After her success in Pretty Woman, Julia Roberts returned to romantic comedies with The Players in 1994, which struggled at the box office, earning $61.9 million against a $45 million budget. Criticism focused on the lack of chemistry between Roberts and Nick Nolte, fueled by their off-screen animosity. Directed by Charles Shyer, the film follows two journalists investigating a train accident, but behind-the-scenes tensions led to a challenging filming environment, with Nolte later reflecting on their tumultuous relationship. The film is available on VOD.
Following her rise to fame with the iconic film Pretty Woman, Julia Roberts ventured into a variety of roles across different genres. However, just four years after her breakout performance, she returned to the romantic comedy scene with a film that has largely faded into obscurity – and perhaps for good reason.
Released in 1994, The Players was met with a lukewarm reception from both critics and audiences, earning a mere $61.9 million worldwide against a budget of $45 million. In contrast, Roberts’ previous hit, Pretty Woman, was produced on a modest budget of $14 million and grossed an impressive $463.4 million globally.
The Chemistry That Never Was
The primary criticism of The Players centered around the palpable tension between its lead actors, which detracted from the believability of their romantic connection. This disconnection can be traced back to the real-life animosity between Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte.
Directed by Charles Shyer, who co-wrote the script alongside romantic comedy powerhouse Nancy Meyers, The Players features two journalists who cross paths while reporting on a tragic train accident. Peter Brackett (Nolte) is a jaded veteran, while Sabrina Peterson (Roberts) is an inexperienced newcomer. As they investigate a suspect whom they believe is a pawn in a larger conspiracy, they must reluctantly collaborate, leading to a tumultuous and life-threatening adventure that reveals unexpected depths to their characters.
Behind the Scenes Turmoil
While the storyline aimed to depict a blossoming romance, the reality on set was marked by a deep-seated animosity. During the promotional tour for her legal thriller, The Pelican Brief, Roberts openly criticized Nolte, describing him as “absolutely disgusting” and claiming he had irritated her from their first encounter.
“From the moment I met him, we clashed and naturally, we got on each other’s nerves,” she noted, acknowledging that while he could be “completely charming and very nice,” he also had a tendency to alienate those around him.
This friction reportedly created a toxic atmosphere on set, where Nolte’s behavior further agitated Roberts, leading to a cycle of conflict. As a result, many scenes had to be filmed with body doubles. Nolte even remarked, “She’s not a nice girl, everyone says so.” In 2009, he recalled their time working together as one of his least favorable experiences.
Years later, in a 2022 interview with Insider, Nolte reflected on the absurdity of their situation, acknowledging his part in the feud. He admitted, “What we went through was absurd. It was partly my fault and a bit hers. Julia got married at the beginning of this film and it was one of those things I just handled poorly.”
For those curious to see The Players for themselves, it’s available on VOD.
Don’t forget to check out the film’s trailer below: