“Animal House”: Donald Sutherland’s $20 Million Blunder Prior to Filming the Cult Classic

A Look Back at the Legendary Comedy Film “National Lampoon's Animal House”

As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of “National Lampoon's Animal House” this summer, we reflect on its status as one of the greatest comedy movies in history.

When the classic film premiered in 1978, expectations were low.

After all, the screenplay was written by Harold Ramis, a talented writer with no prior experience in the industry.

Little did anyone know that this movie would launch Ramis into an incredibly successful career.

However, amidst all the unexpected developments, one person can attest to a costly mistake made during the production: Donald Sutherland.

Let's delve into the details behind Sutherland's $20 million blunder.

The Plot of “National Lampoon's Animal House”

Faber College serves as the backdrop for “National Lampoon's Animal House,” a film that revolves around a long-standing feud between two fraternities on campus.

The story begins with Larry Kroger and Kent Dorfman navigating the pledging process.

Feeling out of place, Dorfman leads them to Delta Tau Chi Fraternity, which quickly becomes their new home.

The fraternity embraces a culture of partying and misfits.

However, trouble arises when Dean Wormer takes issue with their reputation as troublemakers.

The movie follows the characters of Delta Tau Chi Fraternity as they attempt to save their beloved home and community.

At the time, the film was considered a “gross-out” comedy, leaving its reception uncertain.

The Modest Budget and Unexpected Success

Due to the lack of faith in the film's potential success, “National Lampoon's Animal House” was given a meager budget of $2.5 million.

As Tanen put it, “Screw it, it's a silly little movie, and we'll make a couple of bucks if we're lucky – let them do whatever they want.”

Little did they know, the movie would go on to make much more than just a “couple of bucks.”

Let's take a look at the cast and the immense success they achieved.

The Star-Studded Cast of “National Lampoon's Animal House”

“National Lampoon's Animal House” featured many inexperienced actors.

Surprisingly, it marked Kevin Bacon's film debut.

Universal Studios believed that securing big names would guarantee the film's success.

However, Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, and Bill Murray turned down lead roles.

Ultimately, John Belushi was cast as one of the main characters.

Despite this, Universal Studios still sought more star power, leading them to Sutherland.

Unfortunately, Sutherland made one of the biggest mistakes of his career during the filming process.

Donald Sutherland's $20 Million Mistake

During pre-production, director John Landis approached Sutherland, who was already a close family friend.

As one of the most popular actors of the 1970s, Sutherland was seen as a valuable addition to the film.

Landis initially offered Sutherland a salary of $35,000 and a small percentage of the film's profits, but the actor declined.

Like many others, Sutherland believed the movie would be a flop.

Universal Studios then matched the salary but increased the profit percentage to 15%.

Still, Sutherland turned them down.

In the end, he settled for a cash payment of $50,000 for his minor role as a professor fond of marijuana and his students.

Little did he know that had he accepted Universal Studios' second offer, he could have earned over $20 million from the film.

Although undoubtedly regretful, Sutherland's iconic career has likely made up for the financial loss.

As we commemorate the legacy of “National Lampoon's Animal House,” it serves as a reminder that even the most talented individuals can make costly mistakes.

Sutherland's blunder underscores the unpredictable nature of the film industry, where success can sometimes come from unexpected places.