The Launch of a Star Vehicle That Explodes in Laughter - 2000-05-12

Generally, Hollywood executives are relieved when their movies are screened for the first time and hilarious laughter erupts from the audience.
But not when the movie isn't a comedy.
"Battlefield Earth," John Travolta's epic, expensive and bizarre science fiction film based on a book by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, was greeted with guffaws and hoots from an audience of entertainment journalists, critics and others at a packed theater in Century City this week.
Wikipedia cite:
{{cite news | author = Sharon Waxman | title = The Launch of a Star Vehicle That Explodes in Laughter | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2000/05/12/the-launch-of-a-star-vehicle-that-explodes-in-laughter/6d6fea11-2f96-424a-90fd-20c469a87ccc/ | work = Washington Post | date = May 12, 2000 | accessdate = February 18, 2017 }}