, also indicating mostly negative reviews, and audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave it a D.
Over time, some critics have re-evaluated the film, describing it as a charming “B movie.” Glenn Whipp observed that it’s genuinely enjoyable if you approach it as such, and Ignatiy Vishnevetsky pointed out its resemblance to and playful imitation of classic 1950s low-budget films.
The film received four Golden Raspberry Award nominations – for Worst Picture, Mark Wahlberg as Worst Actor, Worst Director, and Worst Screenplay. Although critics didn’t like it, the movie has since gained a small but dedicated fanbase who enjoy its quirky story and over-the-top style.
Looking back on his career, Mark Wahlberg’s experience with The Happening highlights the risks actors take when working on challenging films. While he’s gone on to star in many successful and well-regarded movies, The Happening is a memorable example of a time when a calculated risk didn’t quite work out.
Read More
- Leveraged ETFs: A Dance of Risk and Reward Between TQQQ and SSO
- The Dividend Maze: VYM and HDV in a Labyrinth of Yield and Diversification
- Gold Rate Forecast
- How to Do Sculptor Without a Future in KCD2 – Get 3 Sculptor’s Things
- 🚀 BCH’s Bold Dash: Will It Outshine BTC’s Gloomy Glare? 🌟
- The Fairness Trap: How AI Can Game Fair Division
- GLD vs. SLV: Which ETF Wins for Retail Investors?
- Magnite Stock: Insider Sale Sparks Curious Questions?
- Chief Legal Officer’s Share Sale: Market Signal?
- Why Monad’s $269M Boom Might Turn Into a Bust-Brace for the Post-Launch Sigh 😅
2025-11-29 11:45