This Is the End: Worth Watching? Cast, Controversy, Reviews

Few on-set incidents have generated as much chatter as Emma Watson’s departure from Seth Rogen’s apocalyptic comedy. The story resurfaced years later when Rogen himself took to Twitter to set the record straight, calling the popular version of events “shitty.” The truth turns out to be far less dramatic — and considerably more revealing about how Hollywood still handles boundary negotiations on set.

Release Year: 2013 · Directors: Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg · Genre: Apocalyptic comedy horror · IMDb ID: tt1245492 · Key Controversy: Emma Watson walk-off

Why did Emma Watson walk off This Is the End?

Emma Watson walked off the set during filming due to scenes being improvised that she felt uncomfortable with, according to Wikipedia. The uncomfortable scenes involved Danny McBride as a cannibal and Channing Tatum as his sex slave in a leather thong, per the same source. Watson was relatively fresh off the Harry Potter franchise when she appeared in This Is the End, according to Relevant Magazine.

Seth Rogen’s account of the incident

Seth Rogen initially explained in a GQ interview that Emma Watson walked off after refusing to do a scene with Danny McBride and Channing Tatum, according to MovieWeb. Rogen later clarified via Twitter that Emma Watson did not “storm off the set” and called the perception “shitty,” according to Los Angeles Times.

In the final filmed version, McBride plays a crazed cannibal living in an old RV, and Tatum scuttles around on all fours wearing a leather thong, boots, and a luchador mask, per Los Angeles Times. Rogen stated the scene was not what was originally scripted and was getting improvised, changed drastically, and was not what Watson agreed to, according to the same source. Rogen acknowledged he should have communicated better and that Watson was put in an uncomfortable position, per Los Angeles Times.

Seth Rogen (Actor, writer, director of This Is the End): “I want to correct a story that has emerged from a recent interview I gave. It misrepresents what actually happened. Emma Watson did not ‘storm off the set’ and it’s shitty that the perception is that she did.” — Los Angeles Times

What Emma Watson refused to film

Rogen stated he and Watson spoke on the night of the incident and agreed she would not be in the scene, according to Los Angeles Times. Rogen expressed that he was thrilled for the opportunity to work with Watson and would be thrilled to get that opportunity again, according to the same source. Watson came back the next day after the incident to say goodbye and helped promote the film despite only having a small part, according to MovieWeb. The narrative that Watson was in some way uncool or unprofessional is “complete bullshit” according to Rogen, per MovieWeb.

The distinction matters: Watson left a scene that changed without her consent, not a project she abandoned in anger. Rogen himself called the “storm off” framing unfair.

Is This Is the End movie worth watching?

This Is the End is a 2013 American apocalyptic comedy horror film written, directed, and produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg in their directorial debuts, according to Wikipedia. The film featured high-profile celebrity cameos from Rihanna to Emma Watson, according to MovieWeb. Emma Watson appears in the film during a scene at James Franco’s party where she interacts with Craig Robinson and Jay Baruchel, according to MovieWeb.

Pros and cons for viewers

Audience and critic reception

The film is remembered as one of the last big collaborations between Seth Rogen and James Franco before controversy surrounding the latter, according to MovieWeb. This Is the End is remembered as one of the last examples of comedies being consistent winners at the box office, according to MovieWeb.

The implication: this film occupies a specific cultural moment when studio comedies could still reliably draw theatrical audiences and ensemble casts operated without the controversies that would later reshape careers.

Why is This Is the End so good?

The appeal comes from watching famous people cheerfully mock themselves. Emma Watson’s brief appearance follows her character misinterpreting an overheard conversation and thinking the group intends to rape her — she leaves with their drinks, according to Wikipedia. Rogen stated there were no hard feelings and he couldn’t be happier with how the film turned out, according to MovieWeb. Rogen commented that the final version of the scene was probably funnier the way they ended up doing it without Watson, according to MovieWeb.

Standout comedic elements

The directorial debut succeeded where many fail: the movie knows exactly what it is. Evan Goldberg said he made it a goal to get actors to say “no” on set, and the only holdouts throughout filming were James Franco and Seth Rogen, according to LADBible. Rogen clarified that he wasn’t upset by how Watson reacted to the scene as it wasn’t something she initially signed on to do, according to MovieWeb.

Celebrity self-parody appeal

In her scene, Watson refers to Jay Baruchel as a hipster who isn’t into popular things, according to MovieWeb. During production, a Tumblr user who claimed to be an extra on the film alleged that Watson had walked off the set due to her discomfort over the scene, according to The Independent. Rogen posted his clarification on Twitter on Monday night addressing the rumor, according to Los Angeles Times.

The catch: the scene that chased Watson away became one of the film’s most quoted moments. Danny McBride’s cannibal and Channing Tatum’s thong routine are now cult touchstones — exactly the kind of boundary-pushing that defines Rogen-Goldberg comedy.

Is This Is the End inappropriate?

This Is the End carries an R rating for strong crude sexual content, brief nudity, drug use, and language throughout. Parents should know the film is decidedly adult-oriented with heavy profanity, drug references, and sexual situations. The film is not appropriate for teenagers or younger audiences despite the comedic framing.

Content warnings and ratings

The comedic premise — celebrities trapped during an apocalypse at James Franco’s house party — disguises significant mature content. Danny McBride’s cannibal bit and Channing Tatum’s leather-clad “sex slave” characterization represent the kind of improvised chaos that defines the film’s edge.

Common Sense Media insights

Parents considering the film should note it targets mature audiences only. The combination of crude humor, drug references, and sexual content makes it unsuitable for viewers under 17 without parental guidance. The celebrity cast provides no cushioning for the raunchy comedy style.

The pattern: the star-studded cast lures viewers expecting harmless celebrity fun, but the R rating exists for legitimate reasons that the comedic framing easily obscures.

Was This Is the End a flop?

The film turned a profit against its modest production budget, with the ensemble cast working essentially for scale and favors. This Is the End is remembered as one of the last examples of comedies being consistent winners at the box office, according to MovieWeb. By industry standards of the era, a modest-budget comedy with huge star power and theatrical success qualifies as a win.

Box office performance

The film performed respectably in its theatrical run, benefitting from the ensemble’s willingness to work for reduced fees in exchange for creative participation. Streaming availability has since expanded its audience considerably — the film can be watched in the UK on Netflix, Sky Go, and Now, according to The Independent. For more information on this tragic event, you can read about the Gaspard Ulliel accident ski. Gaspard Ulliel accident ski

Cultural impact vs financials

The film is remembered as one of the last big collaborations between Seth Rogen and James Franco before controversy surrounding the latter, according to MovieWeb. By most measures, it succeeded commercially while cementing a specific brand of celebrity-amplified comedy that has since faded from the mainstream.

Seth Rogen (Actor, writer, director of This Is the End): “I mean, I don’t look back on that and think, ‘How dare she do that?’ You know? No hard feelings and I couldn’t be happier with how the film turned out in the end.” — Los Angeles Times

The Emma Watson episode illustrates how boundary negotiations on set can go wrong even when everyone acts in good faith. The film remains profitable, beloved by its cult audience, and notable as a time capsule of a specific era in studio comedy — before the Franco controversy, before streaming reshaped expectations, before everything changed.

Related reading: This Is the End · Seth Rogen Emma Watson clarification

Seth Rogen’s clarification quelled Emma Watson walk-off rumors for This Is the End, whose cast, plot and streaming guide draws fans to its R-rated apocalyptic comedy.

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