The Margot Robbie Box Office Flop That’s Now A Streaming Hit
Australian actress, Margot Robbie, began to rise to fame in 2008 when she starred in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, but it wasn’t until she appeared in Martin Scorsese’s 2013 hit, The Wolf of Wall Street next to Leonardo DiCaprio that she became an international household name. Since then, Robbie has continued to shine as one of Hollywood’s brightest starlights after her portrayal of Harley Quinn in the DCU. But after 10 years of acting in blockbuster hits, Robbie’s luck faded in 2022 when she starred in two box office flops, one of which, Babylon, is now in the top 10 on streaming, according to Flix Patrol.
Babylon, the 2022 American epic period dark comedy-drama film directed and written by Damien Chazelle, was meant to take the cinematic world by storm with its bold portrayal of Hollywood’s transition from silent to sound films in the late 1920s.
Margot Robbie‘s Babylon is one of the most streamed films on Paramount+.
Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Brad Pitt, Diego Calva, Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, Li Jun Li, and Margot Robbie, the movie chronicles the rise and fall of multiple characters against the backdrop of a transformative era in the film industry. However, despite the all-star cast and thrilling plot, the movie ended up being a box-office flop, losing the studio an estimated $200 million.
Babylon revolves around Manuel “Manny” Torres (Diego Calva), a Mexican immigrant, and Nellie LaRoy (Margot Robbie), a bold and ambitious starlet from New Jersey, as they navigate the transition from silent films to talkies.
As Manny rises through the ranks of Kinoscope Studios, he embraces the allure of Hollywood while sacrificing his Mexican identity to fit into the industry’s mold. Meanwhile, Nellie’s rise to stardom attracts attention from gossip columns but leads her down a dark path of drug use and recklessness, tarnishing her once-promising career.
Director Damien Chazelle uses Babylon to weave a tapestry of interconnected stories, delving into the excesses and debauchery of the film industry’s heyday. Amidst the glitz and glamour, the characters grapple with the consequences of fame and the pursuit of the American dream.
Margot Robbie offers a complicated portrayal of Nellie LaRoy, infusing the character with charisma and vulnerability, exploring the price one pays for success and the cost of losing one’s identity.
Despite the all-star cast and thrilling plot, the movie ended up being a box-office flop, losing the studio an estimated $200 million.
Babylon’s exploration of identity and assimilation in early Hollywood is brought to life through Margot Robbie’s layered performance. As Nellie LaRoy, Robbie is not just an “it girl” but a symbol of ambition, the American dream, and the price one pays for success.
Nellie’s trajectory resonates with audiences as Robbie taps into the vulnerability of a woman trying to define herself in a world that demands conformity.
Despite the layered and nuanced performances by the film’s A-list cast, Babylon polarized critics, leaving them sharply divided on various aspects of the movie. Some found the film to be too extra, in an overabundant and exhausting way, while others felt like the film offered an honest review of the movie industry, not just in the 20s, but even now, 100 years later.
Director Damien Chazelle uses Babylon to weave a tapestry of interconnected stories, delving into the excesses and debauchery of the film industry’s heyday.
Nevertheless, critics hailed Margot Robbie’s performance as transformative, with many agreeing that the acting in the film was the best part of the movie.
Despite its divisive reception, Babylon managed to secure nominations at various prestigious awards ceremonies. Margot Robbie’s performance earned her critical acclaim and recognition, garnering her nominations at various film festivals throughout the country, and the film itself was nominated for three Academy Awards, though it didn’t win any.
Babylon was an ambitious cinematic project for Chazelle to take on, though it had the potential to be a groundbreaking feature. However, producers relied on star power from the likes of Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie alone to drive the audience into the theaters.
Released in 2022, just as the world was beginning to come alive again, a vague marketing campaign and star power were not enough to bring people out of their homes and to the cinema, especially when coupled with mixed reviews from critics.
Because of this, Babylon ended up being a flop, losing Paramount Pictures nearly $200 million. It was the second flop of the year for Margot Robbie, who had previously starred in Amsterdam, another all-star feature that should have done great but ended up losing big time at the box office.
Between Babylon and Amsterdam, it seemed like Margot Robbie’s career might have taken a turn for the worst. However, in 2023, the Australian actress made up for her 2022 losses by starring in Wes Anderson’s hit Asteroid City and the record-breaking blockbuster Barbie.
