Though he will forever be known for his performance as the fun-loving party animal Steve Stifler in the American Pie franchise, Sean William Scott went on to have a great deal of success on the silver screen outside the fan-favorite series. Scott has also starred in popular movies like Dude, Where’s My Car?, The Rundown, The Dukes of Hazzard, and Role Models, and in 2011, he appeared alongside Liev Schreiber and Jay Baruchel in the underrated sports comedy Goon.
In the celebrated cult classic, Scott plays the kind but dim-witted Massachusetts bouncer Doug Glatt, who, after punching out a hockey player at a game, is offered the job as an enforcer for his minor-league hometown team. When Goon debuted on February 24, 2012, the comedy attracted widespread praise for Scott’s endearing performance and its chaotic storyline and humor. Despite bombing in the U.S., it soared to great heights in Canada. Let’s take a closer look at the quirky flick.
Scott Stars as an Enforcer With a Heart of Gold in ‘Goon’
Sean William Scott continued to prove why he is one of the comedy world’s most talented yet criminally underrated performers when he headlined the Canadian sports comedy Goon, which takes place in the hockey-obsessed town of Orangetown, Massachusetts, where resident loner Doug Glatt works as a bouncer at a local bar to make ends meet. Doug constantly feels like an outcast because of his lack of book smarts and is frustrated that everyone compares him to his highly successful brother and father, both of whom are doctors. When Doug attends a minor league hockey game with his buddy Pat (Jay Baruchel), he finds his whole world changed thanks to one powerful punch.
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After easily beating up a loudmouthed player on the opposing team, Doug is offered the job of enforcer for his hometown team, The Orangetown Assassins, and quickly becomes respected in the sport, earning the nickname “Doug the Thug” thanks to his growing reputation and a spot on the Halifax Highlanders. When Doug’s beloved idol Ross “The Boss” Rhea (Liev Schreiber) joins the rival hockey team after being suspended and demoted for excessive violence, the two self-proclaimed “goons” square off on the ice in a bloody and brutal showdown.
‘Goon’ Shatters Records at the Canadian Box Office
Based on the experiences of retired minor-league ice hockey player Doug Smith, Goon was written by Jay Baruchel and Evan Goldberg and made its exciting debut at the Toronto International Film Festival where it garnered rave reviews for its unapologetically crude humor, epic brawls on ice, and, of course, Scott’s wholesome portrayal of the enforcer with a heart of gold. Despite earning an 81% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics, Goon failed to make a splash at the box office, grossing $4.1 million domestically and just $2.8 million in international territories, for a worldwide total of $7 million.
Although it ultimately failed to recoup its $12 million budget, Goon nonetheless became an extremely popular release in Canada and achieved sleeper hit status thanks to its impressive premiere on Netflix, as well as lucrative DVD sales and video-on-demand rentals. It became the highest-grossing domestic film of 2012 in Canada, thanks to its $4.1 million haul, and won the prestigious Golden Box Office Award, which is presented to directors and screenwriters for their box office achievements in the country. Goon‘s director, Michael Dowse, was awarded $20,000, and both Baruchel and Goldberg also shared the same amount for their contributions to the entertaining comedy.
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The trio accepted the giant novelty checks at Toronto’s Hockey Hall of Fame, with Baruchel saying in his speech that he was proud to be working in his homeland and wants to see more of his fellow Hollywood actors boast Canadian cinema. The delightfully unexpected popularity of Goon led to the release of a 2017 sequel, Goon: Last of the Enforcers, which featured the return of both Scott and Schreiber, with Baruchel taking on directing duties. The follow-up ultimately failed to reach the heights of its predecessor but still left fans wanting more and hoping for another installment. Scott discussed a sequel in 2019, but instead pitched a potential limited series:
“I’m always like, is there a Goon limited series? Doing a limited series where it focuses a little bit more on the other players and their lives. I don’t know, as of right now, it’s something I actually want to talk to Jay about because I just love that character and I love the guys. And Jay is just such a talented writer/director.”
It’s not uncommon for some movies to flop at the U.S. box office but go on to become beloved cult classics. Now-iconic films like Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Heathers, Almost Famous, and the iconic Blade Runner all underperformed during their initial theatrical releases before finding new life with audiences at home. In the 13 years since its release, Goon remains a celebrated staple amongst fans and a true gem in the sports comedy genre, and only time will tell whether a rowdy threequel with Scott and his crew will grace our screens. Goon is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.
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