Entertainment
How Fox Intentionally Destroyed Mike Judge's Idiocracy, And Why its A Travesty
By Matthew Swigonski
| Published
From King of the Hill to Office Space, Mike Judge is an expert at creating iconic comedies that find the most mundane moments in the average person’s life and turning them into compelling storylines with hilarious punchlines. With Idiocracy, Judge once again explored the trials and tribulations of an average Joe and made the greatest sci-fi comedy of the 2000s. Despite the high potential of Idiocracy to become a box office sleeper-hit, 20th Century Fox decided to squash the film before it even had a chance, and the reasons behind its decision might… not actually surprise you: corporate America wanted the film to fail.
Who Is Mike Judge?
In 1993, Judge scored his first big break with the release of Beavis and Butt-Head, an animated show about two teenage boys who aren’t exactly the cream of the crop, but for some reason, they always seem to find themselves in the middle of trouble.
While the show never quite aired anything too risqué, it became something of a lightning rod for controversy, especially from watchdog groups, giving Beavis and Butt-Head its counterculture reputation and launching the career of Judge. About 10 years after the release of Beavis and Butt-Head, Judge once again had his eye on a project that laughed in the face of pop culture and aimed to critique how idiotic people had become and the future that we could possibly look forward to.
Idiocracy follows the story of Joe (Luke Wilson) and Rita (Maya Rudolph), two average people who take part in an experimental military project to freeze them for an extended amount of time. However, after the pair enter their hibernation chambers, the project’s funding is scrapped, and they are left on their own until they awaken 500 years later in a world that is drastically different than the one they remember, filled with anti-intellectual people who struggle to understand even the most basic of concepts. With a smart script, Judge at the helm, and a major film studio backing it, Idiocracy seemed primed to make an impressive theatrical run; there was just one major problem.
The Studio Refused To Market Idiocracy
In March 2005, Idiocracy was screened for test audiences, and the reactions were so poor that 20th Century Fox ordered a wave of reshoots that would push back the film’s release date indefinitely. By April 2006, Judge and the team at Fox felt comfortable enough with the film to announce a September 2006 release. But by the time September rolled around, Idiocracy was given the cold shoulder from the marketing department, not receiving a single movie trailer or television ad before being given a limited release to just 130 movie theaters across the country.
Never Given A Fighting Chance In Theaters
Despite not being screened for critics ahead of its release, Idiocracy saw mostly positive reviews, resulting in a critic score of 71 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. But those positive reviews had little effect on Idiocracy, which ended its theatrical run grossing just under $500,000 at the global box office. The film’s limited release and poor box office performance puzzled critics, who pondered if Idiocracy may have laughed in the face of pop culture a little too much.
Corporate America Fought Against Idiocracy
Throughout much of the film, corporate America is framed as the main antagonist and the primary reason for the anti-intellectual culture that affected the country. President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Camacho, played by Terry Crews, is a former pro wrestler and porn star who delivers over-the-top and idiotic speeches while he addresses the nation, all while equipped with rifles.
In a 2018 interview with GQ, Crews acknowledged that real-life advertisers poured money into the movie thinking that they would receive a positive portrayal but were shocked when they realized that Idiocracy criticized them and blamed the companies for dumbing down America, causing Fox to reel the film in.
In a more diplomatic approach, Judge pointed to the film’s poor test screenings as the reason Idiocracy never got a full release, also revealing that Fox believed that the movie would eventually become a cult classic with audiences, which has proven to be pretty on the nose. 20 years following its release, Idiocracy is often looked at for correctly predicting how politics would eventually become the media circus that it has started to become. Is anybody in the mood for a demolition derby?
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
