The Founder (2016)
- John Lee Hancock originally wanted a completely different ending for the film, but test audiences preferred the one we see today.
- During the filming of The Founder, Michael Keaton improvised one of the most famous lines in the movie.
- Many of the practical effects used in the climax were achieved without any CGI.
The Founder is a 2016 American biographical drama directed by John Lee Hancock. Michael Keaton stars as Ray Kroc, a struggling milkshake machine salesman in 1954 who discovers McDonald's, a revolutionary burger restaurant in San Bernardino, California run by brothers Dick and Mac McDonald, played by Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch. Fascinated by their assembly-line approach to fast food β which produces quality burgers in 30 seconds rather than 30 minutes β Kroc convinces the brothers to let him franchise the concept, then systematically maneuvers to take control of the company, eventually buying the brothers out and building McDonald's into the global empire it became.
Michael Keaton's performance walked a razor's edge between admiration and revulsion β Kroc's relentless ambition and business genius were genuinely impressive, but his willingness to betray the men whose innovation he exploited was chilling. The Founder earned $24 million worldwide on a $7 million budget.
