‘I Ruined The First Half Day Of Filming.’ The Stern Warning Josh Brolin Says Steven Spielberg Had To Give Him On Goonies Because He Had No Idea What He Was Doing

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It’s amazing to learn that The Goonies was Josh Brolin’s very first film role. Produced by Steven Spielberg and available on Netflix, the movie helped launch the careers of many newcomers to acting. Brolin, after years of auditioning, found his first day on set overwhelming. In a recent interview, he shared that things didn’t go smoothly and even resulted in a talking-to from Spielberg. Here’s the story of what happened.

Brolin Couldn’t Stop Laughing

Whether it was nerves, excitement, or something else, when shooting began on The Goonies in the fall of 1984, Brolin could control his laughter. It got so bad that it ruined the early shoots. As the actor explained in an interview with Entertainment Tonight:

I was completely new to being on a movie set. I actually held up filming for half a day because I couldn’t stop laughing – I think it was from being nervous! Every time the director said ‘action,’ I just burst out laughing.

It’s charming when cast members crack up on Saturday Night Live, but on a movie set like The Goonies, it’s a big problem. Josh Brolin recalls that when the cast couldn’t stop laughing, it ruined almost every attempt at filming a scene. Steven Spielberg, a highly experienced producer and director of many successful films, had to intervene.

Spielberg finally came up to me, ‘We gotta [stop]…This costs money. It’s not funny anymore.’

Being criticized by a filmmaking legend like Spielberg must have been a really grounding moment. It was also solid advice – movies are expensive to make, so staying focused and managing resources is crucial. It’s clear Josh Brolin has remembered and followed that guidance ever since.

Brolin Learned A Lot From Spielberg

Josh Brolin has often spoken about the valuable lessons he learned from director Steven Spielberg. Earlier this year, he shared with Rob Lowe on the Literally! With Rob Lowe podcast that Spielberg once advised him to stop overanalyzing a scene and simply focus on playing the role. Brolin recounted Spielberg’s advice, saying:

He looked at me and told me to simply perform the lines – just read the words, and I’d be okay.

All actors could benefit from following Steven Spielberg’s guidance, and Josh Brolin particularly values the advice he received early in his career.

Just like the famous line from the movie, The Goonies has lasting appeal. Though it didn’t launch a huge franchise like some other films from the 1980s, it’s still a favorite for many, and even has its own Lego sets! What makes the movie special is seeing actors like Josh Brolin, Sean Astin, Ke Huy Quan, Martha Plimpton, and Corey Feldman so early in their careers – it’s not just one of the best films of the decade, but a significant one.

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2025-11-11 00:11