Acclaimed Flop: The film was well received by critics, including Roger Ebert who placed it in his "Great Movies" list, and praised Nicholson's performance but earned $29 million internationally from its $35 million budget.
California Doubling: British Columbia, Canada serves as a replacement for Nevada, USA. Though only a few scene exteriors were filmed in the actual state of Nevada.
Tom Noonan, best-known for playing a serial killer in Manhunter appears as a (seemingly) Sinister Minister that speaks to Lori's daughter, leading Jerry to think that he might be the murderer that he's looking for. It is later revealed that he is a Red Herring and by all accounts a perfectly normal and harmless man. Apparently, Sean Penn wanted to film more scenes to demonstrate the trope but Executive Meddling didn't want to spend money on extra scenes after the failure of Battlefield Earth.
Jack Nicholson gives a much more subdued and subtle performance than the usual larger-than-life roles that showcase the familiar persona that he's best-known for. He plays something of a sad sack rather than a lovable rogue.
Real-Life Relative: Sean Penn's mother, actress Eileen Ryan, has a small role as Jerry's (Nicholson) secretary.
Typecasting: In the film, Lois Smith plays a strange old woman who sells toys and candies shaped like porcupines and happens to be the mother of a murder suspect. A few years earlier in Falling Down, she played a strange old woman obsessed with her collection of animal-shaped glass figurines who was also the mother of a crime spree suspect.
