John Malkovich's real middle name is Gavin - in the movie, his character's middle name is Horatio.
According to the script, the song intended to be played over the closing credits was "Put Your Hand Inside the Puppethead" by They Might Be Giants.
The play that Malkovich is reading into a tape recorder is Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard." The line beginning "I'm as hungry as the winter..." is at the end of Act Two, where Trofimov is speaking to Anya, pontificating on his rejection of materialism.
The play that John Malkovich is rehearsing on stage is Shakespeare's "Richard III." The lines "Was ever a woman in this humour woo'd? / Was ever a woman in this humour won?" are I.ii.239-240, where Richard is gloating over his use of power, lies and crime to obtain the woman he desires, Lady Anne. This rehearsal scene is immediately followed by the first time that Craig has sex with Maxine via Malkovich.
Craig discovers that LesterCorp is on the 7 1/2 floor of the Mertin Flemmer building by seeing a "7 1/2" on a building directory in the lobby - at the 7 1/2-minute point of the film.
At the beginning of the film when Craig is trying to guess Maxine's name, one of the names he mumbles is "Emily", the name of the child that Maxine gives birth to at the end of the film. The names Craig mumbles is an allusion to Dr. Lester and his group of friends that can exist within other souls.
Willie Garson (Guy in Restaurant) improvised the scene where he encounters John Malkovich and says, "You were really great in that movie where you play that retard." According to Garson, director Spike Jonze had instructed Garson to use the word "retard" as many times as he could.
The 1990 Steppenwolf Theatre building in Chicago (Malkovich was one of the first members of Steppenwolf, and remains one today) includes a half-floor used for storage.
Charlie Kaufman sent the screenplay to Francis Ford Coppola after he wrote it. Coppola liked it very much and showed it to his daughter's husband, Spike Jonze. Jonze liked the screenplay so much that he approached Kaufman about directing the movie.
Several characters in the movie remember Malkovich as having played a jewel thief, even though, as he correctly points out, he never did. However, Malkovich did eventually play a jewel thief in Johnny English (2003).
The original script has Kevin Bacon in place of 'Charlie Sheen' , as Malkovich's actor friend.
In the first draft of the script, Lester and his friends weren't using Malkovich's portal as a means for extending their lives, but in a plot to take over the world in the name of Satan. Satan was the mysterious 'Flemmer' that the Merton-Flemmer building was half named after.
In the scene in the Merton-Flemmer building lobby, when Craig browses the floor listings to find LesterCorp, the camera scrolls past the listing "Eric Zumbrunnen, CPA". Eric Zumbrunnen is the film's editor.
Director Cameo: [Spike Jonze] Derek Mantini's assistant
Cameo: [David Fincher] Appears as Christopher Bing, when Craig is watching television through Malkovich toward the end of the film.
The play that Craig was performing with his puppets (when he gets smacked by an angry parent) is based on the letters of Abelard and Heloise, written between 1115 and 1117 AD, which were found, copied and abridged by Johannes de Vepria, a 15th century Cistercian monk, into "Ex Epistolis duorum amantium" ("From the Letters of Two Lovers"). This became a classic document of early romantic (tragic) love used by many artists in their work including William Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet. In addition, screenwriter Charlie Kaufman's later project Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) took its title, and no small amount of inspiration, from Alexander Pope's "Eloisa to Abelard."
A fictional behind-the-scenes glimpse of the making of this movie appears in screenwriter Charlie Kaufman's subsequent movie, _Adaptation (2002)_ .
Orson Bean had a role in the film Innerspace (1987); also about a man taking control of another man's body.
John Cusack actually took some marionette-puppeteering lessons in order to prepare for the film.
John Malkovich was approached about this film several times and loved the script, but he and his production crew felt that another actor would fit the role better. Malkovich offered to help produce the film, and aid Spike Jonze in any way, but refused to star in it. Eventually after a couple of years Malkovich's will was worn down and he agreed to star in the film.
Lotte Schwartz:
Don't stand in the way of my actualization as a man.
Craig Schwartz:
Nobody's looking for a puppeteer in today's wintry economic climate.
Craig Schwartz:
Do you know what a metaphysical can of worms this portal is?
Craig Schwartz:
My name is Craig Schwartz and I have an interview with Dr. Lester.
Floris:
Please have a seat, Mr. Juarez.
Craig Schwartz:
My name is Schwartz.
Floris:
"My name is Wartz"?
Floris:
Welcome to Lestercorp. How may we meet your filing needs?
Craig Schwartz:
No, no. Um... my name's Craig Schwartz. I have an interview with Dr. Lester.
Floris:
Oh. Please have a seat, Mr. Juarez.
Craig Schwartz:
Schwartz.
Floris:
Pardon?
Craig Schwartz:
Schwartz.
Floris:
I- I'm sorry. I have no idea what you're saying to me right now.
Floris:
My name is Schwartz.
Floris:
My name is Warts?
[Craig takes a seat]
Floris:
[intercom beeps]
Floris:
Mr. Juarez?
[Craig doesn't respond at first]
Craig Schwartz:
Oh. Yes?
Floris:
Chest?
Craig Schwartz:
I said, "Yes?"
Floris:
You suggest what? I'm sorry I have no time for piddling suggestions from mumbling job applicants. Besides, Dr. Lester will see you now.
Craig Schwartz:
You see the world through John Malkovich's eyes. Then after about 15 minutes, you're spit out into a ditch on the side of the New Jersey Turnpike!
Charlie:
Truth is for suckers, Johnny Boy.
Charlie:
Maybe she's using you to channel some dead lesbian lover.
John Malkovich:
The weird thing is, this Maxine likes to call me "Lotte".
Charlie:
Ouch. That is hot. Maybe she's using you to channel some dead lesbian lover. Sounds like my kind of gal. Let me know when you're done with her, yeah?
John Malkovich:
What are you talking about, "Done with her", man? Tonight really freaked me out!
Dr. Lester:
She has her doctorate in speech impedimentology from Case Western.
Craig Schwartz (in John Malkovich):
You see, Maxine, it isn't just playing with dolls.
Maxine:
You're right, my darling, it's so much more. It's playing with people!
Maxine:
Meet you in Malkovich in one hour.
Waiter:
Malkovich?
John Malkovich:
MALKOVICH!
Waiter:
Malkovich.
Guy in Restaurant:
'Scuse me.
John Malkovich:
Mm-hmm?
Guy in Restaurant:
Are you John Malkovich?
John Malkovich:
Yes, I am.
Guy in Restaurant:
Wow! You're really, uh, great in that movie...
John Malkovich:
Oh?
Guy in Restaurant:
...where you play that retard.
John Malkovich:
Oh, thank you very much. Thank you.
Guy in Restaurant:
I have a cousin... who's a retard.
John Malkovich:
Oh, thank you.
Guy in Restaurant:
Yeah. So, um... as you might imagine, it... means a lot to me to see... retards... portrayed, uh, on the silver screen so compassionately.
John Malkovich:
Well, thank you very much, I appreciate it.
Maxine:
Craig, I don't find you attractive, but Lotte, I'm smitten with you. I am... but only when in you're in Malkovich. When I was with him last night, I was looking into his eyes and could sense your feminine longing.
John Malkovich:
I have seen a world that NO man should see!
Craig Schwartz:
Really? Because for most people it's a rather enjoyable experience.
[a truck drives by and the driver hits Malkovich's head with a can]
Driver:
Hey Malkovich, think fast!
Craig Schwartz:
With all due respect, John, It's MY portal.
John Malkovich:
It's MY HEAD, Schwartz. It's MY head!
John Malkovich:
This portal is mine and must be sealed up forever. For the love of God.
Craig Schwartz:
With all respect, sir, I discovered that portal. Its my livelihood.
John Malkovich:
It's my head, Schwartz, and I'll see you in court!
[Malkovich trudges off along the shoulder of the turnpike]
Craig Schwartz:
[calling after him] And who's to say I won't be seeing what you're seeing... in court?
Craig Schwartz:
Can I buy you a drink, Maxine?
Maxine:
Are you married?
Craig Schwartz:
Yes, but enough about me.
[During sex]
John Malkovich:
Did you call me Lotte?
Maxine:
Yeah, do you mind?
John Malkovich:
No, not really.
Dr. Lester:
I've been very lonely in my isolated tower of indecipherable speech.
Craig Schwartz:
There's a tiny door in that empty office. It's a portal, Maxine. It takes you inside John Malkovich. You see the world through John Malkovich's eyes, then, after about fifteen minutes, you're spit out into a ditch on the side of The New Jersey Turnpike.
Maxine:
Sounds delightful. Who the fuck is John Malkovich?
Craig Schwartz:
He's an actor. One of the great American actors of the 20th century.
Maxine:
What's he been in?
Craig Schwartz:
Lots of things. He's very well respected. That jewel thief movie, for example. The point is that this is a very odd thing, supernatural, for lack of a better word. It raises all sorts of philosophical questions about the nature of self, about the existence of the soul. Am I me? Is Malkovich Malkovich? Was the Buddha right, is duality an illusion? Do you see what a can of worms this portal is? I don't think I can go on living my life as I have lived it. There's only one thing to do. Let's get married right away.
Maxine:
Have you ever had two people look at you, with complete lust and devotion, through the same pair of eyes?
Charlie:
Hot lesbian witches! It's fucking genius!
[During a job interview]
Dr. Lester:
Which of these two letters comes first, this one or this one?
Craig Schwartz:
The symbol on the left is not a letter, sir?
Dr. Lester:
Damn, you're good. I was trying to trick you.
Dr. Lester:
Any questions?
Craig Schwartz:
Just one. Why are these ceilings so low?
Dr. Lester:
Low overhead, my boy - we pass the savings on to you! But seriously, that'll all be covered in the orientation.
Maxine:
Tell me a little about yourself.
Craig Schwartz:
Well, I'm a puppeteer...
Maxine:
Check!
Craig Schwartz:
You don't know how lucky you are being a monkey. Because consciousness is a terrible curse. I think. I feel. I suffer. And all I ask in return is the opportunity to do my work. And they won't allow it... because I raise issues.
John Malkovich:
Ma-Sheen!
Charlie:
Malcatraz!
Craig Schwartz:
If I can guess your name in three tries, you have to come have a drink with me tonight.
Maxine:
Why not?
Craig Schwartz:
Okay. You look like a... BarrrRuuu - BellllLuuuu - Lllll - Carolllll - Taaaa-Sharrr - - SusaaannnEmmmmilllly - - Marr - laaarr - Maax... ine - M-M-M - Maxine?
Maxine:
Yeah! Who told you?
Craig Schwartz:
Nobody told me. That just came out. Isn't that odd?
Lotte Schwartz:
I think it's kinda sexy that John Malkovich has a portal, y'know, sort of like, it's like, like he has a vagina. It's sort of vaginal, y'know, like he has a, he has a penis AND a vagina. I mean, it's sort of like... Malkovich's... feminine side. I like that.
First J.M. Inc. Customer:
Now when you say that I can be somebody else, whaddya mean exactly?
Craig Schwartz:
Well, we mean exactly that. We can put you inside someone else's body, for fifteen minutes.
First J.M. Inc. Customer:
Can I be anybody that I wanna be?
Craig Schwartz:
Well, you... actually...
Maxine:
You can be John Malkovich.
First J.M. Inc. Customer:
Perfect! It's... my... second choice, but it's wonderful. I'm a fat man. I'm sad and I...
Maxine:
Two hundred dollars.
[Lotte comes home late at night]
Craig Schwartz:
You were him, weren't you?
Lotte Schwartz:
Yeah.
Craig Schwartz:
And he was with her!
Lotte Schwartz:
We love her, Craig.
Craig Schwartz:
We?
Lotte Schwartz:
John and me.
Craig Schwartz:
I was thinking about what you were saying the other day, about the orientation film being bullshit.
Maxine:
Yes?
Craig Schwartz:
I think maybe you're on to something.
Maxine:
And fifty other lines to get into a girl's pants.
Maxine:
Here's the thing: If you ever get me, you wouldn't have a clue what to do with me.
Dr. Lester:
Don't toy with Floris, Schwartz.
Craig Schwartz:
Oh, no.
Dr. Lester:
If I was 80 years younger, I'd box your ears.
Craig Schwartz:
I wasn't toying with her sir, I wouldn't - pardon me, how old are you, sir?
Dr. Lester:
105. Carrot juice, lots of it. I swear, sometimes it's not worth it. I piss orange. I have to piss sitting down like a goddamn girlie-girl every fifteen minutes.
Craig Schwartz:
I like you, I don't know what it is about you.
Maxine:
My tits?
Craig Schwartz:
No! No, no, no.
Maxine:
No?
Craig Schwartz:
It's your energy, your attitude, you know, the way you carry yourself.
Maxine:
You're not a fag, are you?
Craig Schwartz:
No, I am really attracted to you.
Maxine:
"No, I am really attracted to you", Christ, you are a fag. Okay, we can share recipes if you like, darling.
Craig Schwartz:
No, no, I love your tits, love 'em, I wanna fondle 'em.
Maxine:
Great, now we're getting somewhere. Not a chance.
Maxine:
You're not someone I could get interested in, Craig, you play with dolls.
Charlie:
You're nuts to let a girl go that calls you Lotte, I tell you that as a friend.
Craig Schwartz:
What happens when a man goes through his own portal?
Dr. Lester:
Hello, Mr. Juarez.
Craig Schwartz:
Dr. Lester, My name is Craig Schwartz, a small mixup with your secretary...
Dr. Lester:
[into intercom] Security!
Dr. Lester:
Floris, Get Guinness on the phone.
Floris:
Right away, Dr. Lester. Genghis Khan Capone.
Craig Schwartz:
[as Maxine Puppet] Tell me, Craig, why do you like puppetering?
Craig Schwartz:
[as Craig Puppet] Well Maxine, I'm not sure exactly. Perhaps the idea of becoming someone else for a little while. Being inside another skin - thinking differently, moving differently, feeling differently.
Craig Schwartz:
[as Maxine Puppet] Interesting, Craig...
Lotte Schwartz:
Suck my dick!
Dr. Lester:
My spunk is manna from heaven.
Larry the Agent:
John! Great to see you! Sorry about the cunt at reception.
Craig Schwartz (in John Malkovich):
This is my fiancÈe Maxine.
Larry the Agent:
Great to see you, Maxine. Sorry about the cunt at reception. Please have a seat.
Craig Schwartz:
I've fallen in love, and this is what people who've fallen in love look like.
Maxine:
Well, you picked the unrequited variety. It's very bad for the skin.
Craig Schwartz (in John Malkovich):
There is truth, and there are lies, and art always tells the truth. Even when it's lying.
Floris:
I can't understand a word you're saying
[pauses]
Floris:
asshole.
Charlie:
Lookin' great, Flo.
Floris:
"Lookin' grateful"?
[first lines]
Lotte Schwartz:
Craig, honey, it's time for bed.
[fade out and in]
Orrin Hatch the bird:
Craig, honey, time to get up, Craig, honey, time to get up, Craig, honey, time to get up, Craig, honey, time to get up,
Craig Schwartz:
Lotte...
Lotte Schwartz:
I'm sorry. I didn't know Orrin Hatch was out of his cage.
[last lines]
Craig Schwartz:
[voiceover] Maxine. Maxine, I love you, Maxine. Oh, look away. Look away. Look away. Look away. Look away. Look away. Look away. Look away.
Maxine:
Let's have sex on his table and then make him eat an omelette off of it.
John Malkovich:
NO!
[Craig regains control]
Craig Schwartz (in John Malkovich):
Shut up, you overrated piece of shit.
Continuity: When Craig first discovers the portal, the hands of the clock on the wall (in the deep storage room) are fixed at 2:23 for several minutes.
Audio/visual unsynchronized: During the chase through Malkovich's subconscious, Lotte shoots at Maxine, who runs through a door. The shot hits the wall to the left of the door, but if you look to the right of the door, another bullet hole appears without any corresponding sounds.
Continuity: The shoulder strap of Maxine's shirt in the second love scene between her and John.
Errors in geography: When Craig and Dr. Lester are in the restaurant, two orange Los Angeles MTA buses pass by.
Continuity: As Craig enters Maxine's office to tell her of the portal there is a coat hanging on the doorknob. When he checks the hallway outside, the coat is gone, only to reappear after Maxine finishes taking her phone call.
Continuity: When Craig first wakes up ("wintry economic climate"), the position of the comforter around his shoulders changes several times.
Crew or equipment visible: When Lotte is chasing Maxine through Malkovich's subconscious, as Maxine drops into the school bus section you can clearly see someone's hand holding her skirt so she doesn't fall into the bus.
Continuity: When Craig Schwartz first boards the elevator, the alarm stops when the stop button is released, before the door closes. But when Maxine boards the elevator to descend from floor 7-1/2, the alarm keeps ringing until the door closes.
Revealing mistakes: When John Horatio Malkovich enters his own portal, some of "himself" (for example one he bumps into shortly before exiting) are clearly look-alikes or are wearing masks.
Boom mike visible: When Craig and Dr. Lester sit together on the office windowsill to have a conversation, the shadow of a boom mike is visible on the window frame between them.
Errors in geography: WALK/DON'T WALK signs in New York City at the time of the film used words. The camera zooms in on a sign where there is a upheld hand for stop and a walking figure for go. These pictograph signs were typical at the time in California, not NYC, where the movie is set.
Continuity: When Elijah the chimp lets Lotte out of the cage, he jumps out leaving the checked blanket all messed up. On the last shot of the scene the blanket is straightened out.
Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When Maxine enters the lift on the 7 1/2 floor, it stops there when someone calls it (from outside), but from inside you have to stop it with the stop button because that's how it works.
Continuity: During Craig's interview with Dr. Lester, the wound on Craig's lip moves, and at one point disappears completely.
Continuity: When Craig Schwartz is about to enter the portal for the first time, he's kneeling. In the next shot, he's squatting.
Boom mike visible: The first time Maxine visits Malkovich's apartment, the shadow of the boom mic is visible.
Errors in geography: Just after the first time Lotte falls out of the portal onto the side of the New Jersey Turnpike, a palm tree is visible in the distance over Craig's shoulder.
Continuity: The chimp actor changes a few times - sometimes it has a white beard, while at other times it has no beard.
Errors in geography: When Craig first lands by the N.J. Turnpike, there is an operating oil well in the background. There are no known natural oil reserves in New Jersey.
Continuity: When Craig runs his fingers over files, his wedding ring is on his right hand although usually it's on the left one.
Continuity: When Craig is about to discover the portal, he picks up the dropped file and puts it on the bureau next to him. But in the next shot that file is not there, only those that were there before.
References
The Play House (1921)
An American in Paris (1951)
Notti di Cabiria, Le (1957)
Avventure di topo Gigio, Le (1965)
The Sorcerers (1967)
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Carny (1980)
- Frankie (Gary Busey) uses the same trick to guess Donna's name as Craig uses on Maxine in "Being John Malkovich"
Brazil (1985)
Rain Man (1988)
Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
Of Mice and Men (1992)
In the Line of Fire (1993)
Forrest Gump (1994)
Living in Oblivion (1995)
The Crossing Guard (1995)
G.I. Jane (1997)
"Animorphs" (1998)
Referenced in
The 7 1/2 Floor Orientation (2000) (V)
- reference to 7 1/2 floor in the film
An Interview with Director Spike Jonze (2000) (V)
- this is an interview with the director of that film
An Intimate Portrait of the Art of Background Driving (2000) (V)
- documentary about driving scenes for this film
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Superstar (#4.17)" (2000)
- The movie playing at the Sun Cinema is Being Jonathan Levinson
Being Dom Joly (2001) (TV)
- Title reference
Death to Smoochy (2002)
Dead Man's Dream (2002)
Adaptation. (2002)
Oldboy (2003)
- The location of the prison being on 7 1/2 floor of the building. Lester Corps in Being John Malkovich is also on 7 1/2 floor.
Silent Hill 4: The Room (2004) (VG)
- Portals in the wall that lead to other places
Less Like Me (2004)
- Title mentioned many times
Features
Death of a Salesman (1985) (TV)
The Portrait of a Lady (1996)
MTV Video Music Awards 1998 (1998) (TV)
Featured in
The 2000 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2000) (TV)
- clips
The 72nd Annual Academy Awards (2000) (TV)
Sideways (2004)
- Music from the soundtrack is used
"Friday Night with Jonathan Ross: (#10.12)" (2006)
- Jonathan Ross shows a clip of this when talking about Jonathan Ross' favourite films.
Spoofed in
Being with Juli Ashton (2000) (V)
- similar title/same plot
The Holly Wood Project (2001)
- Shot for shot recreation of Being John Malkovich trailer.
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Bruce Almighty (2003)
Pizza: The Movie (2004)
- 'Kevin' is hit in the head with a soda/beer can when walking at night while being adressed "Hey Malkovich!"
My Big Fat Independent Movie (2005)
- driving down the road, there is a sign that has a picture of a man with an open door in his head (after passing this sign, two people fall from out of nowhere like in this movie)
"Arrested Development: Mr. F (#3.5)" (2005)
- George Sr. finds a tunnel behind the refrigerator which he crawls into, becoming trapped, while "Malkovich"-esque music plays. Meanwhile, GOB takes control of his father's "surrogate" and pretends to be him.