* ActorSharedBackground: A proxy example. Kirsten Dunst's mother was a flight attendant.
* BoxOfficeBomb: It has this reputation but it actually did okay at the box office, earning $52 million. Problem was that the budget had ballooned up to $45 million (no doubt song licensing for the soundtrack was one of the main reasons why) so it wasn't especially profitable.
* CaliforniaDoubling: Most of the Elizabethtown portions of the film are actually filmed in Versailles, Kentucky instead.
* CastTheRunnerUp: Creator/JessicaBiel auditioned for Claire first, but ended up cast as Ellen.
* CreatorBacklash: Not the movie itself, but Creator/KirstenDunst did not liked the concept or the name of the "ManicPixieDreamGirl" trope (or the fact that it [[TropeNamer was coined]] to describe her character in this film) [[https://www.avclub.com/no-kirsten-dunst-does-not-like-the-term-manic-pixie-d-1798227718 when she was told of it]].
* CreatorChosenCasting:
** The part of Drew was written with Orlando Bloom in mind. Although he initially wasn't able to (see below), Cameron Crowe soon got his wish.
** Similarly, Kirsten Dunst was the first choice for Claire, and almost wasn't able to do it.
* DuelingWorks: With ''Film/GardenState'', another movie about a depressed man regaining his confidence thanks to his romantic interactions with a ManicPixieDreamGirl. In fact, both movies essentially codified this character archetype in fiction. The big difference is that ''Garden State'' had a favorable reception among critics and audiences not to mention that it far better at the box office than ''Elizabethtown'' which was widely seen as an imitator of that film. Ironically it's gone the other way since, with ''Garden State'' being seen as overhyped and poorly written, while ''Elizabethtown'' has more merits.
* FakeAmerican: Creator/OrlandoBloom is British, and his accent [[OohMeAccentsSlipping doesn't really hold up]].
* TheOtherMarty:
** Creator/AshtonKutcher was cast as Drew initially. But Creator/CameronCrowe felt he and Creator/KirstenDunst had no chemistry and put shooting on hold while he found a replacement actor. Creator/OrlandoBloom - who had been the first choice but had to decline due to ''Film/KingdomOfHeaven'' - became available, making this a potential case of The Original Marty.
** Creator/JaneFonda was also cast as Hollie. But she had to drop out and was replaced with Creator/SusanSarandon.
* PropRecycling: A picture showing Susan Sarandon holding a baby had previously been used in the film ''{{Film/Stepmom}}''.
* SerendipityWritesThePlot: While shooting a scene in a cemetery with Creator/OrlandoBloom and Creator/KirstenDunst, filming was interrupted due to an unexpected rain storm. Creator/CameronCrowe suggested they shoot the scene anyway because it looked more beautiful and natural.
* StarDerailingRole: Orlando Bloom was a teen heartthrob at the time thanks to his roles in fantasy blockbusters such as ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'', ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'' and ''{{Film/Troy}}'', where he was usually a supporting character or {{Foil}} for a more colourful lead. His first attempt at transitioning out of that image in ''Film/KingdomOfHeaven'' was a Box Office failure, but the well-received director's cut lessened it. Here, however, where he was unambiguously the lead and expected to carry the emotional weight of the story without someone like Johnny Depp, Viggo Mortensen or Eric Bana to play off, and his poorly received attempt at an American accent, saw him gradually vanishing from leading roles. While the ''Pirates'' franchise and Legolas being inserted into ''Film/TheHobbit'' meant he was still appearing in major films, he deliberately stepped away from the spotlight in favour of stage work.
* ThrowItIn: The rain during the cemetery scene was unscripted. It just started raining and Cameron Crowe chose to go with it.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** Creator/ChrisEvans, Creator/JamesFranco, Creator/ColinHanks and Creator/SeannWilliamScott were considered for Drew Taylor.
** Had Creator/KirstenDunst not been available to play Claire, Creator/EvanRachelWood would have been the next choice. Kirsten was originally signed to ''Film/TheVillage2004'', but dropped out to be able to audition for this. Both movies star Creator/JudyGreer. Creator/ScarlettJohansson also auditioned.
** Ben is Claire's brother in the original script, and she uses him to deflect unwanted advances.
** The film originally ended showing [[spoiler: that Drew's shoe design becomes a hit]]. It was cut to avoid EndingFatigue.
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