Original indie film; box office and video; Oscar song; home movies; smoking; De Niro role choice; polygraph; DeHuff; cats; Focker name; set behavior; ratings rule; Litter Kwitter; Polo bankruptcy
The film originated with a low-budget 1992 version by Greg Glienna; Universal’s rights purchase reportedly allowed it to suppress that earlier film, which intermittently reappears online. — Bill Simmons
A $55 million budget and roughly $330 million gross are reported; it beat Remember the Titans on opening weekend. — Bill Simmons
The film is reported as the seventh-biggest release of 2000; the sequels earned $522.7 million and $310.7 million respectively. — Bill Simmons
Video sales reportedly added $200 million in 2001, illustrating the lucrative home-video era. — Bill Simmons
Polo’s husband’s home movies were reportedly inserted after test audiences disliked Pam, making her more appealing as a romantic partner. — Bill Simmons
Stiller reportedly was not a smoker and felt uncomfortable smoking beside De Niro, whose screen technique he admired. — Bill Simmons
Claims that the bomb dialogue was removed from airplane screenings conflict with a recent personal flight viewing that retained it. — Bill Simmons
De Niro reportedly turned down Any Given Sunday to make this film. — Bill Simmons
De Niro reportedly enjoyed the cat between takes and encouraged more scenes with it. — Bill Simmons
De Niro reportedly kept his distance from Stiller to sustain their characters’ unease; Stiller later acknowledged he was not especially nice. — Kyle Brandt
The ratings body reportedly required proof of a real Focker surname before permitting it. — Bill Simmons
The movie reportedly inspired the successful Litter Kwitter cat toilet-training product. — Bill Simmons
Polo’s 2014 bankruptcy filing is mentioned without an explanation. — Bill Simmons
