Overview of Selects: Can movies be cursed?
In this Stuff You Should Know “Selects” replay, Josh and Chuck revisit the idea of “cursed” movies and break down why certain productions gain that reputation. The episode focuses on famous film sets where accidents, injuries, and untimely deaths created lasting legends of supernatural bad luck — while emphasizing that these stories are usually the result of risky filmmaking, coincidence, and hindsight bias rather than actual curses.
Main Argument: Why “movie curses” catch on
The hosts explain that movie curses are usually built from a few predictable ingredients:
- Dangerous productions, especially in earlier eras with weaker safety standards
- Tragic deaths or injuries that happen during or soon after filming
- Selective storytelling, where people connect unrelated events after the fact
- Marketing and horror-movie lore, which amplify spooky associations
Their overall point: movies aren’t cursed, but film sets can absolutely be dangerous.
Notable Examples Discussed
Poltergeist
One of the most famous “cursed movie” examples.
- Dominique Dunne died after the film’s release, murdered by her boyfriend.
- Heather O’Rourke died young after filming the third film in the series.
- Other cast members, like Will Sampson and Julian Beck, also died relatively close to production.
- The hosts note that these deaths are tragic, but not evidence of a supernatural curse.
The Wizard of Oz
A classic film with a surprisingly rough production history.
- Buddy Ebsen had to leave the Tin Man role after severe health issues from the makeup.
- Margaret Hamilton was burned during filming.
- The long-running “hanged Munchkin” rumor is identified as an urban legend.
- Judy Garland’s tragic life is highlighted as the real heartbreak tied to the film.
Superman / George Reeves / Christopher Reeve
The “cursed Superman role” is another recurring Hollywood myth.
- George Reeves, who played Superman on TV, had a troubled life and died by gunshot in what was treated as suicide.
- Christopher Reeve was paralyzed in a horseback riding accident and later died after years of advocacy and medical complications.
- The hosts say the pattern feels eerie, but still doesn’t prove a curse.
The Conqueror
This is the most compelling real-world example of a production tied to environmental harm.
- Filmed near nuclear test sites in Utah after above-ground detonations.
- A striking number of cast and crew later developed cancer.
- John Wayne, who played Genghis Khan, is one of the most famous names linked to the fallout.
- The hosts note that the production location likely contributed to the health crisis, though smoking and other risks also mattered.
The Omen
A movie about the Devil, so naturally it attracted curse stories.
- Gregory Peck’s son died by suicide before production.
- Peck and the producer were each on planes struck by lightning.
- A hotel and restaurant connected to the production were bombed or threatened by IRA violence.
- A stunt/transport accident involving a replacement aircraft is described as especially eerie.
- The infamous “666” and “Omen” road sign story is treated with skepticism.
Brainstorm
The episode ties this film to Natalie Wood’s death.
- Brainstorm was Natalie Wood’s final film.
- She drowned under mysterious circumstances after a night on a boat with Robert Wagner and Christopher Walken.
- The hosts mention that her death was later reclassified as “undetermined.”
- They also note that some people link the curse narrative more strongly to Rebel Without a Cause, since that film’s stars also died young.
A Confederacy of Dunces and A Took
These never-made film adaptations became famous for a different kind of “curse.”
- A Confederacy of Dunces kept losing would-be stars:
- John Belushi
- John Candy
- Chris Farley
- A Took followed a similar pattern:
- Belushi
- Candy
- Farley
- Sam Kinison
- The recurring deaths made people joke that the project itself was cursed.
Takeaways
- “Cursed movie” stories usually grow out of real tragedies, not the supernatural.
- Risky filmmaking practices and unsafe working conditions explain much of the danger in older productions.
- The legend persists because humans are wired to spot patterns, especially when a film already has a dark or spooky theme.
- Some productions, like The Conqueror, may have had real-world environmental harm that contributed to later illness.
Tone and Style
The episode is conversational and lightly comedic, but it also takes the subject seriously where it matters, especially when discussing:
- workplace safety on film sets
- tragic deaths and injuries
- the difference between coincidence and causation
Listener Mail Moment
The episode closes with a warm listener email from Bridget in Melbourne, who shares that the podcast helped her step away from stressful news consumption and became a family listen.