In 1998, one of the year’s best movies was disowned by its director. They only got the job because Dennis Hopper said no

Dennis Hopper was originally considered to direct *American History X*, but declined because his fee was too high for the film’s limited budget. Tony Kaye took the job, and the 1998 drama became a critically acclaimed, Oscar-nominated film whose production was marked by conflict.

Screenwriter Chris McKenna recalled that Hopper wanted $1 million, while the film’s entire budget was $9 million. Kaye later clashed with star Edward Norton and the studio, and filed an unsuccessful $200 million lawsuit against New Line Cinema. The article speculates that Hopper might also have faced tensions on set, given his own history of disputes, while noting that the film relied heavily on its actors’ performances.