Despite the provocative themes, it got the support of a major studio
One of the most incredible things about Fight Club is that it ever got made at all. Just imagine that a major movie studio would consider adapting a book that has nihilist themes, socially destructive depictions of violence and a main character that suffers from an extraordinary level of psychosis. “There’s not a movie studio in the world who’s gonna make this,” Fincher reportedly said after reading the material and agreeing to work on the film.
Marvellously, FOX was interested in making Fight Club. Fincher was so passionate about adapting the film that he even broke off his feud with the studio, which stemmed from a sour relationship during the making of the third Alien film. In fact, FOX gave him final cut, a $50 million budget (which later went up to $60 million) and an extremely long shooting schedule by industry standards.
Imagine, if you will, that Fight Club was being optioned for a film adaptation today. Do you think any major studio would have given a director such control and creative freedom on a hard R-rated drama with dark themes and irredeemable characters? Odds are, likely not. FOX recently released another dark drama from the director, Gone Girl. That title also cost around $60 million to make, but it was more of a sure thing: its source material was hugely popular and its mystery angle very easy to market. Today, a Fight Club adaptation would likely go to a smaller studio, which would have ensured a much smaller budget and, likely, a more condensed running time.
Fight Club marked one of the last times a major studio took a big gamble on a project with graphic violence and psychologically intense themes. The risk did not pay off immediately, as the film disappointed at the North American box office, where it made $37 million. However, its long-term dividends as a modern classic made it a title that FOX could easily tout and champion.