History Trivia / TropicThunder

--->'''Cruise:''' "I said, "Do you mind, Ben? I wanna play this character," I said. "I wanna have fat hands, and I wanna dance."

* GenreKiller: The "OscarBait film starring an InspirationallyDisadvantaged character played by a neurotypical actor" subgenre of film went dead quiet after this film's release, with few, if any feature films matching ''Tropic Thunder'''s description coming out and none of them being nominated. ''Film/Music2021'' is the only such film to see any attention, and that was largely for being a huge bomb.

* DyeingForYourArt: Cruise's appearance as Grossman is completely transformed from sleek, muscular hunk to portly, balding and scraggly. Grossman's personality and character, however, are typical Cruise.

* ActorInspiredElement: The character of Les Grossman was entirely of Tom Cruise's creation. Originally, he was to cameo as Speedman's agent, Rick Pecker, but Cruise instead suggested that he play a foulmouthed studio executive. Both he and Ben Stiller worked on developing the character, with Cruise specifically suggesting Grossman having large hands and dancing to "[[Music/FloRida Low]]".

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece:
** The Tivo being a premium gift. Nowadays it is all but forgotten as most cable or satellite boxes come with a built-in PVR, not to mention the fact most current (or at least recent) TV shows are readily available in streaming and VOD services has pretty much killed off one of the device's main selling points.
** Tugg Speedman is a washed-up Tom Cruise-esque action star who had recently made ''Simple Jack'', [[{{Glurge}} a Sundance-style vehicle]] in [[OscarBait a botched attempt to become more respectable]]. As InspirationallyDisadvantaged films have faced increasing criticism in the years since and kitchen-sink fare in general is nowhere as popular as in the 2000s, it's unlikely Speedman would make such a film these days.
** Kirk Lazarus takes method acting [[UpToEleven to the point of]] {{blackface}}. He's also noted for being particularly rowdy off-camera (this was from a time Downey was still primarily known for this[[note]]While ''Iron Man'' was released months earlier, people still had doubts about his future[[/note]]). The next decade would see blackface become more controversial than ever and celebrities began to avoid the rowdy party scene following the career meltdowns of people such as Creator/LindsayLohan.
** Jeff Portnoy is a popular actor appearing in raunchy comedies, a genre which fell out of favor in TheNewTens.
** Alpa Chino is a "glam" rapper. [[spoiler: He's also [[ArmoredClosetGay deep in the closet]], much to the surprise of his castmates]]. The GlamRap genre saw a decline in popularity following the 2008 financial crisis and TheNewTens marked [[spoiler:homosexuals]] gaining more public acceptance. Nowadays, with Music/LilNasX being [[spoiler:out and proud]] and largely acclaimed for doing so, it's a little trickier to imagine Alpa being so worried about it.
** We have cameos by Creator/TobeyMaguire, Creator/TyraBanks and Creator/JenniferLoveHewitt. While the three of them were big during the early and mid-2000s, they were already fading from the spotlight by 2008.
** The "'Full Retard' speech" scene dates the film to the time of its release as the film more-or-less single-handedly killed casual use of "retard" by anyone unless someone was deliberately trying to come across as ignorant or a jerkass, same as any given slur.
** One of Kirk's OscarBait drama films features him playing a gay Irish Catholic priest in a seminary. TheNewTwenties would see the practice of heterosexual actors playing gay characters fall out of favor, due to criticism that it takes away opportunities for actors who are actually gay to tell their own stories.

* NeverWorkWithChildrenOrAnimals: During one take of the scene were Jeff is being carried by a water buffalo, the buffalo (which the crew later learned was pregnant) became agitated and started bucking, sending Jack Black flying into some nearby rocks. Black wasn't injured, but he was greatly annoyed that the cameras hadn't captured the incident for posterity.

** Tom Cruise, who main roles alternate between action films and dramas, with him playing either a badass hero or a heartthrob of sorts, plays a foulmouthed, balding, morally ambiguous film producer in a satirical comedy.
** Ben Stiller and Jack Black's [[Film/MeetTheParents comedic]] [[Film/SchoolOfRock outputs]] are more remembered for their light-hearted slapstick. ''Tropic Thunder'', while still maintaining a few elements of slapstick, relies heavily on satire and BlackComedy for its jokes.

** Some improvisation was used for the real film's dialogue -- in fact, Kirk was written as ''Irish'', but Creator/RobertDowneyJr found it easier to improvise with an Australian accent ([[TropesAreTools which helped make his "white man acting as a black man" set-up more ridiculous]], considering the stereotype about all Aussies seeming to be fair-haired).

** Alpa Chino is a "glam" rapper. [[spoiler: he's also [[ArmoredClosetGay deep in the closet]], much to the surprise of his castmates]]. The GlamRap genre saw a decline in popularity following the 2008 financial crisis and TheNewTens marked [[spoiler:homosexuals]] gaining more public acceptance. Nowadays, with Music/LilNasX being [[spoiler:out and proud]] and largely acclaimed for doing so, it's a little trickier to imagine Alpa being so worried about it.

* DyeingForYourArt: Cruise's appearance as Grossman is completely transformed from sleek, muscular hunk to portly, hair, balding and scraggly. Grossman's personality and character, however, are typical Cruise.

** Tom Cruise, who main roles alternate between action films and dramas, with him playing either a badass or a heartthrob of sorts, plays a foulmouthed, balding, morally ambiguous film producer in a satirical comedy.

** Tugg Speedman is a washed-up Tom Cruise-esque action star who had recently made ''Simple Jack'', [[{{Glurge}} a Sundance-style vehicle]] in [[OscarBait a botched attempt to become more respectable]]. As InspirationallyDisadvantaged films have faced increasing criticism in the years since and kitchen-sink fare in general is nowhere as popular as in the 2000s, it's unlikely Speedman would make such as film these days.

* ActorInspiredElement: The entire character of Les Grossman is this, as Tom Cruise was only meant to make a cameo as Speedman's agent, Rick Pecker, but Cruise instead suggested that he play a foulmouthed studio executive. Both him and Ben Stiller worked on developing the character, with Cruise specifically suggesting Grossman having large hands and dancing to "[[Music/FloRida Low]]".

* InspirationForTheWork: Creator/BenStiller developed the premise while shooting ''Film/EmpireOfTheSun'', in which he played a small part. Stiller wanted to make a film based on the actors he knew who, after taking part in boot camps to prepare for war film roles, became "self-important" and "self-involved" and appeared to believe they had been part of a real military unit.

** Alpa Chino is a "glam" rapper. [[spoiler: he's also [[ArmoredClosetGay deep in the closet]], much to the surprise of his castmates]]. The GlamRap genre saw a decline in popularity following the 2008 financial crisis and TheNewTens marked [[spoiler:homosexuals]] gaining more public acceptance.

** The scene that had Tugg talking to a flying mantis it flying in his face actually happened by accident.

** Some improvisation was used for the real film's dialogue -- in fact, Kirk was written as ''Irish'', but Creator/RobertDowneyJr found it easier to improvise with an Australian accent.

** The Tivo being a premium gift. Nowadays it is all but forgotten now that most Cable or Satellite boxes come with a built in PVR.
** Tugg Speedman is a washed-up Tom Cruise-esque action star who had recently made ''Simple Jack'', [[OscarBait a Sundance-style vehicle]] in a botched attempt to become more respectable. As InspirationallyDisadvantaged films have faced increasing criticism in the years since, it's unlikely Speedman would make such as film these days.
** Kirk Lazarus takes method acting [[UpToEleven to the point of]] {{blackface}}. He's also noted for being particularly rowdy off-camera (this was from a time Downey was still primarily known for this). The next decade would see blackface be more controversial than ever and celebrities began to avoid the rowdy, party scene following the career meltdowns of people such as Creator/LindsayLohan.

** Peck was supposed to be played by Creator/OwenWilson but he dropped out to seek treatment after a suicide attempt.

** Tugg Speedman is a washed-up Tom Cruise-esque action star who had recently made ''Simple Jack'', [[OscarBait a Sundance-style vehicle]] in a botched attempt to become more respectable. As InspirationalDisadvantaged films have faced increasing criticism in the years since, it's unlikely Speedman would make such as film these days.

** Tugg Speedman is a washed-up Tom Cruise-esque action star who had recently made ''Simple Jack'', [[OscarBait a Sundance-style vehicle]] in a botched attempt to become more respectable.
** Kirk Lazarus takes method acting [[UpToEleven to the point of]] {{blackface}}. He's also noted for being particularly rowdy off-camera (this was from a time Downey was still primarily known for this).
** Jeff Portnoy is a popular actor appearing in raunchy comedies. He also has a serious drug problem.
** Alpa Chino is a "glam" rapper. [[spoiler: he's also [[ArmoredClosetGay deep in the closet]], much to the surprise of his castmates]].

** We have cameos by Tobey Maguire, Tyra Banks and Jennifer Love-Hewitt. While the three of them were big during the early and mid-2000s, they were already fading from the spotlight by 2008.

** Originally, Creator/NickNolte's reveal during the video teleconference scene was intended to be an homage to Quint in ''Film/{{Jaws}}''. Stiller toned it down, feeling that there were too many homages in the film at that point.

* PlayingAgainstType: Tom Cruise, who main roles alternate between action films and dramas, with him playing either a badass or a heartthrob of sorts, plays a foulmouthed, balding, morally ambiguous film producer in a satirical comedy.

** Creator/KevinHart was also considered for Alpha Chino.

** Kirk St. Lazarus takes method acting [[UpToEleven to the point of]] {{blackface}}. He's also noted for being particularly rowdy off-camera (this was from a time Downey was still primarily known for this).

** The "You just went full retard. Never go full retard" scene dates the film to the time of its release as the film more-or-less single-handedly killed casual use of "retard" by anyone unless someone was deliberately trying to come across as ignorant or a jerkass, same as any given slur.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The, "You just went full retard. Never go full retard" scene dates the film to the time of its release as the film more-or-less single-handedly killed casual use of "retard" by anyone unless someone was deliberately trying to come across as ignorant or a jerkass, same as any given slur.

* AllStarCast: Creator/BenStiller, Creator/RobertDowneyJr, Creator/JackBlack, Creator/TomCruise, Creator/JayBaruchel, Creator/NickNolte, Creator/MatthewMcConaughey, Danny [=McBride=] and Creator/SteveCoogan.

** Peck was supposed to be played by Creator/OwenWilson but he dropped out to seek treatment after a suicide attempt. Creator/BenStiller and Creator/TomCruise were also considered for the role of Peck.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: Peck's obsession with [=TiVo=], a technology that has all but disappeared in the face of DVR and streaming services.
** The, "You just went full retard. Never go full retard" scene dates the film to the time of it's release as up until it's release the use of retard was treated as a means to make a character come across as edgy or cool. Since then the term has all but disappeared.
*** Really the film is considered the last decent politically incorrect comedy before the wave of political correctness kicked in during the 2010s.