Jeff Daniels Saved 200 Bad Reviews of Dumb & Dumber—Here’s Why

Jeff Daniels is looking back at the surprising journey of Dumb & Dumber—from a critically panned comedy to a cult classic. In a recent interview with The Guardian, the actor revealed that he kept a scrapbook filled with 200 negative reviews of the 1994 film, which he starred in alongside Jim Carrey.

Despite harsh criticism at the time, Dumb & Dumber became a massive hit, grossing $247 million worldwide and cementing its place as a comedy favorite.

The Unforgettable Toilet Scene

Daniels recalled watching the movie at a preview screening with his parents. One particular moment—the infamous toilet scene—led to mixed reactions.

“I was sat next to my parents, and when we got to the toilet scene, my father hung his head in his hands and said: ‘No, Jeffrey …’ Meanwhile, 5,000 people fell out of their chairs laughing,” Daniels said.

That was when he realized the film had done something special.

“The reviews were horrible. I still have a scrapbook of 200 newspapers panning the movie and wishing it never existed. Then we were the box office No. 1 for six straight weeks. That’s when it hit me that we’d done the impossible.”

A Risky Career Move

At the time, Daniels was known as a serious actor, and his agents strongly advised against taking the role. They feared he would be overshadowed by Carrey, who was at the peak of his comedy career.

“They said: ‘There’s a chance Jim Carrey will wipe you off the screen.’ I said: ‘Maybe – but not if I work with him.’”

Even the studio was hesitant about casting Daniels, but Carrey insisted he was the perfect choice.

“Jim read with him and said: ‘That guy scared the shit out of me. I was on my heels the whole time. That’s got to be the guy,’” directors Peter and Bob Farrelly recalled.

Daniels’ agents were particularly worried about the now-iconic toilet scene, where his character, Harry, unknowingly drinks a laxative-spiked tea. But Daniels embraced the moment.

“It’s one thing to read the toilet scene, but then the day comes, and we’re actually going to do the toilet scene,” he said. “I told Jim, ‘This is either the beginning of my career or the end of it.’ Jim, who is fearless, told me, ‘It’s going to be great. You’ve just got to go all the way with it.’”

A Comedy Legacy

Dumb & Dumber didn’t just survive the bad reviews—it thrived. The film spawned a 2014 sequel, Dumb and Dumber To, an animated TV series, and a 2003 prequel, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd.

Daniels' gamble paid off, proving that sometimes, even the worst-reviewed movies can become comedy gold.