Ex Fox Boss Claims Rupert Murdoch Branded Fight Club Creators Sick F-ing Humans

So, everyone loves to say Fight Club is this untouchable cult classic, right? Funny thing: when it first landed in 1999, a whole lot of people (especially the folks writing the checks) really, really hated it — and it bombed at the box office. Somewhere, there’s a lesson about visionary art, but mostly this is a story about executives, grudges, and a little bit of trolling.

Let’s hit rewind. Bill Mechanic, the guy running Fox Filmed Entertainment at the time (after bringing in reliable winners like Titanic and Independence Day), pushed hard for Fight Club. And he just gave his side of the story again during a recent interview, as the movie gears up for a flashy 4K re-release.

Murdoch Hates 'Fight Club' (Like, Really Hates It)

You’d think that track record would buy Mechanic some goodwill, but no — not with Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp owned Fox and, apparently, didn't come to Hollywood for provocative art films. Murdoch wanted hits, hits, and more hits. Anything too edgy? Not on his watch.

According to Mechanic, after Murdoch first caught wind of Fight Club, he was less than subtle about his disgust. And Mechanic has the receipts:

"[Rupert] started attacking, and he said, 'What kind of sick fucking human being would make a movie like this?' I said, 'Me. David Fincher. We're not embarrassed.'"

Mechanic claims Murdoch hadn’t even watched the film at that point, but the die was cast. That’s when Mechanic started thinking his time at Fox was probably up — 'That’s probably the nexus of when he wanted to get rid of me,' as he puts it.

How Mechanic Got the Last Word (In the Movie)

Here’s a wild tidbit: Mechanic actually got a little Hollywood revenge by sneaking in an inside joke at the end of Fight Club. Remember the finale, with all those buildings blowing up? Mechanic asked director David Fincher to add Fox Plaza Tower — the actual Fox headquarters — into the destruction montage, as his own secret tribute to Murdoch (who, of course, owned the building).

In Mechanic’s own blunt words:

"I asked David if he would put the Fox building in there for my tribute to Rupert."

He added, a bit ruefully: 'I just realized I went to work for the wrong person. I think I got movies made that wouldn’t have been made, and there’s a price to pay.' Translation: sometimes supporting bold movies means you end up on the boss’s hit list.

Key Facts, Recap Style

• In 1999, Fight Club flops at the box office, despite (or because of) its anarchic vibe and graphic content.
• Bill Mechanic, then-CEO at Fox, champions the movie after big studio wins (Titanic, Independence Day), but tanks his own career in the process.
• Rupert Murdoch (Fox owner, not a fan of 'challenging' stories) is famously quoted as saying only a 'sick fucking human being' would make something like Fight Club.
• Mechanic asks director David Fincher to include the Fox headquarters in the apocalyptic finale — a sneaky 'tribute' to Murdoch.
• Mechanic reflects that pushing for bold movies has consequences — like getting booted by the boss.

So next time you rewatch those exploding towers at the end of Fight Club, just remember: one of them is Fox Plaza. A very literal parting shot.