The movie's world premiere was held at the Centennial Twin Theater in Sheridan, Wyoming. The evening included an afterparty and a forty-five-minute private concert by Star and Director Prince at the local Holiday Inn. Local resident Lisa Barber won the right to host the premiere when she was the ten thousandth caller in MTV's "Prince Under the Cherry Moon" contest. Several cast members attended, including Prince, Joni Mitchell, and Ray Parker, Jr.
Filmed in color and released in black-and-white.
Prince wrote the Bangles' "Manic Monday" using the pseudonym Christopher Tracy, the character he plays in this movie. The song became a hit for the band the same year this movie was released.
Prince took over from original director Mary Lambert over "creative differences". The production was filming in Europe, so it wasn't covered by Director's Guild of America rules against firing a director in favor of a lead actor.
Madonna was originally offered the role of Mary Sharon. Susannah Melvoin was cast, then replaced before filming began.