Samuel L. Jackson recalls how his iconicSnakes on a Planeline almost wasn’t included in the movie. Released in 2006,Snakes on a Planeis directed by David R. Ellis, with Jackson starring as an FBI agent who finds himself facing off against dozens of venomous snakes while flying a valuable witness from Hawaii to Los Angeles. The film, which also stars Julianna Margulies, Rachel Blanchard, and Kenan Thompson, earned lukewarm reviews, andis now fondly remembered for Jackson’s line: “I have had it with these motherf—ing snakes on this motherf—ing plane.”
In a recent interview withGQ, Jackson reflects on his experience makingSnakes on a Plane, revealing thatthe film initially wasn’t targeting an R-rating. As a result, despite Jackson’s protests, his iconic line wasn’t even filmed during principal photography, with the moment only coming to be after test screenings and a pivot in direction for the movie. Check out Jackson’s comments below:
“They were trying to make a PG-13 movie and you can only have like one f–k or some sh-t like that in it. And I told them, I’m like, ‘Look, I gotta say motherf—er in this movie. It’s motherf—ing snakes all over this plane.’ And they’re like, ‘Ah, Sam, we just… come on. No.’ I said, ‘Okay fine.’ We wrapped. They test the movie, test the movie, and then all of a sudden it’s like, you gotta do a reshoot. Cost them a bunch of money to get that ‘motherf—er.’”
What Jackson’s Line Means For Snakes On A Plane
The Film Is Now A Cult Classic
Snakes on a Planewasn’t a major hit in theaters, grossing $62 million worldwide on an estimated budget of $33 million. At that budget level, the film, in all likelihood, didn’t break even during its theatrical run.Snakes on a Planehas almost certainly since reached profitability, however, due to its performance on DVD and on digital, as the film now stands as something of a cult classic.
That one line is ridiculous, and it’s become one of the most iconic lines of Jackson’s storied movie career.
The movie’s cult classic status can be attributed to the fact that the story is somewhat nonsensical and there’s a charming level of camp to the style of action and comedy, but Jackson’s line alone is arguably also a major reason. That one line is ridiculous, and it’s become one of the most iconic lines of Jackson’s storied movie career.It’s very possible that the reach of this line alone helpedSnakes on a Planefind new audiencesthat never saw the film in theaters.
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The R rating itself is also a big reason for the film’s cult status. The studio was likely targeting a PG-13 for financial reasons, but test screenings evidently showed that the movie wasn’t working for audiences with toned down violence language. Some of the snake attack scenes are over-the-top and ridiculous, including one that happens during a sex scene in a bathroom, but that’s where some of the film’s charm evidently comes from.
After directingSnakes on a Plane, Ellis would direct films likeAsylum(2008) andThe Final Destination(2009), withShark Night(2011) marking his final movie as a director.
Our Take On Jackson’s Snakes On A Plane Line
Jackson Has A Reputation For Using One Swear Word
Jackson is arguably one of the greatest actors alive today when it comes to swearing in movies, andthe word “motherf—er” has become something of a catchphrase for him. The word, in its various forms, crops up in dozens of Jackson’s films. The use of it inSnakes on a Plane, though, might just be one of his best.
Another one of the most iconic uses of the word “motherf—er” from Jackson comes at the start ofQuentin Tarantino’sPulp Fiction(1994) in his role as Jules, a hitman.
There’s certainly fun to be had withSnakes on a Plane,but it’s far fromJackson’s best movie. What sets the 2006 movie apart is not just its ridiculous premise, however, but the fact that it features Jackson in a leading role instead of a supporting one. While some of Jackson’s best characters have been supporting characters,Snakes on a Planeis proof that he can elevate just about any material, especially when he gets to add his own, R-rated flair.
Snakes on a Plane
Cast
Snakes on a Plane is an action-adventure horror film starring Samuel L. Jackson as an FBI agent tasked with protecting a witness who is on his way to Los Angeles to testify against a ruthless crime boss named Eddie Kim. To silence him, Kim sets a crate full of venomous snakes loose, leaving the passengers to try to survive the slithering menaces mid-flight.
