Producer James L. Brooks said the movie was inspired when Brooks saw a man walking with his daughter, and wondered what would happen if the father committed a crime.
Both actors in the famous boom box scene were filmed separately. Cusack held the boom box in the middle of a park in North Hollywood across from a 7-Eleven.
John Cusack's kick boxing scenes in the ring, including the one where his nose is broken, are done with Don Wilson who is a real-life kick boxing champion.
Cameron Crowe credits the enthusiastic review by Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel as at least partially saving the movie at the box office. Ebert later put the movie in his Great Movies book.
Don Wilson: Professional martial artist, 'The Dragon' Wilson, whom Lloyd had mentioned earlier, makes a brief appearance in the film. Seven years later professional martial artist Benny Urquidez would appear in Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) which also starred John Cusack.
Cameron Crowe: and wife Nancy Wilson as pedestrians in front of the mall as Lloyd passes by while recalling the site of their first "date".