* BoxOfficeBomb: The film only grossed $15 million against a $75 million budget.
* DevelopmentHell: The movie had been planned for over 12 years before it finally went into pre-production.
* DyeingForYourArt: Creator/KurtRussell took on a vigorous workout schedule of four hours a day for over a year to get himself into military shape.
* MoneyDearBoy: Creator/KurtRussell hasn't said that he didn't like the movie itself, but did state that he only took another action film at his age because he wanted the paycheck... and only stuck with it after breaking an ankle and a foot because he ''still'' wanted that paycheck. On the other hand, he ''really'' [[DyeingForYourArt dedicated himself to preparing physically for the role]].
* PlayingAgainstType: Gary Busey usually plays over the top villains. Here, he plays a restrained and generally moral leader who cares about the men under his command.
* RealLifeRelative: One of the younger versions of Todd is played by Kurt Russell's son, [[Creator/WyattRussell Wyatt]].
* StarDerailingRole: Kurt Russell's stint as a leading man in feature films ended when this film tanked, compounded with ''Film/ThreeThousandMilesToGraceland'' also failing three years later. He got a brief comeback opportunity when ''Film/{{Miracle}}'' became a surprise hit in 2004, before ''Film/{{Poseidon}}'' bombing two years later snuffed it.
* ThrowItIn: Mekum wetting his pants when he sees Todd alive and well and back to punish him was not in the original script, it was improvised on set: the "urine" dripping out of Mekum's pants was actually pineapple juice.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** According to various sources, the film was originally intended to ''show the Battle of the TannhauserGate'' referenced by Roy Batty at the end of ''Film/BladeRunner'', and apparently showed the Gate as a "huge planet-wide wall of metal bristling with futuristic weapons". The sequence was cut for budgetary concerns, [[MissingTrailerScene and the only completed remnant was shown in the theatrical trailer]].
** Creator/KurtRussell had stated that a sequel had been planned should it have done well. Unfortunately, the movie was a BoxOfficeBomb.
** Creator/KeanuReeves was signed on to play the lead originally, but had to drop out. Creator/SylvesterStallone was also offered the role.
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