Overview
Tammy and the T-Rex is a 1994 American horror-comedy/teen sci-fi film directed by Stewart Raffill. Wikipedia+1
The film stars Denise Richards as “Tammy” (though in the credits she’s listed as “Tanny”) and Paul Walker as her high-school boyfriend Michael. Wikipedia+1
Plot synopsis: Michael is brutally attacked and falls into a coma, and meanwhile a mad scientist (Dr. Wachenstein) implants Michael’s brain into an animatronic Tyrannosaurus rex. The dinosaur (now Michael) escapes and seeks revenge on his tormentors, while Tammy tries to reunite with him. Wikipedia+1
The film blends teen romance, high-school drama, dinosaur monster mayhem and mad science — a wild mix of genres. Critics and viewers generally view it as campy and “so bad it’s good”. rottentomatoes.com+1
It has achieved cult status over time, partly because of its absurd premise, early performances from Richards & Walker, and the bizarre execution. The Independent
The original U.S. release was in 1994 and has a runtime of about 82 minutes in its standard version. Wikipedia+1
The film was originally shot with more gore and horror sequences, but the U.S. release had some of the gore edited out to broaden its audience. Wikipedia+1
A later “uncut” or “Gore Cut” version was restored and released in 2019 by the label Vinegar Syndrome, which includes previously excised material. amherstcinema.org+1
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes the standard version of the film holds an approval rating of 43% based on 7 reviews. rottentomatoes.com+1
The “Gore Cut” version (2019) apparently has a higher approval among a niche audience (100% based on 9 reviews) though these tend to be fewer and favourable for cult-appreciation rather than mainstream. rottentomatoes.com
Audience commentary often highlights the film’s joyfully absurd nature and low-budget charm. For example:
“My ‘bad movie club’ and I just watched this … Every single scene … entertaining.” Reddit
Despite its cult status, I could not locate reliable, publicly documented box-office grosses for Tammy and the T-Rex. The usual databases (Box Office Mojo, The Numbers) do not list complete theatrical earnings for this title (or at least not visible publicly).
Given its nature (low-budget, limited release, niche appeal) it appears the film was neither a major commercial hit nor widely reported in box-office tracking.
Therefore, in absence of verifiable figures, it’s best described as a cult film that likely had modest theatrical returns and found more of its audience later via home video, re-releases, and streaming.
Early career appearances by future stars: Denise Richards and Paul Walker.
A truly bizarre concept: brain transplant into a mechanical dinosaur.
The mix of genres (teen romance, horror, sci-fi, monster movie) gives it a unique position.
Its status as a “so bad it’s good” B-movie gives it enduring interest among cult-film fans.
Release & VersionsReceptionBox OfficeWhy It Stands Out
