The longest running independent movie studio in North America, The Toxic Avenger, Class of Nuke 'Em High, and Tromeo & Juliet. Founded by Yale alumni Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz in 1974, Troma started out as a studio producing sex comedies until they found fame with the release of The Toxic Avenger in 1985.
The Toxic Avenger launched Troma to horror B-movie stardom and the company focused solely on horror from that time forward, developing their own unique style of over-the-top practical effects, gross-out horror, and extreme violence. Soon, Toxie became the studio’s mascot and was followed up by several sequels including a short-lived cartoon adaptation.
Despite Troma’s position as an indie studio operating on the sidelines of Hollywood, they’ve given birth to many modern-day stars including Trey Parker, James Gunn, Eli Roth, Oliver Stone and James Schamus, who have all either worked for Troma or made movies that Troma launched. Additionally, the first films of Kevin Costner, Dustin Hoffman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Robert DeNiro can be found in Troma’s movie library.
Troma Entertainment's Origins
Lloyd Kaufman, the man who many consider to be synonymous with Troma Entertainment, graduated from Yale University in 1968 and originally intended to become a social worker. However, when he became fast friends with student filmmaker Robert Edelstein and Eric Sherman (son of filmmaker Vincent Sherman) they introduced him to his future lifelong obsession, cinema.
After taking some time off, Kaufman returned to Yale in 1967 and produced Robert Edelstein's low-budget film, Rappaccini, and also directed his own first feature film. From 1973-1979, Kaufman produced and directed a handful of adult films, then founded Troma Entertainment in 1974 with his business partner, Michael Herz. From 1979 to 1981, the two wrote, produced, and directed a series of raunchy sex comedies including Squeeze Play!, Waitress!, Stuck on You!, and The First Turn-On!. Then, in 1985 Troma experienced its first real taste of success with the release of The Toxic Avenger, quickly followed by Class of Nuke 'Em High, which Kaufman co-directed with Richard W. Haines.
In 1988, however, Troma’s popularity began to wane with the box office failure of Troma’s War after the film had been rejected by the MPAA twice, forcing significant cuts to the original movie. In the aftermath of the movie's poor performance, Troma tried again for success with the superhero genre in Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D., but when that movie failed as well, Kaufman was forced to downsize Troma into an independent studio.
Troma In The Late '90s & Early '00s
From 1995 to 2000, Troma experienced its golden period, and produced what is arguably some of Kaufman's best work. Kaufman directed three independent films during those five years, all of which were distributed in limited theatrical releases. These films included: Tromeo and Juliet, a loose parody of Shakespeare's play written by James Gunn; Terror Firmer, a slasher movie loosely based on Kaufman's book All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I Learned from The Toxic Avenger, and an independent film sequel to The Toxic Avenger trilogy titled Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV.
Unfortunately, Troma's financial hardship worsened after the botched funding of a low-budget feature titled Tales from the Crapper, which cost the company roughly $250,000 despite most of the footage being completely unusable. Kaufman supervised a reshoot in an attempt to salvage the movie, ultimately dividing the footage into two parts and recasting the movie as a double-feature, which was released on DVD in 2004.
In 2006, Kaufman released his latest directorial work, Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead, which his long-time editor Gabriel Friedman co-directed and wrote the screenplay for. Despite the movie opening to positive reviews, it was a financial disappointment at the box office.
In 2011, Troma produced Father's Day, an action-horror comedy that follows a man determined to exact revenge on the Father's Day Killer, a rapist and serial killer who murdered his father years ago. Written and directed by the Canadian filmmaking team Astron-6, Father’s Day cost only $10,000 to make, yet was featured on the cover of Rue Morgue magazine and also won several awards. This highlights the spirit of Troma: bringing low-budget independent gems to the public that would otherwise never be seen.
Troma Entertainment In 2020 And Beyond
In 2020, Troma Entertainment still produces and acquires independent films, despite financial hardships and limitations, and has distributed many movies from third parties, including Trey Parker's horror musical, Cannibal! The Musical.
Troma has continued to expand its horizons by creating the totally free TromaDance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Unlike other festivals, TromaDance charges no entry fee, no ission fees, and has no strict VIP policy. The independent film festival is specifically designed to be a showcase of all forms of truly independent art, including feature length and short films, animation, music, and live performance art.
Kaufman has also confirmed that there will be remakes of The Toxic Avenger as well as another '80’s classic Troma movie, Mother’s Day. When The Toxic Avenger remake was first announced in 2010, it was originally intended to be a PG-13 version of the story, intended as a more general audience-friendly feature. However, with the latest news of Legendary taking over the project and Macon Blair officially attached to write and direct, it’s unclear whether this family-friendly strategy is still the approach being taken. Regardless of the direction, with Lloyd Kaufman and Troma still attached to the project, The Toxic Avenger and Toxie—Troma's iconic mascot—are sure to receive proper Troma treatment.
