Most of Popeye's lines were discovered to be inaudible once filming wrapped. Robin Williams had to re-dub much of the dialogue.
Shelley Duvall said that making this movie was a pure joy after the intense stress Stanley Kubrick caused her while she was making The Shining (1980).
The set for the small town of Sweethaven was built at Anchor Bay on the Mediterranean island of Malta. After filming, it became a popular tourist attraction.
Many of the citizens of Sweethaven, especially those who had to do some physical gags, were recruited from European circuses.