Brad Pitt Wants to Erase This Movie from History – Here’s Why He Calls It a ‘Failure’

For a star like Brad Pitt, whose career spans decades and features critically acclaimed performances, there’s bound to be one project he wishes had stayed in the vault. While fans might debate his most underrated roles or argue over his finest performances, Pitt himself has admitted to at least one he’d rather forget: his 1988 film The Dark Side of the Sun.

Before becoming a household name, Pitt took on a number of roles that helped him climb the ladder in Hollywood. After his first credited feature appearance in 1987’s Hunk, he quickly built up a résumé that eventually led to his breakout in Thelma & Louise (1991). But even before that iconic turn as JD, Pitt starred in The Dark Side of the Sun—a Yugoslavian production that remained largely unseen for almost a decade.

In the film, Pitt played Rick Clayton, an American suffering from a rare skin condition that prevents him from being exposed to sunlight. The character’s journey centers on falling in love and choosing to embrace life despite his illness. Shot in what was then Yugoslavia, the project faced significant delays after filming wrapped. Due to the political and military turmoil in the region, the footage was locked away in a Belgrade warehouse. It wasn’t until 1996—nearly ten years later—that the producer retrieved the material, secured a distribution deal, and released it on home video the following year.

Even though The Dark Side of the Sun finally saw the light of day, Pitt himself didn’t have the fondest memories of the project. Reflecting on the experience in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Pitt speculated that the film’s lengthy delay wasn’t just because of the political situation. “I don’t think it was shelved because of that,” he said. “I think it was shelved because it was lacking in entertainment value.” He even struggled to remember some of the details of his character, at one point forgetting that his character’s name was Rick. “I couldn’t tell you,” he confessed. “It was a Yugoslavian production when there was a Yugoslavia.”

Pitt’s candid remarks highlight the reality of a long acting career: not every role is a winner. While The Dark Side of the Sun might have been a well-intentioned project, its delayed release and the actor’s lack of enthusiasm for the final product suggest it’s one film Pitt wouldn’t mind erasing from his history.

Ultimately, The Dark Side of the Sun remains a curiosity—one of those early-career projects that offer a glimpse of a star in the making, even if it wasn’t destined to be a highlight. For Brad Pitt, it stands as a reminder of the uneven path to stardom and the learning experiences that come along the way.