"The promo was bad"— Netizens react as Margot Robbie talks about Babylon underperforming at the box office

Margot Robbie recently addressed the underwhelming reception of Babylon on the Talking Pictures podcast hosted by Ben Mankiewicz, released on November 26, 2024, sparking a wave of online reactions. The 2022 film, directed by Damien Chazelle, was an ambitious exploration of Hollywood's transition from silent films to talkies.

Despite an $80 million budget, Babylon earned only $15 million domestically and $48 million globally, becoming one of the year's most notable box office failures. Speaking on the podcast, Robbie expressed confusion over the film's reception:

"I love it. I don't get it either. I know I am biased because I am very close to the project and I obviously believe in it, but I still can't figure out why people hated it."

Margot Robbie speculated that, like Shawshank Redemption, Babylon might gain recognition over time. Her remarks reignited debates on social media. Many users argued that the promotional material failed to convey the movie's depth.

"gonna be honest i didn't know this movie was coming out until maybe a couple days before the release, the promo was bad. also brad pitt," one user commented on Reddit.

"The promo was bad"— Netizens react as Margot Robbie talks about Babylon underperforming at the box office

"The ads were very confusing. I didn't know what it was actually about. They reminded me of The Great Gatsby, which I had no interest in seeing either, so I continue to skip this," another user noted.

"It was a weird movie tbh…..," one viewer noted.

Fans also defended the film, praising its boldness.

"She did some of her best acting in that movie. I like the movie for her performance alone. I wish more people saw it JUST so they can see how great of an actress she is," a fan commented.

"I watched this movie last christmas and it was so good! not sure why it got a bunch of hate," another viewer noted.

"I don't think the name helped. The first time I heard it I was like oh, sounds like some action movie lol," a viewer commented.

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Margot Robbie reflects on Babylon's mixed reviews and hopes for cult classic status

While Margot Robbie and Chazelle poured their creative energy into the film, it divided critics upon release. Variety described it as "exuberantly messy," while others found its sprawling narrative overwhelming.

Robbie's portrayal of Nellie LaRoy, inspired by real-life silent film star Clara Bow, received mixed reviews, with some applauding her fiery energy and others finding the character underdeveloped. Despite the criticism, Margot Robbie had only fond memories of working with Chazelle.

She praised his thoroughness, sharing,

“Damian is so thorough...I felt like no one had really put their foot to the floor with the gas, but he wanted that all the time. He wanted more always. Even when we were prepping.”

Robbie also shared her experiences and insights about working on Babylon during her appearance on the Talking Pictures podcast. She recounted the extensive preparation for her role as Nellie LaRoy, including creating multiple accent variations.

“When we were trying to figure out what the accent should be for that character, I gave him (Chazelle) 51 different versions of an accent. It was like doing a one woman show...At one point I counted all the voice things I offered him at that point and it was 51.”

Robbie continues to build on her successful career following the massive success of Barbie in 2023, which became one of the highest-grossing films of the year. She is set to appear in Kogonada's upcoming film A Big Bold Beautiful Journey.

Additionally, Margot Robbie remains active as a producer through her production company, LuckyChap Entertainment, which has several projects in development. Her ongoing work reflects her focus on diverse roles and her contributions behind the camera.