The REAGAN Movie They Didn’t Want Made

The Dr. Phil Podcast

Dr. Phil McGraw

Mental Health, Self-improvement, Society & Culture, Education, Health & Fitness

4.4 • 13.2K Ratings

🗓️ 25 June 2025

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What does it take to make a movie about one of America’s most controversial presidents in an industry that didn’t want it made? In this behind-the-scenes exclusive, Dr. Phil sits down with film producer and author Mark Joseph to discuss his new memoir "Making REAGAN" and unpack the untold journey behind the making of "Reagan" the movie, starring Dennis Quaid.

From unreliable financiers and COVID shutdowns to navigating deep political divides and fraudsters who nearly tanked the project, Joseph shares the personal and professional chaos that came with telling Reagan’s story truthfully. He talks candidly about why Quaid was the only actor who could pull it off, how real-life Cold War threats inspired fictional KGB characters, and why Reagan’s flaws were the key to humanizing him on screen.

Tune in and find out:

Why Hollywood tried to bury the film—and how it survived.
What Reagan’s son and inner circle really thought of the final cut.
How personal loss, timing, and emotional maturity shaped Quaid’s performance.
The business of biopics—and how to spot a fraud in the film industry.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	We've actually applied to Guinness for the greatest gap in the history of film between critics and filmgoers of 80 points.
0:06.9	Yeah, 80 points between critics and the people that actually saw the movie.
0:12.2	What do you make of that?
0:13.3	Well, it's interesting, isn't it?
0:14.6	You know, I usually shoot for like 49 because that was what Mel got for the passion of the Christ.
0:28.3	Hey, everybody. Welcome back to the Dr. Phil podcast.
0:34.3	I got to take a minute to thank everybody for absolutely blowing this platform up.
0:39.1	Since I've relaunched this platform, you have exceeded all of our expectations. You obviously care about meaningful conversations. Be sure and click to subscribe and follow
0:44.8	button. Today, you're in for a real treat because I'm talking to someone that I call
0:51.1	a friend. His name is Mark Joseph, and this is an interesting guy to say the
0:58.1	least. We're talking about an acclaimed music and film producer. He's a columnist, as well as the
1:04.2	founder of MJM Entertainment Group. And his latest book is so intriguing. It is making Reagan, a memoir from the producer
1:16.1	of the Reagan movie, and really offers a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and triumphs
1:24.6	of bringing the story of Ronald Reagan's life to the big screen.
1:30.0	And when I say challenges and triumphs, this gives you a look behind the scenes of a real
1:38.8	big screen movie and some of the politics that go into it and dealing with fraudsters and saboteurs and all the things that go.
1:49.9	It's just absolutely intriguing.
1:52.1	So, Mark, thank you so much for joining me today.
1:54.8	It's great to be with you, Dr. Phil.
1:56.3	This is, and first off, congratulations on the movie.
1:59.9	We're going to talk about the book, but congratulations on the movie.
2:03.5	Number one at the box office, 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.
	...

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