On This Day

Fight Club premiere

September 10th 1999

10:21 10 September 2024

The world premiere of David Fincher's 'Fight Club' was held at the 56th Venice International Film Festival on this day in 1999. Based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk and starring Brad Pitt, Ed Norton and Helena Bonham Carter, the movie had not been well received by senior studio executives who raised concerns as to what audience it was aimed at and how it could be marketed.

Consequently a poorly conceived marketing campaign and mixed reviews from the critics meant 'Fight Club' failed to meet box office expectations despite being one of the most talked about and controversial films of the year. Commercial success came later with it's release on DVD where a new audience ensured its status both as a cult classic and a modern masterpiece.