Gallery: How A True Olympic Story Became "Cool Runnings" And How Disney Almost Blew It

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How A True Olympic Story Became "Cool Runnings" And How Disney Almost Blew It
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Andrew LaSane
Buena Vista Pictures

“Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, it’s bobsled time!” Odds are if you’re reading this, you’ve seen the classic Disney film “Cool Runnings” at least a few times. 

Released on October 1, 1993 here in the US, the $14 million movie debuted at #3 and raked in $155 million worldwide before presumably making a killing in rentals and home video sales. Most people know that it was based on a true story, but how exactly did that get turned into a comedy with Leon, Doug E. Doug, and John Candy? 

Here’s how it all went down.

About Andrew LaSane

Andrew LaSane is a Charleston-born, Brooklyn-based writer with a Masters in Media, Culture, and Communications and a deeply rooted love of pop culture. He has written about television, film, fashion, politics, science, and various other topics for several publications including Complex, Thrillist, Mental Floss, and Merry Jane.

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