One of Kurt Russell’s major films as a lead actor was the 1994 sci-fi epic “Stargate.” However, when he was first offered the role of Colonel Jack O’Neil, he repeatedly declined it for an amusing reason. The script he received was not the final version but an early draft, which he found terrible. As producer and co-writer Dean Devlin explained to Variety, “He was given a very early draft of the script that should never have gotten out. So, when he actually saw the shooting script he went, ‘Oh, this isn’t so bad.'”

Once Russell received a polished version of the script, he recognized the merits in Jack O’Neil’s adventure through the Stargate and agreed to the part, aided by an appealing salary. This decision proved beneficial, as the production team had a specific reason for wanting him. Devlin admitted, “He would be a really great name for foreign sales since we were doing the movie independently.”

The cast took some time to grasp that the film’s cheesy tone was deliberate. Devlin recalled that James Spader, playing Egyptologist Daniel Jackson, occasionally delayed shooting due to the script’s melodramatic dialogue. Russell put a stop to this by firmly speaking to Spader. Even though they had to overlook “Stargate’s” quirks, Russell would encounter a worse project in the future.

Although it might be considered cheesy and scores 54% on Rotten Tomatoes, “Stargate” is not the worst movie Russell has been in. “3000 Miles to Graceland” claims that title, holding a dismal 15% by critics and 46% by viewers. Additionally, the film flopped financially, grossing just under $19 million against a $62 million budget. Interestingly, Russell has one film with a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes—a documentary he narrated called “The Battered Bastards of Baseball.”

“3000 Miles to Graceland” follows former convicts attempting to rob a Las Vegas hotel disguised as Elvis Presley. Chaos ensues, and while most of the group meets dire ends, the survivors walk away wealthy. The presence of stars like Russell, Kevin Costner, and Courteney Cox made the film’s failure surprising. However, it firmly establishes that as long as “3000 Miles” exists, “Stargate” cannot be considered Russell’s worst movie.