Sharon Stone's Cult Classic Western Was a Massive Risk That Changed 3 Careers Forever

When The Quick and the Dead was released in 1995, it wasn't a critical darling or box office success. Roger Ebertgave it just two stars in his written review, and it made a dismal $18.6 million worldwide at cinemas on a $32 million budget. Today, however, the Sam Raimi-directed film is remembered fondly as a mid-90s cult classic, thanks in part to its thrilling Western story of revenge, alongside its stellar cast, which included Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Russell Crowe. At the time, though, only Stone and Hackman were big names. In fact, in her role as a producer, Stone had to fight for Raimi, DiCaprio, and Crowe. Without her efforts, The Quick and the Dead wouldn't have existed, and three actors' careers may never have been.