Blues Brothers 2000 (1997)
52%RT Audience Score: 37%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Braving onward without the late John Belushi, Blues Brothers 2000 gets the band back together with a spirited soundtrack, but a mission that’s far less divine
Blues Brothers 2000 is like a bad cover band trying to replicate the original. It’s got the same songs, but they just don’t hit the same way. The plot is clunky and the acting is forgettable, but the music is still worth a listen. If you’re feeling nostalgic, go ahead and give it a watch, but don’t expect to be blown away. And if you really want to experience the magic of the Blues Brothers, just stick to the original and let John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd do their thing.
Production Company(ies)
RKO Radio Pictures,
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Palatine, Illinois, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for exotic dancing and some language
Year of Release
1998
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:DTSDTS-StereoSDDS
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 3m
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Language(s):English, Russian
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 6, 1998 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 31, 2006
Genre(s)
Comedy/Musical
Keyword(s)
starring Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman, Joe Morton, J Evan Bonifant, Nia Peeples, Kathleen Freeman, directed by John Landis, written by Dan Aykroyd and John Landis, comedy, musical, PG-13, box office gross $14.0M, produced by Dan Aykroyd, Leslie Belzberg, John Landis, reviewed by Mike Clark, Owen Gleiberman, Joe Leydon, Rick Groen, Lawrence Van Gelder, Bruce Westbrook, Dennis Schwartz, Brian Orndorf, Sandra Contreras, Cole Smithey, Tom Meek, Emanuel Levy
Worldwide gross: $14,051,384
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $25,786,271
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,612
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,812,025
US/Canada gross: $14,051,384
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $25,786,271
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,325
US/Canada opening weekend: $6,129,615
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $11,248,708
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 924
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $28,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $51,383,948
Production budget ranking: 775
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $27,670,256
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$53,267,933
ROI to date (est.): -67%
ROI ranking: 1,790
John Goodman – Mack McTeer, Mighty Mack Blues
Joe Morton – Commander Cabel Chamberlain, Cab Blues
J. Evan Bonifant – Buster Blues
Nia Peeples – Lieutenant Elizondo
Kathleen Freeman – Mother Mary Stigmata
John Landis – Director
Dan Aykroyd, Leslie Belzberg, John Landis – Producers
Dan Aykroyd, John Landis – Writers
Director(s)
John Landis
Writer(s)
Dan Aykroyd, John Landis
Producer(s)
Dan Aykroyd, Leslie Belzberg, John Landis
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (46) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (25)
Now a sequel has arrived, Blues Brothers 2000, offering more of the same. And less.
January 9, 2018 | Rating: 2.5/4
Mike Clark
USA Today
TOP CRITIC
September 7, 2011 | Rating: D
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
The sequel offers more of the same, only less.
May 18, 2008
Joe Leydon
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Once upon a time, it was funny.
April 12, 2002 | Rating: 2/4
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
Once the new sequel gets past its cumbersome plotting and gets down to its music, it overrides the temptation to suggest buying the soundtrack recording and forgetting the rest.
January 1, 2000
Lawrence Van Gelder
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s a pity the film doesn’t respect the art of acting as much as that of music.
January 1, 2000
Bruce Westbrook
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
If viewed at this late date, it provides mostly nostalgia for the pairing of the lovable soulmates.
June 7, 2016 | Rating: B-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
It goes without saying that Blues Brothers 2000 doesn’t carry the original’s significance and R-rated personality, yet select treats remain, while the soundtrack wails triumphantly.
September 28, 2012 | Rating: B-
Brian Orndorf
Blu-ray.com
Endless scenes of pointless buffoonery and crashing cars.
May 18, 2008 | Rating: 1.5/4
Sandra Contreras
TV Guide
Another time, another planet.
December 12, 2005 | Rating: 5/5
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
Buy the soundtrack and rent the one with Belushi.
December 6, 2005 | Rating: 1/5
Tom Meek
Film Threat
July 17, 2005 | Rating: 2/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com…
Plot
Elwood, the now lone “Blues Brother” finally released from prison, is once again enlisted by Sister Mary Stigmata in her latest crusade to raise funds for a children’s hospital. Once again hitting the road to re-unite the band and win the big prize at the New Orleans Battle of the Bands, Elwood is pursued cross-country by the cops, led by Cabel the Curtis’ son (and Elwood’s step-brother), the Russian Mafia, and a militia group. On his new “mission from God” Elwood enlists the help of a young orphan, and a strip club bartender.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
John Belushi, who starred in the original Blues Brothers film, passed away before the release of Blues Brothers 2000, leaving Dan Aykroyd to carry the torch without his beloved partner in crime.
John-Landis.jpg
