When Filmmakers Dream Big: The World of Megalomaniac Movies

To mark the release of Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, a 40-year passion project with a staggering $120 million price tag, we turn our attention to cinema’s most audacious, eccentric, and underappreciated visions — the “ugly ducklings” that, against all odds, have found their place in the cultural canon. This episode explores the daring, often misunderstood passion projects of filmmakers who, like Coppola, have risked everything to bring their boldest dreams to the screen.

From extravagant failures to cult masterpieces, we examine why cinema desperately needs these fearless auteurs, willing to gamble their careers and fortunes for the sake of their art. We also delve into the curious phenomenon of these “megalomaniac” films — why it often takes decades for them to be properly appreciated, and how audiences can learn to embrace even the most challenging works, regardless of whether they “succeed” on traditional terms. Through these cinematic oddities, we celebrate the vital necessity of creative ambition, the glory of artistic missteps, and the long road to recognition that only the most daring films must travel.

Book tickets to Megalopolis @ LAB111

Book tickets to Hugo's Megalomania Program

Show Notes and Films Mentioned