Questions
Who made House of 1000 Corpses?
It was written and directed by musician Rob Zombie, and it was his directorial debut.
When did it come out?
It was released theatrically on April 11, 2003, by Lions Gate Entertainment.
Why did it take so long to reach theaters?
It was shot back in 2000, but Universal shelved the finished film after studio head Stacey Snider reportedly feared it would receive an NC-17 rating. Zombie reacquired the rights and it did not hit theaters until 2003.
How did Universal go from making it to dropping it?
After Universal shelved the film, MGM agreed to release it around October 2002, then backed out after Zombie reportedly made controversial remarks about the company, before Lions Gate finally picked it up.
Where do the character names come from?
They were borrowed from Groucho Marx roles. Captain Spaulding is from Animal Crackers (1930), Otis B. Driftwood is from A Night at the Opera (1935), and Rufus T. Firefly is from Duck Soup (1933).
Who is in the cast?
Sid Haig plays Captain Spaulding, Bill Moseley plays Otis, Sheri Moon Zombie plays Baby Firefly, and Karen Black plays Mother Firefly.
Is the title connected to Rob Zombie’s music?
Yes. The song House of 1000 Corpses appears on Zombie’s 2001 album The Sinister Urge and is featured on the film’s soundtrack.
Was there really a Madonna connection?
Reportedly, in 1999 MTV announced Madonna was considering producing a horror film Zombie would write and direct called The Legend of the 13 Graves, to be co-produced with Guy Oseary, but that project never materialized.
Did anything go wrong on set?
Reportedly, Jake McKinnon, who played The Professor, almost hit actress Erin Daniels with a real ax during the film’s climax.
Is the movie dedicated to anyone?
Yes. Dennis Fimple, who played Grandpa Hugo, died following filming, and the finished film was dedicated to his memory.
How much did it make?
On a roughly $7 million budget it grossed about $16.8 million worldwide, and its official opening weekend brought in $2,522,026, placing second behind Anger Management.
Are there sequels?
Yes. It is the first film in the Firefly trilogy, followed by The Devil’s Rejects (2005) and 3 from Hell (2019).
Was it well reviewed?
Not at first. It initially drew poor reviews, holding a 21% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but it went on to achieve cult status over time.
