Christopher Nolan Can’t Get Enough of This Woody Harrelson Bowling Comedy — Saw It Thrice at the Cinema
The film flopped in the ’90s — but won one famous fan.
He’s one of the most respected filmmakers of our time, but when it comes to guilty pleasures, even Christopher Nolan isn’t immune to the odd cinematic curveball.
While most fans eagerly rewatch his complex masterpieces year after year, Nolan himself has a soft spot for a little-known sports comedy that flopped spectacularly in the '90s — Kingpin, starring Woody Harrelson and Bill Murray.
In fact, he’s such a fan, he saw it in the cinema two or three times.
Nolan fell for Kingpin thanks to Harrelson’s performance
Back in the 1990s, the Farrelly brothers were riding high, churning out hit after hit in the comedy genre. But in 1996, their bowling-centred comedy Kingpin missed the mark commercially — despite boasting a starry cast.
Still, it managed to win over one very significant admirer. In an interview, Nolan revealed he considers Harrelson’s performance in Kingpin one of the greatest in cinema history. According to him, it was the actor’s unique mix of laid-back charisma and razor-sharp comic timing that made the role unforgettable.
Some of the lines, Nolan confessed, he still remembers by heart.
Box office flop, cult classic — and a Nolan favourite
Despite Harrelson’s standout turn, the film was far from a success. It earned just $32 million at the box office, falling short of its $25 million budget. Critics weren’t kind either — with Kingpin holding a mere 50% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a modest 67% approval from audiences.
Reviewers at the time slammed the film for slipping into vulgarity and unnecessary cruelty, despite a promising premise. But clearly, none of that put Nolan off.
After all, if there’s one thing he’s taught us over the years, it’s this: never underestimate an underdog.
