AlthoughThe Simpsons Movieoriginally featured a perfect cameo for Mr. Burns, the creators ofThe Simpsonsmissed out on a great opportunity by cutting this pivotal gag. AlthoughThe Simpsonsis the longest-running scripted primetime American TV show in history, the show has only produced one theatrically released feature-length spinoff movie in its 36 years on the air. 2007’sThe Simpsons Moviewas a massive box office success and a more modest hit with critics, but the18-year wait forThe Simpsons Movie 2continues in 2025.
Speaking at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, co-creator Matt Groening explained that the sequel’s slow progress can be chalked up to the challenges of simultaneously producing new episodes and a movie. Per Groening, the difficulty of balancing these tasks almost burnt out the creative team working on the original movie, so the show’s creators are in no rush torepeat this withThe Simpsons Movie 2. This panel discussion also shed light on a missing gag from the movie that could have been an all-time classic.
The Simpsons Movie Originally Included Mr Burns Telling Viewers Their Tickets Weren’t Refundable
The Show’s First Theatrical Spinoff Mocked Viewers For Watching The Show On The Big Screen
Groening toldScreenDailythatan early cut ofThe Simpsons Moviesaw Mr. Burns tell the audience, 10 minutes into the movie, that they could no longer receive a ticket refund.The gag fared poorly with test audiences and was cut as a result, withThe Simpsonsdirector David Silverman noting that “Audiences don’t like being mocked and shamed for having gone to see the movie.” This justification makes sense, although the movie could have done with keeping the gag regardless.
Early inThe Simpsons Movie, Homer turns to the patrons attending anItchy and Scratchymovie in theaters and berates them for paying to see something they could watch for free at home.
The finished movie did feature a similar, although slightly subtler, gag. Early inThe Simpsons Movie, Homer turns to the patrons attending anItchy and Scratchymovie in theaters and berates them for paying to see something they could watch for free at home. Homer’s line is delivered directly to the viewer, making it clear that the gag is aimed at fans, but this joke still made it into the final cut.
The Simpsons Movie’s Mr. Burns Gag Tested Poorly
One Producer Noted Viewers Didn’t Like Being Shamed For Buying Tickets
WhileThe Simpsons Moviebroughtone of the most influential network sitcomsof all time to the big screen, the show’s popularity did not stop the creators from making some concessions.The Mr. Burns gag was cut for fear of alienating audience members, while Rainier Wolfcastle was renamed President Schwarzenegger to make the subject of his satirical humor clearer to newcomers.
This was a shame in the case of the Mr. Burns joke because Homer’s evil boss deserved a bigger role in the spinoff. Mr. Burns was the villain in some of the show’s greatest episodes ever, from season 4, episode 17, “Last Exit to Springfield,” to the legendary two-parter “Who Shot Mr. Burns?” As such, a bigger role in the show’s first movie would have felt more fitting.
The Simpsons Movie’s Missing Mr. Burns Gag Would Have Added So Much To The Overall Tone
Mr. Burns Deserved A Bigger Role In The Simpsons Movie
While Burns was the main villain ofThe Simpsonsepisode that won the Paul Selvin Awardonly three years beforeThe Simpsons Movie’s 2007 release, his role in the movie was minimal.The Simpsons Movieshould have kept its deliberately antagonistic Mr. Burns gagas this self-aware moment fit the show’s sense of humor and highlighted its tendency to take aim at its own audience from time to time.
Hopefully, the creators won’t feel as compelled to avoid offending audience members whenThe Simpsons Movie 2enters production.
The Simpsons Moviecutting this Mr. Burns gag is indicative of a broader attempt to appeal to a bigger audience with the spinoff, something that wasn’t necessary given the show’s widespread appeal. Hopefully, the creators won’t feel as compelled to avoid offending audience members whenThe Simpsons Movie 2enters production. Until then,The Simpsons Movieis an undeniably fun, if unfortunately compromised, example ofThe Simpsonsbroadening its horizons and tamping down its riskier humor in the process.
