From the map to the pirate ship to the jewels and the intricately designed sets, many props came together to tell a story that would delight all ages. An interesting fact about the prop that was One-Eyed Willy’s skull is that it was made of real bone.
It’s not entirely clear what the exact origins of the skull are, just that it was, in fact, real bone. The rumor is that Richard Donner kept the skull after the film was completed. Probably not the most appealing prop to keep as a memento, but definitely a great conversation starter.
Filmed in Oregon
While it’s hard to miss the West Coast scenery in “The Goonies”, it’s not California that you’re looking at. Many people may think that the film was shot in the Golden State, but most of it was actually filmed in Oregon. For five months, the crew filmed in Astoria, Oregon. The grey but beautiful landscape lent itself well to this action-adventure flick.
The other epic-looking scenes (such as the tunnels and the cave scene with the pirate ship) were shot on very large sound stages in Burbank, California. After all, what would an action-adventure film be without a little movie magic?
Yes, That Was Real Blood
Remember the exciting treasure map that the kids find towards the beginning of the film? And, do you remember the blood on the map? Well, it was real. Gross, we know. So, what’s the story behind the bloody map? Production designer J. Michael Riva wanted the map to have a very old look, and part of creating the antiquated look involved him using coffee to stain it.
He also wanted to add some blood to add to the drama but the prop department had no red paint...so he improvised. Riva ended up cutting his own finger and (yes) using his own blood to dip the edges of the map in.
A Film Debut
“The Goonies” was the first time on screen for one of the child actors. Josh Brolin, (son of actor James Brolin and activist and actress Jane Cameron Agee) made his big-screen appearance as “Brand”, the older brother of Mikey, in the film. After his debut as the caring yet brooding older brother in “The Goonies”, Josh demonstrated his versatility and went on to make his own name in Hollywood.
He went on to star in films like “The Mod Squad”, “Nightwatch”, “No Country for Old Men”, “In the Valley of Elah”, “Sicario”, “Deadpool 2” and, of course, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “The Avengers” sub-franchise.
Chunk Is Still Around
One of the most adorable (and perhaps one of the most liked) characters in “The Goonies” is “Chunk”, the wildly precocious goof played by Jeff Cohen. Chunk was often the instigator in the film but also the center of the comedic moments. Jeff Cohen went on to make a few appearances on TV shows like “Family Ties”, “Popeye” and “Scooby-Doo” but his child acting career unfortunately never translated to adulthood.
He stopped getting cast and decided to pursue a law career instead. Today, Cohen is still technically in “the industry” but as an entertainment lawyer at Cohen Gardner LLC. That’s a way to keep your foot in the door!
Not So Sloth-Like
One of the unexpected characters in “The Goonies” was “Sloth”. At first, to the kids, he was a frightening monster but they came to realize he was human like them and could be friendly, kind, and even gentle. The character of Sloth appeared massive on-screen and he proved to be a big help to the characters in avoiding their villains and in finding the treasure they were looking for.
Sloth was played by John Matuszak, an NFL defensive end who was an impressive six foot seven. Matuszak had a handful of other roles (obviously typecast) but outside of acting, he won two Superbowls with the Oakland Raiders.
A Blooper You Probably Missed
In even the most highly acclaimed and award-winning films, there can be mistakes, even multiple ones. And, in “The Goonies” there are a lot of little things that happen at the beginning of the movie. If you’re not paying very close attention, it can be easy to miss the details — or accidents.
One mistake you might have missed is when Mikey (Sean Astin) accidentally calls Brand (Josh Brolin) by his real name. The moment happened in the basement of the abandoned restaurant after Chunk breaks the water cooler. The director and editors must have missed it too (or didn’t think it was worth a re-take).
The Making of a Monster
For John Matuszak to become the monstrous “Sloth,” he had to be in makeup for a whopping five hours every morning! It takes stamina and patience on both the part of the makeup artist and the actor to dedicate that much time to create a specific look.
It also takes close attention to detail to make sure you (as a makeup artist) re-create the same look every day. Not to mention the focus it would take for Matuszak to act while covered in makeup and prosthetics. He was definitely talented both on and off of the football field.
The Lost Map Momento
Sometimes, after a film is complete, actors are allowed to take wardrobe pieces or props from the set as a memento. When filming was done for this movie, actor Sean Astin was given the map used in the film. But sadly, Astin’s mother (actress Patty Duke) mistook the prop map as part of a pile of trash and threw it away!
Astin was upset about losing the map so hopefully, he has other tangible memories from his time filming “The Goonies”. We’re sure that he eventually forgave his mom for the accident, but how ironic that he lost a treasure map?
One-Eyed Willy’s Ship
The massive pirate ship that belonged to One-Eyed Willy was actually a real ship that was designed after the ship in “The Seahawk” film starring none other than the swashbuckling leading man Errol Flynn. The ship was approximately 7,000 square feet and 105 feet long and took two and a half months to build!
The same construction that was used for this ship was also used to construct the pirate ships in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disneyland. When the shooting was done, sadly no one wanted to take the ship (although if it was that big it was probably difficult to give away) and it was destroyed.
Extras, Extras
Although extras are not the highest-paid people on the set, they can be essential to a film, and finding them is no small task. In “The Goonies,” a lot of the background extras were played either by crew or family members of the cast. You can find their appearances peppered all throughout the film.
The dead FBI agent in the refrigerator was played by a stuntman. The man who played Mouth’s father was actually a cameraman. Chunk’s mom was actually his mother, Elaine Cohen. And one of the police officers at the end of the film was actually an assistant director. Now that’s multi-tasking!
Have I Heard This Before?
“The Goonies” had a really unique soundtrack, or at least it seemed like it did. Much of the music actually came from a classic film that perhaps only major movie buffs would recognize. For many of the action sequences, musical compositions from the 1948 film “Don Juan” were used. But, there’s a simple nod to film classics a bit earlier in “The Goonies”.
Sloth can be seen watching pirate films from the 40s and 50s in the basement where he’s tied up and he later re-enacts one of the scenes as he slides down the pirate ship’s sail — just like Errol Flynn did.
The Missing Octopus Attack
One scene that was left on the cutting room floor was an octopus attack! Pretty cool, right? The scene was to happen right after the kids spot One-Eyed Willy’s ship and then face a huge octopus.
There was even supposed to be a comically ironic song called “Eight Arms to Hold You” that was going to be played during the scene. Sadly, it didn't happen in the end and the only hint of it in the film is when the kids mention a giant octopus to the police when they rescue them. Too bad it didn’t make it in the final cut!
Re-shot for Profanity
Director Richard Donner was invested in getting a sincere reaction from the young cast to the giant pirate ship. It can be hard to keep a secret from kids in general, let alone the construction of a huge ship. To achieve what he hoped would be a genuine reaction of awe and wonder, he made sure to keep the construction of the ship as hidden as possible.
But, as the cameras rolled to capture the kid's authentic, “first look” reaction, actor Josh Brolin shouted an expletive. Due to this being a kids' film, the scene had to be re-shot and the reactions re-enacted.
An Alternate Ending
“The Goonies” was originally intended to have a different ending. After the kids make it through their perilous adventures, Mikey and his family were going to be reunited and return home and the maid, Rosalita, would later find the pirate’s jewels in the laundry. In the end, Richard Donner decided on a more inclusive ending that involved seeing all of the young cast reunite with their families on the beach.
Apparently, this was to include a captivating shot of One-Eyed Willy’s pirate ship sailing out. This beautiful closing shot was probably the better choice to end an action-adventure film.
Surprise!
As the film was nearing completion, a special surprise was brewing for director Richard Donner. Donner said he noticed that the cast was acting unusually standoffish and distant towards him during the last week of filming.
After the film was complete, Donner traveled to his vacation home in Hawaii and found himself at a surprise party with the entire Goonies cast. Steven Spielberg had flown the cast out to celebrate the completion of the project with Donner and had told (especially the kids) to act a bit cold to him to keep the secret. What a surprise indeed!
The Superman Shirt
One curious symbol that seems to have no relevance to the film is the superman shirt worn by Sloth. The audience first sees it when, after triumphing over the rest of the Fratellis, Sloth rips his initial shirt apart to reveal his Superman shirt underneath. The reason for the Superman shirt was a nod to Richard Donner who also directed the 1978 film, “Superman: The Movie”.
The film was what helped launch Donner’s directing career and, afterward, he went on to direct the “Lethal Weapon” franchise as well as “The Lost Boys”, “Free Willy”, “Scrooged”, and many others including “The Goonies 2”.
So, Who Was Chester Copperpot?
Mikey mentions treasure hunter “Chester Copperpot” in the film and it’s definitely a curious name. There’s even a photo of the alleged Chester Copperpot shown in the film. But, the photo the audience sees is actually rumored to be a photo of American actor Keenan Wynn.
In a supposed nod to Donner’s days as director for the 1978 film “Superman: The Movie”, Keenan had been cast in the film as “Perry White” but ultimately (due to extreme exhaustion) could not be a part of the project. He did, however, make a clever and fatigue-free cameo appearance in “The Goonies”!
What’s Up With the Baseball Card?
When the repulsive skeleton of the mysterious Chester Copperpot is discovered by the kids, they also find another unusual item: a baseball card. Specifically, they find a 1974 Lou Gherig baseball card (which, in perfect condition, is worth roughly hundreds of thousands of dollars). Was Copperpot a fan of baseball? Did he collect baseball cards?
Unlikely, because he died in 1932! Perhaps the card was intended to have belonged to another treasure hunter who happened upon Copperpot’s skeleton and stuck it in his old wallet. Either way, it makes the location of his remains that much more creepy and mysterious.
Pretty Batty Bats
One scene that definitely shatters the audience’s suspension of disbelief is when a colony of bats flies out in the cave and scares the kids. The scene is almost humorous because the bats look so...well...fake. And that’s because they were very, very fake. The bats designed for this scene were actually made of clusters of black papier-mache and bow ties (yes, bow tie bats).
They were then attached to wires and launched out of an air cannon. Of course, considering the special effects options available at the time (and other than using real bats), these bats just made the cut.
A Special Guest Director
If you felt that “The Goonies” had a hint of that special, Steven Spielberg touch, there’s a reason why. Spielberg already made his mark on the film as both being a part of translating the story to screen and with an executive producer credit. The legendary director took his turn directing a few scenes of the film for the main director, Richard Donner.
Spielberg has had experience directing kids, so it made sense that he would lend his talents to the project. He directed the young cast in the scene where they bang on the pipes underground and also the wishing well scene.
Why All the Profanity?
“The Goonies” has a shocking amount of profanity for a PG film from the 80s. You can hear curse words uttered about twenty times throughout the film as the kids react to their wild adventure. In an interesting strategy, filmmakers tried to avoid a rating for a higher age category, by sneaking in the naughty expressions by timing the profane words during moments when the background noise was high.
Still, when audiences actually saw the movie, you can hear most of the words regardless of background noise, but the film somehow managed to sneak by with a PG rating. That’s movie magic!
Mikey’s One-Eyed Willy Speech
One of the core attractions for audiences of “The Goonies” is the sincere child actors. And, speaking of which, there’s a little secret to Mikey’s memorable, One-Eyed Willy speech. While it may have sounded scripted, Richard Donner actually gave Sean Astin a chance to really flex his acting chops.
In hopes of drawing out a more authentic, childlike speech, Donner simply told the story to Astin shortly before the scene was recorded, and instructed the child actor to re-tell him the tale as best he could while they filmed. Astin delivered the story of One-Eyed Willy beautifully with the sincere wonder and excitement of a child.
A Nod to Gremlins
Movie universes intersect for a moment in the scene when Chunk calls the police. Being the prankster that he is, the police officer Chunk is speaking with knows him very well and unfortunately doesn’t believe what he is saying. The officer then reminds Chunk of the last “emergency” call he made to report ‘little creatures that multiply when you pour water on them’.
This line was a reference to the 1984 film “Gremlins”. Screenwriter Chris Columbus (who also wrote “The Goonies”) wrote “Gremlins”, which Steven Spielberg also produced. Actor Corey Feldman also appeared in both “Gremlins” and, of course, “The Goonies”.
A Mouthful
Actor Corey Feldman’s character was given the name “Mouth” for the obvious reason that he can’t stop talking and, well, “mouthing” off to people. But, there’s actually another amusing reason why the name is so appropriate for the rebellious character. The scene where mafia mama Mama Fratelli pulls out all of the jewels from Mouth’s mouth only had to be shot once.
Why? Because Corey Feldman managed to fit all of the jewels in his mouth! Sounds a bit dangerous but apparently, having a big mouth can be very useful both if you’re trying to tell somebody off or hide some expensive jewels.
The Set Had a Real Waterslide
As the kids are trying to get to the cave that contained One-Eyed Willy’s ship, they slide down a unique-looking waterslide. What was really neat about the slide is that it wasn’t just a prop, but a completely functional waterslide. The structure was put together by the “Surf Coaster Corporation'' and the company is even listed in the end credits.
The slide must have been a lot of fun to use during filming because rumor has it that Richard Donner and the crew used to use it just for fun after the filming days were done.
Goonies Day
Every seventh of June in Astoria, Oregon (where most of “The Goonies” was shot) is an official “Goonies Day”. The mayor of the town declared this date as the day to celebrate the film. With its lush, brooding landscape and stunning coastline, this region of Oregon has been a filming location for other beloved films from the 80s and 90s including “Kindergarten Cop”, “Overboard”, “City for Strangers” “Short Circuit”, “Point Break” and “Free Willy”.
In more recent times, it was used to film the “Twilight” franchise as well as “Bates Motel” and “The Road”. Because, sometimes you have to leave the Los Angeles backlots to tell a good, on-screen story.
The Chunk That Almost Wasn’t
Some actors are willing to do whatever it takes for a role and although he was just a kid, actor Jeff Cohen (who played Chunk) was very invested in being a part of “The Goonies” cast. Unfortunately, he got chickenpox around the time of filming and, because he was so concerned about losing the role, he still came to the set. That’s dedication!
During his infamous “truffle shuffle” scene, you can actually see some of the fading chickenpox on his body. Hopefully, no one else got the chickenpox but, let’s face it, it’s hard to imagine anyone else as the amusing Chunk.
Fighting on Set
Little fights amongst the cast were definitely a part of “The Goonies” film but they were also a part of the cast behind the scenes. Audiences may have noticed the obvious tension between Mouth (Corey Feldman) and Stef (Martha Plimpton) and the on-screen tension also translated to real-life. Plimpton said she remembers Feldman annoying her on set.
One time he annoyed her while she was doing her homework and the whole situation escalated to yelling and physical quarrels. Yikes. The real-life tension definitely showed up in the film though, it’s assumed they’re on much better terms now.
An Extra Special Cameo Appearance
One of the joys of watching a film is the potential to spot little symbols or cameos you might miss if you’re not paying attention. And, for audiences that were really watching, there’s a special cameo appearance on One-Eyed Willy’s pirate ship. If you look very carefully you can actually spot the Star Wars franchise's very own R2-D2 on deck!
Why would he be here on a pirate ship? Well, R2-D2’s appearance in “The Goonies” is just a nod to one of the classic 80s franchise films. Consider it one of the many whimsical easter eggs in the film.
Data’s Big Introduction
Another beloved character in “The Goonies” is Data, the ultra tech-savvy, MacGyver-type who loves inventing things. Data usually had an appropriate gadget when the group was in a tough spot, though his inventions didn’t always work the greatest. When Data is first introduced to the audience, the “James Bond” theme is used, which fits his inventive character very well.
Steven Spielberg was also behind this little musical introduction. He was able to secure permission to use the theme in exchange for allowing Albert Broccoli (the director of “James Bond”) to use his musical theme from “Close Encounters” for his film “Moonraker”. Seems like a fair trade.
That Famous Cyndi Lauper Song
Major Goonies fans will remember that there is a special song performed by singer Cyndi Lauper in the film as well as a full-blown music video called “The Goonies R Good Enough”. Steven Spielberg asked the iconic singer to be a part of the project and even makes a cameo appearance in the music video!
Although Lauper agreed to be a part of the project, she later admitted that she actually hated the song. Despite her dislike of the song, she did include it as part of her True Colors tour in 2007 and 2008. So maybe the Goonies were good enough after all.
The Director’s Cameo
Director Richard Donner decided to multi-task and made a cameo appearance as an extra. During the closing sequence on the beach when the police and the parents come, Donner, alongside the assistant director, also appears as a police officer.
Maybe they were short on extras, maybe Donner wanted a tiny break from directing, or maybe he just wanted a few minutes in front of the camera. Either way, it’s typically fun for the cast, crew, and fans to see the director literally get in on the action.
A Gangster With the Voice of an Angel
It’s rather shocking to discover that tough-guy actor Robert Davi, (who plays gangster Jake Fratelli) also has a beautiful singing voice. The actor is also a trained opera singer, which is clearly heard in the film. In fact, his singing during the scene where he happens upon Chunk was improvised by the actor who decided to sing a portion of “Madame Butterfly” at the top of his lungs.
It appears that Davi, who is usually cast as the intimidating, gangster type, has dabbled in singing outside of his acting career. Moviegoers may also recognize him from “Die Hard” and “License to Kill” among other films.
The Goonies Musical?
“The Goonies” has made a sizable impact on pop culture which led to many references in various movies and TV shows and even to the discussion of creating some spin-offs. One such idea was a Goonies musical. With some adaptation, the film would lend itself greatly to a musical platform.
Steven Spielberg and Richard Donner supposedly discussed it but sadly the project was never moved forward. And, apparently, others tried to make a musical version of the classic adventure film and in 2004 a parody was created called “Save the Goondocks”. A fair attempt, although we can’t say it would hold up to the original motion picture.
The Goonies 2
Along with the idea for a Goonies musical came the Goonies sequel, “The Goonies 2”. Of course the movie has not happened yet, though many fans have championed it until now. There’s even an IMDB page and fan-made posters but the odds are stacked against it. There were two different cast reunions in recent times but Corey Feldman cast his doubts on the possibility of a sequel.
The actor said that, while the cast would love to be involved in the project, the script has not been written. Now that Richard Donner is gone (he passed away in the summer of 2021), the film definitely can’t happen.
Data’s Special Promise
The character of Data had special instructions about his lines...from his mom. The actor who starred as Data (Jonathan Ke Quan) made a promise to his mother (per her request) that he would not curse on-screen.
Considering the amount of profanity in the film, this was a bit problematic. However, in the scene when Data was supposed to curse as rocks are falling from the top of the cave, Jonathan chose to honor his promise as best he could and spell out the word instead of saying it. The delivery of the line actually became one of the most memorable moments on screen. Hopefully, Jonathan’s mom wasn’t too upset.
Almost Another Mouth
Two of the most well-known actors of the 80s were Corey Feldman and Corey Haim. Along with Feldman, Corey Haim also auditioned for the role of Mouth in “The Goonies”. Ultimately, Feldman landed the part but the two Coreys (who had not met at the time) later became friends when they starred in a film together.
Haim went on to star in a number of films including “The Lost Boys”, “License to Drive”, and “Dream A Little Dream”. Tragically, Haim passed away at the age of thirty-eight from pneumonia in 2010 but fans will forever remember the impact he left on the industry.
Mouth’s Real Name
Part of what makes “The Goonies'' characters unique are the quirky nicknames that many of them have. While fans will always know him as Mouth, viewers may forget that there’s a time in the film when Mouth’s real name is revealed. At one point (although he seems to not want to be known as anyone other than “Mouth”) it’s revealed that his name is actually “Clark Devereaux”.
But, with his non-stop chatter and snappy comebacks, certainly, the fictional characters can agree that Clark Devereaux should be known as “Mouth”. After all, someone named “Clark Devereaux” sounds pretty well-behaved.
The Tears of Chunk
One of the most memorable scenes in the film is Chunk’s interrogation scene by the Fratellis. The scene was both humorous and uncomfortable as Chunk cries hysterically and confesses all of the bad things he’s done to the thuggish Fratellis. The Fratellis of course find his emotional confessions pretty amusing while Chunk thinks he is about to die.
Viewers might be impressed by the young actor’s realistic-looking tears. Well, that’s because they were real! Actor Jeff Cohen said he was able to actually cry by thinking about his mother dying. Pretty remarkable for a child actor to harness those emotions!
A Real Slap
The matriarch of the gangster family in the film, Mama Fratelli is truly painted as a hard-hearted character not to be messed with. She favors her son Francis but is certainly not particularly maternal, especially when she fights with her sons. In the scene where Jake Fratelli (Robert Davi) and Francis Fratelli (Joe Pantoliano) are fighting, Mama Fratelli slaps Jake pretty hard.
If it looked convincing, that’s because it was a real slap! Actress Anne Ramsey (Mama Fratelli) was instructed to hit Robert Davi as hard as she could. Being the true tough guy that he is, Davi took it pretty well.
A Bonafide Skull
From the map to the pirate ship to the jewels and the intricately designed sets, many props came together to tell a story that would delight all ages. An interesting fact about the prop that was One-Eyed Willy’s skull is that it was made of real bone.
It’s not entirely clear what the exact origins of the skull are, just that it was, in fact, real bone. The rumor is that Richard Donner kept the skull after the film was completed. Probably not the most appealing prop to keep as a memento, but definitely a great conversation starter.
A Missing Scene
One scene that did not make it into the final cut of “The Goonies” occurs when the kids are banging on the pipes. As the kids were banging on the pipes, it was supposed to somehow accidentally release zoo animals (a pretty wild plot twist). Two gorillas were then supposed to steal the car of Troy Perkins, an unbearable high school jock and yet another antagonist in the film.
While it would have been really wacky to see this bizarre revenge on Troy, it was ultimately left out of the film. However, the “lost” scene did make an appearance on YouTube in 2020.
The Secrets of Rosalita
The house aide to Mikey and Brand’s family, “Rosalita” is portrayed as a Spanish-speaking immigrant who doesn’t know English and is mildly disturbed by the things Mouth says to her. In real life, however, the actress who had the role (Lupe Ontiveros) was born in the United States and spoke perfect English.
In fact, Lupe even assisted the screenwriters in creating the proper Spanish to English translation of the humorous lines said to her by Mouth. Additionally, she worked with Corey Feldman to help him say the Spanish lines like a native Spanish speaker. It seems that Rosalita was full of surprises of her own.
Goonies: The Inspiration
Writer Chris Colombus conceived the idea for “The Goonies” screenplay from his own childhood. Apparently, Columbus grew up in Ohio, in a town known for its factories and little else. Because there was not much to do, he would explore the abandoned coal mines (sounds pretty dangerous.)
It’s relatively easy to see his inspiration translated in the film with a bunch of kids with not much else to do on a rainy day except let an old treasure map and their imaginations lead them. He was so inspired by his “adventurous childhood'' that he had originally wanted to set the location of “The Goonies” in Ohio.
Mama Fratelli
When “The Goonies” premiered on NBC on October 23rd, 1998, there was a caption with a special dedication. The caption read: “This picture is dedicated with love and affection to the memory of Anne Ramsey our ‘Mama Fratelli”. Tragically, Ramsey had passed away that same year, just two months earlier.
She had previously battled health issues and had even had surgery, but it didn't help in the long run. Ramsey was also known for her performances in films like “Fun with Dick and Jane”, “Perfect Alibi” and “The Boy in the Plastic Bubble” among others.
Mikey and Brand’s Mom
When it comes to casting, some actors and actresses can get away with certain roles outside their age range. If you thought Mrs. Walsh looked like a young mom, that’s because she was. The actress who played Mikey and Brand’s mom in the film (Mary Ellen Trainor) was actually just fifteen years older than her oldest on-screen son (Josh Brolin.)
But, Mary Ellen Trainor could get away with the role and she wasn’t on screen so long that the audience might question her age as the mother of a teenager. Besides, she’ll probably always be “Mrs. Walsh” to Goonies fans.
An Inspired Rock Band
One Scottish rock band was really, really inspired by the film. The band, which formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 2005, decided to choose the name “The Fratellis” in homage to the gangster family in the film. An interesting choice, considering the options of names they had to pick from in the film.
The band performed from 2005 to 2009, took a couple of years of hiatus, and then returned in 2012. Some of their albums are “In Your Own Sweet Time”, “Psycho Jukebox” and “Half Drunk Under A Full Moon”.
The Goonies Oath
Where did the name “Goonies” come from? Well, the group of young friends in the film created a special motto for themselves (which was in a scene that was cut from the film).
It went as follows: “I will never betray my goon dock friends. We will stick together until the whole world ends. Though heaven and hell, and nuclear war. Good pals like us, will stick like tar. In the city, or the country, or the forest, or the boonies, I am proudly declared a fellow Goony”. The word “Goonie” comes from the term “Goon dock” and the “goon docks” was considered the poorer part of Astoria, Oregon.
Rewrite, Rewrite
Filmmaking is often a long, intense process that involves numerous people and places as well as creative and logistical issues. “The Goonies” was a film that underwent many changes before filming began, including rewrites.
In fact, there were so many rewrites that the cast did not receive their scripts until just before they began shooting. The cast was so in the dark as to how the story would go that it was unclear whether the character of Chunk even was in the film. Thankfully, all of the loose ends came together, the scripts were distributed to the cast and the film was eventually completed.
Chunk and Sloth for Life
All of the Goonies are terrified of Sloth when they first meet him as he looks more like a strange creature than a human. But, eventually, it’s discovered that Sloth is a strong but gentle giant who is just misunderstood. He ultimately becomes an ally to the kids and proves to be a big help in their adventure.
He even forms a special bond with Chunk (who seems especially afraid of him). In fact, in the novel version of “The Goonies” Sloth goes to live with Chunk after the adventure ends. Sloth gets adopted, becomes a part of Chunk’s family, and is even given a Bar Mitzvah.