Ben Stiller Doesn’t Think ‘Tropic Thunder’ Could Be Made Today With Its “Incredibly Dicey” Jokes

It’s clear that society has changed with its view on comedy. Some things that were seen as just fine a decade or more ago are now major issues. One of the films that always gets brought up as something that could never be made today is 2008’s “Tropic Thunder.” And someone who agrees with that sentiment is the filmmaker and star, Ben Stiller.

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In a recent interview with Collider, Ben Stiller was asked if “Tropic Thunder” could be made today. Keep in mind, this is a film that makes a joke out of Robert Downey, Jr. in blackface. Even though the joke is how offensive it is, that’s probably something that wouldn’t fly today. 

“I doubt it,” said Stiller about whether or not “Tropic Thunder” could be made today. “Obviously, in this environment, edgier comedy is just harder to do. Definitely not at the scale we made it at, too, in terms of the economics of the business. I think even at the time we were fortunate to get it made, and I credit that, actually, to Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks. He read it and was like, ‘Alright, let’s make this thing.’ It’s a very inside movie when you think about it.”

He added, “But yeah, the idea of Robert playing that character who’s playing an African American character, I mean, incredibly dicey. Even at the time, of course, it was dicey too. The only reason we attempted it was I felt like the joke was very clear in terms of who that joke was on — actors trying to do anything to win awards. But now, in this environment, I don’t even know if I would have ventured to do it, to tell you the truth. I’m being honest.”

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Even though it seems as if comedy has changed over time, we could be looking at the pendulum swinging back the other way. There seem to be comedians who are willing to push the envelope even today. So yeah, it’s unlikely a big budget R-rated comedy with a character in blackface would be made today, there are still folks out there trying to find the line between acceptable and offensive. Perhaps, society is changing again. 

Ben Stiller is flexing his directing muscles with a new season of “Severance,” which debuts on Apple TV+ on January 17, 2025.