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Ben Stiller Reflects on ‘Tropic Thunder’ and Its Controversial Legacy: “Robert Downey Jr. in Blackface Is Incredibly Dicey”

©DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett Collection

Ben Stiller recently opened up about the challenges of making edgy comedies like his 2008 hit Tropic Thunder, expressing doubts that it could be made today due to its provocative humor and Robert Downey Jr.‘s blackface portrayal. Stiller credits Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks for supporting its production back then, and Robert Downey Jr. remains steadfast in his defense of the film’s intent to critique problematic Hollywood tropes.

The Challenge of Making

Edgy Comedy in Today’s Hollywood

Ben Stiller has expressed his belief that his 2008 satirical comedy Tropic Thunder would be near-impossible to make in today’s cultural climate. The film, a biting satire of Hollywood actors who take their craft to absurd extremes, was a box office success, grossing nearly $200 million worldwide and earning Robert Downey Jr. an Oscar nomination. Yet, it’s Downey’s controversial character—a method actor who undergoes “pigmentation alteration” surgery to play a Black soldier—that has led Stiller to question whether the movie would even be greenlit in the current environment.


“Obviously, in this environment, edgier comedy is just harder to do,” Stiller said during an interview with Collider. He explained that even during its original release, the film’s content was considered controversial, but the project benefited from the backing of Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks. Spielberg believed in the script and supported its production, helping bring it to life despite its polarizing content. “I think even at the time, we were fortunate to get it made,” Stiller added. “It’s a very inside movie when you think about it.”

©DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett Collection

Robert Downey Jr.’s Dicey Role in Tropic Thunder

The character played by Robert Downey Jr., Australian actor Kirk Lazarus, goes to absurd and offensive lengths to prepare for his role, donning blackface as part of his commitment to method acting. Stiller reflected on the risk involved: “The idea of Robert playing that character who’s playing an African American character was incredibly dicey. Even at the time, it was dicey. But the only reason we attempted it was because the joke was very clear—it was on actors who would do anything to win awards.”


In today’s climate, Stiller admits he wouldn’t have dared to take the same approach. “Now, in this environment, I don’t even know if I would have ventured to do it, to tell you the truth. I’m being honest.”


Stiller remains unapologetic about Tropic Thunder, however, having stated on X (formerly Twitter) last year that the film has “always been a controversial movie since when we opened. Proud of it and the work everyone did on it.”

Robert Downey Jr.’s Defense of the Character

While some critics have called out Downey Jr. for donning blackface, the actor himself has always maintained that the character was created to critique harmful Hollywood tropes, not perpetuate them. During an appearance on Rob Lowe’s Literally! podcast, Downey Jr. compared Tropic Thunder to Norman Lear’s iconic sitcom All in the Family, noting that both works sought to shine a light on problematic social conventions that have persisted for too long.


“There used to be an understanding with an audience,” Downey Jr. said. “The spirit that [Ben] Stiller directed and cast and shot Tropic Thunder in was essentially railing against all of these tropes that are not right and had been perpetuated for too long.”

Downey also recounted his mother’s reaction during a 2020 interview on The Joe Rogan Experience. She was “horrified” when she learned about the role. Aware of the backlash his role might receive, Downey Jr. took the opportunity as a way to confront Hollywood’s “self-involved hypocrisy” around method acting.

“[Ben Stiller] knew exactly what the vision for this was,” Downey explained. “It was impossible not to have it be an offensive nightmare of a movie. And 90% of my Black friends were like, ‘Dude, that was great.’ I can’t disagree with [the other 10%], but I know where my heart lies. I think it’s never an excuse to do something out of place and out of time, but to me, Tropic Thunder is about how wrong [Blackface] is, so I take exception.”

©DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett Collection

The Cultural Impact of ‘Tropic Thunder’


Despite its controversial nature, Tropic Thunder was well-received by audiences and critics alike, particularly for its satirical approach to skewering Hollywood’s obsession with authenticity. Downey Jr.’s performance earned him nominations at the Oscars, BAFTAs, SAG Awards, and Golden Globes.


Stiller’s reflection on the film and the current entertainment landscape highlights how comedy has evolved over the past decade. In 2008, Tropic Thunder was seen as a daring satire, mocking Hollywood’s excesses and celebrity culture. Today, the film serves as a reference point for how the boundaries of comedy have shifted and what kinds of humor are considered acceptable in modern media.


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