John Goodman Regrets Two Critical Flops—but Found a Silver Lining

John Goodman has built an enviable film career, but even celebrated actors occasionally end up with a few misfires. Goodman has acknowledged regretting his involvement in the poorly received Blues Brothers 2000 and The Monuments Men. Still, neither experience was entirely negative: despite the films’ disappointing reactions, he has repeatedly said he had an unforgettable time making both.

The original The Blues Brothers became a beloved 1980 classic, but its 1998 follow-up failed to capture the same magic. Fans continue to criticize Blues Brothers 2000, with many pointing to the absence of John Belushi— the original SNL star who died in 1982—as a central problem. Some viewers also felt Goodman could not fill Belushi’s role. Responding to a review by Roger Ebert, one fan wrote, “I didn’t like John Goodman when he went on SNL & tried to be a Blues Brother. Sadly, that started the problem. Goodman replacing Belushi — there’s your problem.” The same commenter, however, clarified that they were generally a fan of the Coyote Ugly actor. The Monuments Men, released in 2014, also fell short despite its star-studded lineup, which included Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Bill Murray and George Clooney. Critics were unimpressed, and one viewer went so far as describing it as “A pathetic and self-indulgent piece of nonsense.” Yikes.

Unfavorable reviews can be difficult for anyone involved in a film, and Goodman addressed both projects during a career retrospective hosted by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. Referring to The Monuments Men, he joked, “It’s one of those movies that was like ‘The Blues Brothers 2000,’ I probably shouldn’t have done.” Yet he quickly highlighted the surprising connection between the two films: he had thoroughly enjoyed making them.

MUST READ: Selling Sunset’s Chrishell Stause: Never Legally Wed to G Flip

Looking back on Blues Brothers 2000, Goodman said, “I had more fun doing it, working with these great musicians, you know, Wilson Pickett, Eddie ‘Knock on Wood’ Floyd, Sam Moore from Sam and Dave, all these great cats, and it didn’t do well.” He felt similarly about Clooney’s film, adding, “George’s movie, I had one of the best times I’ve ever had on a film. Nothing.” With characteristic humor, Goodman summed up the lesson by quipping, “There should never be fun.”

Goodman returned to the subject later in the retrospective, again naming The Monuments Men and Blues Brothers 2000 among the movies he most enjoyed making. “Like I said, I had fun with ‘Blues Brothers 2000,’ it didn’t turn out very well. Yeah, George’s movie, ‘Monuments Men’ … it’s just the guys you’re with, or the women you’re with. If you hit it off with them, that’s what makes it memorable, is the people you’re working with,” he said.

The camaraderie behind both productions may soften the disappointment of their critical reception. Goodman was especially invested in Blues Brothers 2000 because he had been a longtime admirer of the original and actively pursued a role in the sequel. Speaking with Bobbie Wygant in 1998, he said, “I just wanted to do anything, be a cop, the guy that paints the lines on the highways, a repairman, I’d do anything just to be in the movie, just to be around the band … because I’ve been such a fan for so long.” Years later, when Collider asked him about joining The Monuments Men, Goodman said the offer was “an automatic yes before I even read it.” The films may not have won over audiences, but Goodman’s memories of making them make both projects seem a little more worthwhile.