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{{Infobox film
| name           = Studio 666
| image          = Studio 666.jpeg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = B. J. McDonnell
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* John Ramsey
* James A. Rota
}}
| screenplay     = {{Plainlist|
* Jeff Buhler
* Rebecca Hughes
}}
| story       = [[Dave Grohl]]
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* Dave Grohl
* [[Nate Mendel]]
* [[Pat Smear]]
* [[Taylor Hawkins]]
* [[Chris Shiflett]]
* [[Rami Jaffee]]
* [[Whitney Cummings]]
* [[Leslie Grossman]]
* [[Will Forte]]
* [[Jenna Ortega]]
* [[Jeff Garlin]]
}}
| editing        = Byron Wong <!--- As credited --->
| music          = [[Roy Mayorga]]
| cinematography = {{Plainlist|
* Michael Dallatorre
* Eric Leach
}}
| studio         = {{Plainlist|
* [[Roswell Records|Roswell Films]]
* Therapy Studios
}}
| distributor    = {{Plainlist|
* [[Open Road Films]]
* [[Briarcliff Entertainment]]
}}
| released       = {{Film date|2022|2|16|[[TCL Chinese Theatre]]|2022|2|25|United States}}
| runtime        = 106 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = 
| gross          = $3 million<ref name="BOM">{{Cite Box Office Mojo |id=2519433985 |title=Studio 666 (2022) |access-date=March 13, 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="NUM">{{Cite The Numbers |id=Studio-666-(2022) |title= Studio 666 (2022) |access-date=March 13, 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
}}

'''''Studio 666''''' is a 2022 American [[comedy horror film]] directed by [[B. J. McDonnell]] from a screenplay by Jeff Buhler and Rebecca Hughes, based on a story by [[Dave Grohl]], who stars, alongside his [[Foo Fighters]] bandmates [[Nate Mendel]] in his film debut, [[Pat Smear]], [[Taylor Hawkins]] in his final film, [[Chris Shiflett]] in his feature film debut, and [[Rami Jaffee]] in his film debut, portraying fictionalized version of themselves.

[[Whitney Cummings]], [[Leslie Grossman]], [[Will Forte]], [[Jenna Ortega]], and [[Jeff Garlin]] co-star in the [[ensemble cast]]. In the film, the Foo Fighters move into a cursed mansion to record a new album.

''Studio 666'' is the first non-documentary to feature the Foo Fighters; the band was previously the subject of the film ''[[Foo Fighters: Back and Forth]]'' (2011) and the television series ''[[Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways]]'' (2014). The film was released theatrically in the United States on February 25, 2022, by [[Open Road Films]] and [[Briarcliff Entertainment]]. It received mixed reviews.

==Plot==
In 1993 [[Encino, Los Angeles|Encino]], Skye Willow, drummer of the [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band Dream Widow, is crawling along the floor with a broken leg, followed closely by band's frontman, Greg Nole, who is holding a hammer. Skye sees the body of another band member, who has had his jaw broken by Greg, before Greg drives the hammer through her forehead and repeatedly hits her head with it, crushing her skull. Greg then hangs himself from a window.

In 2019, the [[Foo Fighters]]—[[Dave Grohl]], [[Taylor Hawkins]], [[Rami Jaffee]], [[Nate Mendel]], [[Chris Shiflett]], and [[Pat Smear]]—are pressured by their manager Jeremy Shill to overcome their [[writer's block]] and record a new album. The group move into the mansion, where Grohl becomes fascinated with the house as a source of inspiration. One of their tech helps, Krug, is electrocuted by a wire and the band decides to dedicate their album to him.

Grohl finds a basement containing satanic objects and is possessed by Nole's demonic soul after listening to a demo tape. Under the demon's control, Grohl forces the band to continue production on the album. Later, a delivery man named Darren, who had earlier tried to give Grohl a demo tape, is decapitated outside the manor by an unknown figure with hedge clippers. The next day, as Shiflett is cooking on the grill, the same figure pushes his face onto it. Shiflett attempts to escape but he has his head smashed with the grill cover and is stabbed repeatedly in the neck, before the figure is revealed to be Grohl.

The band later finds Darren's corpse, but Grohl convinces them not to call the police and takes their phones. After watching Grohl eating Shiflett's remains, the band soon learn of the mansion's backstory and Grohl's possession with the help of a neighbor, Samantha. To exorcise Grohl, they need to find a book needed to free him of the possession. As Samantha and Jaffee have sex, they are both killed when Grohl sneaks under the bed and drives a chainsaw through their heads, before cutting them in half. Hawkins is pressured by Grohl to finish the song while Mendel and Smear retrieve the book from the basement. Hawkins finishes the song and is partially decapitated by Grohl with a cymbal.

Mendel and Smear free Grohl from the possession, and the souls of the Dream Widow band members send the demon to hell. However, Jeremy and real estate developer Barb Weems ambush the remaining members, revealing that they planned the whole thing. While Smear is fixing a car from underneath, Mendel is stabbed in the eye, causing him to accidentally hit the gas, which runs over Smear's head and runs over Barb. As Mendel gets out of the car to help Barb, she stabs him through the chin and dies alongside him. Grohl battles Jeremy only to back down in horror when Jeremy tells him of the album's success and the start of his solo career. One year later, Grohl, the only Foo Fighter survivor, prepares to perform a solo concert, with marks of possession around his eyes.

==Cast==
'''Foo Fighters'''
* [[Dave Grohl]]  – lead vocals, guitar
* [[Taylor Hawkins]] – drums
* [[Rami Jaffee]] – keyboards, piano
* [[Nate Mendel]] – bass guitar
* [[Chris Shiflett]] – guitar
* [[Pat Smear]] – guitar
 
'''Other'''
* [[Whitney Cummings]] as Samantha
* [[Will Forte]] as Darren Sandelbaum
* [[Jeff Garlin]] as Jeremy Shill
* [[Leslie Grossman]] as Barb Weems
* [[Kerry King]] as Krug
* [[Jenna Ortega]] as Skye Willow
* Marti Matulis as the Caretaker
* [[Lionel Richie]] as himself
* [[Jason Trost]] as Tech
* [[Jimmi Simpson]] as Venue person
* [[John Carpenter]] as Studio engineer

== Production ==
[[File:FoosDublin210819-2 (48620472807) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Writer and lead actor [[Dave Grohl]]]]
In November 2021, it was reported that a film starring the [[Foo Fighters]] entitled ''Studio 666'' had been shot in secret. John Ramsey and [[Fireball Ministry|James A. Rota]] produced the film, while the bandmates served as executive producers. ''[[Hatchet III]]'' filmmaker B. J. McDonell directed the film, working from a script written by Jeff Bulher and Rebecca Hughes, based on a story from Grohl inspired by their experiences recording their tenth album.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shanfeld |first=Ethan |date=February 24, 2022 |title=Dave Grohl Talks 'Studio 666' and Recording a Metal Album as Fictional Band Dream Widow |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/dave-grohl-studio-666-film-metal-album-1235186932/ |access-date=June 3, 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603161438/https://variety.com/2022/music/news/dave-grohl-studio-666-film-metal-album-1235186932/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Filming took place in the same house the band recorded their album ''[[Medicine at Midnight]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/foo-fighters-horror-movie-studio-666-release-date-dave-grohl-1234869378/|title=Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl Unveils Horror Comedy Movie ''Studio 666''; Open Road Lands WW Rights For February Theatrical Release|date=November 8, 2021|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=November 8, 2021|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108160902/https://deadline.com/2021/11/foo-fighters-horror-movie-studio-666-release-date-dave-grohl-1234869378/|url-status=live}}</ref> Nearing the end of filming in early 2020, production was shut down due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]]. Production resumed in [[Los Angeles]] months later, becoming one of the first films to do so during the pandemic.<ref>{{cite web|last=Scarlett|first=Elizabeth|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/dave-grohl-on-foo-fighters-horror-film-studio-666-theres-no-other-band-stupid-enough-to-do-this|title=Dave Grohl on Foo Fighters' Horror Film ''Studio 666'': "There's No Other Band Stupid Enough To Do This!"|date=December 31, 2021|website=LouderSound.com|access-date=January 2, 2022|archive-date=January 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102144459/https://www.loudersound.com/news/dave-grohl-on-foo-fighters-horror-film-studio-666-theres-no-other-band-stupid-enough-to-do-this|url-status=live}}</ref> Six days of filming were planned to finish the film, but it would ultimately span three weeks due to the regulations put in place to film safely.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lavin|first=Will|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/foo-fighters-horror-film-studio-666-is-absolutely-insane-says-dave-grohl-3128141|title=Foo Fighters' Horror Film ''Studio 666'' is "Absolutely Insane" Says Dave Grohl|date=December 31, 2021|website=Nme.com|access-date=January 2, 2022|archive-date=January 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101132719/https://www.nme.com/news/music/foo-fighters-horror-film-studio-666-is-absolutely-insane-says-dave-grohl-3128141|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Music ==
Grohl recorded a whole album of heavy metal songs for the in-movie fictional band Dream Widow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dave-grohl-has-recorded-entire-new-metal-album/|title=DAVE GROHL Has Recorded Entire New Metal Album|date=February 17, 2022|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET|access-date=February 17, 2022|archive-date=February 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217200201/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dave-grohl-has-recorded-entire-new-metal-album/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=EP review: Dream Widow – Dream Widow |url=https://www.kerrang.com/ep-review-dream-widow-foo-fighters-dave-grohl-thrash-metal-studio-666/ |access-date=September 10, 2022 |website=Kerrang! |date=March 24, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705144554/https://www.kerrang.com/ep-review-dream-widow-foo-fighters-dave-grohl-thrash-metal-studio-666 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[John Carpenter]] also contributed to the film's soundtrack, having co-composed the opening credits.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/studio-666-movie-review-2022|work=[[Rogerebert.com]]|title=Studio 666|last=Allen
|first=Nick|access-date=December 20, 2024|date=February 25, 2022}}</ref> The album was released on March 25, 2022, consisting of eight tracks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/hear-dave-grohls-new-metal-album-as-fictional-band-dream-widow/|title=Hear DAVE GROHL's New Metal Album As Fictional Band DREAM WIDOW|date=March 25, 2022|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET|access-date=March 27, 2022|archive-date=May 31, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531221026/https://blabbermouth.net/news/hear-dave-grohls-new-metal-album-as-fictional-band-dream-widow|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Alex |date=March 25, 2022 |title=Listen to Dave Grohl's new metal album as Dream Widow |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-to-dave-grohl-new-metal-album-as-dream-widow-3190200 |access-date=September 10, 2022 |website=NME |language=en-GB |archive-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910141424/https://www.nme.com/news/music/listen-to-dave-grohl-new-metal-album-as-dream-widow-3190200 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Release ==
===Theatrical and marketing===
''Studio 666'' was released theatrically on February 25, 2022, by [[Open Road Films]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Strauss|first=Matthew|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/foo-fighters-announce-new-horror-comedy-movie-studio-666/|title=Foo Fighters Announce New Horror Comedy Movie ''Studio 666''|date=November 8, 2021|website=Pitchfork.com|access-date=November 8, 2021|archive-date=June 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601141929/https://pitchfork.com/news/foo-fighters-announce-new-horror-comedy-movie-studio-666/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film held its world premiere at the [[TCL Chinese Theatre]] on February 16, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/foo-fighters-studio-666-film-premiere-chinese-horror-comedy-1235185106/|title=Foo Fighters Kick Out the Jams, and Try to Kick Out the Demons, at 'Studio 666' Hollywood Film Premiere|first1=Chris|last1=Willman|date=February 17, 2022|access-date=February 26, 2022|archive-date=February 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226082920/https://variety.com/2022/music/news/foo-fighters-studio-666-film-premiere-chinese-horror-comedy-1235185106/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to social media analytic RelishMix, the marketing campaign made 97.9 million interactions online, "in line with horror genre norms".<ref name="opening" />

===Home media===
The film released as a [[digital distribution|digital rent]] on March 18, 2022.<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Studio666 |user=Studio666Movie |number=1502705990675800066 |date=March 13, 2022 |title=Well I'll be damned. 😈 #Studio666Movie, starring @foofighters, is IN THEATRES NOW & AT HOME ON DEMAND MARCH 18 |language=en |access-date=May 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326141156/https://twitter.com/Studio666Movie/status/1502705990675800066 |archive-date=March 26, 2022}}</ref> The film was released to [[Blu-ray]] and [[DVD]] on May 24, 2022, by [[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment]].<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=30592 |title = Studio 666 Blu-ray |website = Blu-ray |date = May 3, 2022 |access-date = May 5, 2022 |archive-date = May 6, 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220506224041/https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=30592 |url-status = live }}</ref>

== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
In the United States and Canada, ''Studio 666'' was released alongside ''[[Cyrano (film)|Cyrano]]'', and was projected to gross $2–5 million from 2,306 theaters in its opening weekend.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficepro.com/weekend-box-office-forecast-uncharted-and-dog-look-to-continue-success-as-cyrano-and-studio-666-debut/|title=Weekend Box Office Forecast: ''Uncharted'' and ''Dog'' Look to Continue Success as Cyrano and Studio 666 Debut|date=February 23, 2022|first=Shawn|last=Robbins|website=[[Boxoffice Pro]]|access-date=February 25, 2022|archive-date=February 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224212210/https://www.boxofficepro.com/weekend-box-office-forecast-uncharted-and-dog-look-to-continue-success-as-cyrano-and-studio-666-debut/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film earned $1.54 million in its opening weekend.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2022W08/|title=Domestic 2022 Weekend 8|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=March 1, 2022|archive-date=March 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302105349/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2022W08/|url-status=live}}</ref> Men made up 58% of the audience during its opening, with those in the age range of 25–44 comprising 53% of ticket sales and those between 18 and 44 comprising 73%. The ethnic breakdown of the audience showed that 69% were Caucasian, 18% Hispanic and Latino Americans, 3% African American, and 10% Asian or other.<ref name="opening">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/box-office-uncharted-the-batman-1234960680/|title=''Uncharted'' & ''Dog'' Keep Box Office Warm In Second Weekends Before ''The Batman'' Conquers – Sunday AM Update|date=February 27, 2022|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=February 27, 2022|archive-date=February 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227161354/https://deadline.com/2022/02/box-office-uncharted-the-batman-1234960680/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film dropped out of the box-office top ten in its second weekend, finishing twelfth with $342,262.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2022W09/|title=Domestic 2022 Weekend 9|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=March 8, 2022|archive-date=April 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428030028/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2022W09/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Critical response ===
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|56|5.3|126|''Studio 666'' doesn't quite take its horror-comedy hybrid to 11, but if you're in the mood, this cheerfully over-the-top outing is a lot of fun.|ref=yes|access-date=February 25, 2022}} {{MC film|50|26|ref=yes|access-date=February 25, 2022}} [[PostTrak]] reported 66% of audience members gave it a positive score, with 46% saying they would definitely recommend it.<ref name="opening" />

Megan Navarro of ''[[Bloody Disgusting]]'' called ''Studio 666'' "an entertaining jam session full of gore, laughs, and endearing moments between the band".<ref>{{cite web|last=Navarro|first=Megan|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3702754/studio-666-review-the-foo-fighters-unleash-their-demons-in-gory-splatstick-comedy/|title=''Studio 666'' Review – The Foo Fighters Unleash Their Demons in Gory Splatstick Comedy|date=February 22, 2022|website=Bloody Disgusting|accessdate=February 22, 2022|archive-date=February 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222171130/https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3702754/studio-666-review-the-foo-fighters-unleash-their-demons-in-gory-splatstick-comedy/|url-status=live}}</ref> In ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'', Matt Donato wrote: "It might run its welcome a bit long and struggle with more juvenile gags, but it’s still a proper midnighter that’ll have you barking (in laughter) at the moon."<ref>{{cite web|last=Donato|first=Matt|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/studio-666-review/|title=Foo Fighters Comedy-Horror Studio 666 Hits the High Notes|date=February 22, 2022|website=Paste Magazine|accessdate=February 22, 2022|archive-date=February 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222170738/https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/studio-666-review/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ed Masley, writing for ''[[Arizona Republic]]'', said it was "plenty gory" and "definitely rocks", but criticized the humor.<ref>{{cite web|last=Masley|first=Ed|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/02/22/studio-666-movie-review-foo-fighters-dave-grohl/6881477001/|title=Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl Serve Up 'Hilarious Gore' in Uneven Horror Movie ''Studio 666''|date=February 22, 2022|website=Arizona Republic|accessdate=February 22, 2022|archive-date=February 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222160547/https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/02/22/studio-666-movie-review-foo-fighters-dave-grohl/6881477001/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Peter Bradshaw]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' gave the film one star, saying it "sadly conforms to the horror-comedy tendency of being neither properly scary nor properly funny". He found it "disconcerting" that the premise involved "violent and horrible things that happened back in the 90s", including suicide, alluding to [[Suicide of Kurt Cobain|the suicide]] of Grohl's former bandmate [[Kurt Cobain]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Bradshaw|first=Peter|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/feb/22/studio-666-review-dave-grohl-foo-fighters-horror-comedy|title=Studio 666 review – What Possessed Dave Grohl to Make This Frightful Gonzo Grossout?|date=February 22, 2022|website=The Guardian|accessdate=February 22, 2022}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Number of the beast]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|15374070}}
* {{Official website|url=https://www.studio666movie.com/}}

{{Foo Fighters}}
{{Dave Grohl}}

[[Category:2022 comedy horror films]]
[[Category:2022 horror films]]
[[Category:2022 films]]
[[Category:2022 American films]]
[[Category:2022 English-language films]]
[[Category:American comedy horror films]]
[[Category:American haunted house films]]
[[Category:American splatter films]]
[[Category:American supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:Briarcliff Entertainment films]]
[[Category:Demons in film]]
[[Category:English-language comedy horror films]]
[[Category:Film productions suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic]]
[[Category:Films about spirit possession]]
[[Category:Films scored by John Carpenter]]
[[Category:Films set in 1993]]
[[Category:Films set in 2019]]
[[Category:Films set in country houses]]
[[Category:Films set in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Films shot in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Foo Fighters]]
[[Category:Heavy metal films]]
[[Category:Open Road Films films]]
[[Category:Parodies of horror]]
[[Category:Stage 6 Films films]]
[[Category:Works by Dave Grohl]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Studio 666|access_date=2026-03-06}}