Movies That Were Cursed During Production (with Strange Accidents)

Hollywood is famous for stories of movies that experienced strange accidents and tragedies, leading some to believe in a supernatural cause. Certain films gained notoriety because their casts and crews suffered a string of bad luck both during and after production – everything from unusual weather to serious illnesses and on-set accidents. People involved in filmmaking and fans often wonder if these events are just coincidences or if something truly cursed the production.

‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939)

During the making of the movie, Buddy Ebsen had a serious allergic reaction to the makeup used for the Tin Man. Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch, suffered severe burns to her face and hand due to a mishap with a special effect. Several actors portraying the Winged Monkeys were also injured when the wires holding them up broke. These incidents turned the set into a dangerous place, and several of the main actors were left with long-term injuries.

‘Rebel Without a Cause’ (1955)

This beloved film is sadly remembered for the tragic deaths of its three stars. James Dean died in a car accident just before the movie came out, and years later, Natalie Wood drowned in a puzzling incident. Sal Mineo was also tragically murdered. Because of these events, many people believe the film is haunted by a dark fate for those who made it.

‘The Conqueror’ (1956)

The movie was filmed in Utah, near a former nuclear testing site. Over the next twenty-five years, more than ninety people involved in the production – cast and crew – were diagnosed with cancer. Sadly, this included the film’s star, John Wayne, and its director, Dick Powell. The unusually high number of cancer cases among the film’s team remains a haunting story in movie history.

‘Rosemary’s Baby’ (1968)

The making of the film was plagued by a series of unsettling incidents. Composer Krzysztof Komeda tragically fell into a coma and died shortly after filming began. Producer William Castle received threatening letters and became seriously ill with kidney stones, leaving him delirious in the hospital. Perhaps the most well-known tragedy was the horrific murder of director Roman Polanski’s wife, Sharon Tate, by the Manson Family. Some believe the film’s dark themes somehow attracted real-life evil.

‘The Exorcist’ (1973)

A fire severely damaged the set used for the MacNeil home, leaving only the exorcism bedroom intact. Sadly, several people involved in the film’s production passed away, including actors Jack MacGowran and Vasiliki Maliaros. Ellen Burstyn was seriously injured when a safety harness failed during a scene, resulting in a lasting spinal injury. The film was plagued by so many problems that the director even asked a priest to perform a real exorcism on the set.

‘The Omen’ (1976)

Making this supernatural horror movie was incredibly dangerous. Twice, planes carrying key people – writer David Seltzer and actor Gregory Peck – were struck by lightning. Producer Harvey Bernhard had a near miss with a lightning strike while filming in Rome. Tragically, a plane chartered for the production crashed soon after taking off, killing everyone aboard, including the pilot’s family.

‘Superman’ (1978)

The ‘Superman curse’ is a famous Hollywood belief that actors who play Superman experience bad luck. George Reeves, the first live-action Superman, died from a gunshot, and though it was ruled a suicide, many fans questioned that conclusion. Christopher Reeve, who also played the hero, was tragically paralyzed in a horse riding accident after his time as Superman ended. Other actors connected to the Superman films, like Margot Kidder, also faced serious personal problems and health challenges.

‘Apocalypse Now’ (1979)

Let me tell you, making this film was a total nightmare! We were shooting in the Philippine jungle and just kept getting hit with one disaster after another. A huge typhoon came through and completely wrecked some of our most elaborate sets, shutting down production for weeks. Then, our lead, Martin Sheen, had a serious heart attack – he was only thirty-six! He actually had to crawl to get help. And if that wasn’t enough, Marlon Brando showed up considerably heavier than expected and flat-out refused to memorize his lines, which just piled on the stress for everyone involved. It was a truly chaotic shoot.

‘Stalker’ (1979)

The movie was filmed close to a chemical plant in Estonia that had leaked dangerous waste into the nearby land and water. Years after filming wrapped, both the director, Andrei Tarkovsky, and his wife tragically died from a rare lung cancer. The lead actor, Anatoly Solonitsyn, also succumbed to the same cancer, leading many to believe it was caused by the hazardous conditions on set. During production, the crew observed a peculiar white foam in the river, which was later found to be toxic chemical pollution.

‘Roar’ (1981)

Being a follower of this film’s production was honestly terrifying! They used over a hundred lions and tigers – and most of them hadn’t been trained for movies! It wasn’t uncommon for cast and crew to get attacked. I remember hearing about Jan de Bont, the cinematographer, needing over a hundred stitches after a lion actually clawed his scalp during filming. And it was even worse for Melanie Griffith; she suffered a serious facial injury that needed a lot of surgery to fix. Over eleven years, they documented more than seventy attacks! It was a really dangerous shoot, to say the least.

‘Poltergeist’ (1982)

The original film and its sequels are tragically known for the deaths of four cast members within six years of the first movie’s release. Twelve-year-old Heather O’Rourke died from a sudden illness related to a blocked intestine. Shortly after the film came out, Dominique Dunne was tragically killed by her former boyfriend. Julian Beck and Will Sampson both died from illnesses not long after finishing their work on the sequels.

‘Twilight Zone: The Movie’ (1983)

A terrible helicopter accident during filming caused the deaths of actor Vic Morrow and two young performers. The helicopter spun out of control amidst a pyrotechnics display and crashed into the actors, who were standing in a shallow river. This tragic event prompted stricter labor laws for child actors and improved safety rules on movie sets. While the director and several crew members were charged with involuntary manslaughter, they were eventually found not guilty.

‘The Crow’ (1994)

A tragic accident on the set of a film resulted in the death of Brandon Lee when a prop gun unexpectedly fired a live bullet fragment. The production was plagued by other serious incidents beforehand, including a crew member suffering severe burns and a carpenter accidentally injuring his hand. There was even an incident where a frustrated employee drove a car into the studio set. Despite these challenges, the film was completed using a stunt double and visual effects as a tribute to Lee.

‘The Passion of the Christ’ (2004)

During the filming of this historical movie, assistant director Jan Michelini was unbelievably struck by lightning not once, but twice. The lead actor, Jim Caviezel, also experienced a lightning strike while filming the Sermon on the Mount scene, but thankfully survived. The difficult shoot in Italy also caused Caviezel to develop pneumonia and dislocate his shoulder. These unusual weather events led many to believe something spiritual was at play during the production.

‘The Innkeepers’ (2011)

While filming, the movie crew stayed at the real-life Yankee Pedlar Inn, which is the setting for the story. Director Ti West said that doors would open and close by themselves and lights would flicker for no apparent reason. Many crew members had incredibly realistic dreams about the inn’s ghosts. The lead actress also felt a strange presence in her room that kept her from sleeping well during filming.

‘The Possession’ (2012)

The warehouse holding all the props for the movie was completely destroyed in a fire, and investigators haven’t been able to determine what caused it. They found no signs of arson or an electrical problem. During filming, the lead actor, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, noted that light bulbs often blew out whenever the prop Dybbuk box was nearby. The cast also reported feeling consistently uneasy and experiencing cold spots throughout the shoot.

‘The Conjuring’ (2013)

During the making of the film, members of the real Perron family, who inspired the story, felt a peculiar wind that seemed to track their movements even when the trees were still. Director James Wan’s dog would bark at what appeared to be unseen presences in his office at night. Actress Vera Farmiga found three unexplained scratches on her computer screen after doing research for her role. And the cast and crew had to evacuate their hotel when a fire broke out during filming.

‘Annabelle’ (2014)

During filming, a heavy light fell and hit an actor who was playing a janitor – a scene eerily similar to one in the script where a janitor is killed. Director John Leonetti also noticed three distinct finger marks in the dust on a window, mirroring the three fingers on the demon character in the movie. Crew members reported that equipment seemed to move by itself, even when no one was close. These unsettling events made the cast very anxious about handling the doll used as a prop, which they believed was cursed.

‘The Nun’ (2018)

While filming in Romania, director Corin Hardy experienced some spooky events. He thought he saw two people in a shadowy hallway of an old fortress, but they disappeared without a trace. The film was shot in genuine historical locations, which created a truly unsettling atmosphere. Several crew members also reported hearing strange whispers and footsteps when no one else was around.

‘The Matrix Reloaded’ (2003)

Making the sequels was unfortunately marked by several personal losses and on-set injuries. Singer Aaliyah tragically died in a plane crash, and Gloria Foster, who played the Oracle, passed away from diabetes during filming. Keanu Reeves broke his ankle in a motorcycle accident, and Carrie-Anne Moss suffered a leg injury while performing a stunt. These events made filming the complex sci-fi movies particularly challenging.

Please share your thoughts on these infamous film productions in the comments.

2025-12-21 20:46