Margot Robbie Is Shocked ‘Babylon’ Bombed: “I Still Can’t Figure Out Why People Hated It”

On paper, Damien Chazelle’s “Babylon” should have worked. Not only was Chazelle off of two hit films, “La La Land” and “First Man,” but the cast for “Babylon” features names like Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie, two of the biggest names in Hollywood. But not only did “Babylon” fail at the box office, but it also received mixed-to-negative reviews. And that’s something that confuses Margot Robbie.

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Speaking on a recent episode of the “Talking Pictures” podcast, Margot Robbie opened up about “Babylon,” a film she still believes should have done better. In fact, the actor thinks that perhaps Chazelle’s film will find a second life in the years to come, similar to “The Shawshank Redemption.”

“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,” Robbie said. “I wonder if in 20 years people are going to be like, ‘Wait, “Babylon” didn’t do well at the time?’ Like when you hear that ‘Shawshank Redemption’ was a failure at the time and you’re like like, ‘How is that possible?’”

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For those that didn’t watch the film (and box office says there are quite a few of you), “Babylon tells the story of Hollywood in the 1920s as it transitions from silent films to talkies. The film features an all-star cast, but it also sports an all-star budget approaching $100 million. That definitely didn’t set up “Babylon” for success, as it’s a R-rated period drama with a blockbuster budget. Regardless, the film didn’t do well with critics, as it sits at 57% on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Will the film eventually find an audience years from now? Who knows? There’s a distinct possibility that it can get rediscovered, especially as Chazelle continues to make films. However, comparing it to a classic film like “The Shawshank Redemption” isn’t doing it any favors. That film is beloved by people and stands the test of time. It was an anomaly that it didn’t do well in theaters. “Babylon” has more of an uphill battle. We’ll just have to wait and see.  

You can hear the full discussion below: