The classic horror film The Shining, starring Jack Nicholson and directed by Stanley Kubrick, premiered in American cinemas on May 23, 1980.
Adapted from Stephen King’s novel, the psychological thriller later earned a reputation as one of the most terrifying films ever made.
However, during filming, child actor Danny Lloyd had no idea he was starring in a horror movie and reportedly believed he was working on a drama.
Kubrick was said to be supportive of Lloyd, but actress Shelley Duvall faced a much tougher experience on set. She endured long filming days and was often pushed to remain in an emotional state of fear and distress for demanding scenes.
One of the film’s scenes reportedly required 127 takes from Duvall, setting a Guinness World Record at the time. Jack Nicholson later claimed Kubrick behaved very differently toward Duvall during production.
Despite becoming a horror classic over time, The Shining initially received a poor critical response and was even nominated for Razzie Awards, including Worst Director and Worst Actress.
The film debuted in the same week as The Empire Strikes Back. While the Star Wars sequel became a huge box-office success, The Shining reportedly achieved a stronger per-theatre average during its opening weekend.