Mix a "comedy machine" with a novice director. Add a shutdown threat, rotating robbers and terrifying stunts to home in on a ho-ho-ho holiday megahit.

This box office titan took action movies to the next level, decked out with a relatable hero, a humorous rewrite and a well-played “yippee-ki-yay.”

A hard-driving director, stressed crew, great expectations — and a tiny budget — made for a difficult birth in the case of this mother of all sequels.

A rickety script, tight timeline and effects issues almost busted this comedy. But thanks to Dan Aykroyd and company, the slimy shenanigans took off.

Vroom or bust: It took a sweet ride and a rising star — or two — to build a blockbuster from a half-baked idea and the ashes of multiple flops.

Crunch the numbers, then make way for a chubby T. rex and visual effects bad boys. This box office heavyweight disrupted the way movies are made.

Stepping on toes and tangling with rejection, the women behind this "girl's movie" touched millions despite co-star tension and a meager budget.

Life is like a box of chocolates — or a charming script unearthed by chance. Despite casting and budget woes, this humble tale became a '90s classic.

It took a young team's blood, sweat and tears — and a triple-threat visionary — to make this bloodless yet scarily influential horror masterpiece.

With a studio on the line, an imaginative director in the pocket and an actorly demon in tow, this supernatural slasher hit raked in a surreal profit.

A painfully tight suit and budget, a passionate European auteur and on-set tensions fueled this blockbuster takedown of cutthroat corporate America.

The happily ever after? It's on screen. Behind the scenes, this litigious, loveless foray involved fisticuffs, Nostradamus — and iconic Black talent.

What began as a bald rip-off made a bloody splash as a splatter classic. Now the unlikely crew spills its guts about the highs, lows and gory effects.

Turning an unknown into a superstar and revamping the rom-com rules amid many rewrites, this megahit's success still leaves insiders pretty shocked.