Why did Babylon, the latest film by the director of La La Land, flop miserably?

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'Babylon' is seen as director Damien Chazelle's second love letter to Hollywood, following La La Land. The movie features a star-studded cast, including Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie.

'Babylon' is considered as director Damien Chazelle's second love letter to Hollywood, succeeding La La Land. The film brings together a renowned cast, starring Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie.

Babylon explores the transition from the silent film era to talkies, drawing parallels to the shift from traditional cinema to online streaming today. It marks Damien Chazelle's second love letter to the film industry and Hollywood, after La La Land.

Babylon is set in 1920s Los Angeles, portraying the rise and fall of silent films amidst the ambitions and vicissitudes during Hollywood's decline and decadence.

The movie is rated R, featuring scenes of chaos, nudity, sex, BDSM, defecation, vomiting...

Deadline suggests that with such content and nature, the film caters more to critics and award voters rather than the general audience. However, even critics didn't rate the film highly, giving it a lackluster 55% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Despite some strengths and ambitious themes and visuals, Babylon is criticized by reviewers as 'a messy jumble of a screenplay directed by Damien Chazelle, who has created beautiful imagery and some repulsive elements in a story lacking heart or soul.'

Babylon

had a budget of $80 million and after one week of release (from December 23), it only grossed $5.8 million. The film is certainly a loss, but such heavy losses were unforeseen. Babylon needs to earn $250 million to turn a profit, but this seems unattainable.

There are several reasons for this failure. Firstly, in the US, the film directly competed with the $1 billion blockbuster Avatar: The Way of Water. Harsh winter conditions in the US led to a decrease in cinema attendance.

Babylon has a runtime of 3 hours and 8 minutes - nearly as long as Avatar 2 but lacks the grand visual effects to captivate the audience.

Babylon is a wide-release film but has the lowest opening revenue for star Margot Robbie, even lower than Amsterdam - her mid-2022 flop.

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During the Christmas and New Year holidays in the US, hardly anyone chose Babylon to watch. The poor US debut will affect the film's performance in upcoming international markets. Paramount had to cut marketing expenses. In Vietnam, the movie hit theaters by February 2023.

Currently, Paramount is pinning hopes on markets like the UK and France, which favor this type of film. Japan, South Korea, the UK, and France are markets that embraced Damien Chazelle's First Man and La La Land.

Historically, Hollywood films haven't always been successful, despite being nominated for film awards, for example: Chaplin - a movie starring Robert Downey Jr. in 1992, The Player - a film about a film producer killing a screenwriter.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of Babylon as a film directed by Damien Chazelle?

Babylon is significant as it represents director Damien Chazelle's second love letter to Hollywood, following the success of La La Land. The film intricately explores the transition from silent films to talkies, reflecting Hollywood's complex history and evolving cinematic landscape.

How did Babylon's box office performance impact its financial viability?

Babylon's box office performance was disappointing, grossing only $5.8 million against an $80 million budget. To be financially viable, it needs to earn $250 million, a target that seems increasingly unattainable due to its poor reception and competition from major blockbusters.

What are some reasons for Babylon's mixed reviews from critics?

Critics have given Babylon mixed reviews, citing its chaotic screenplay and lack of emotional depth. Despite beautiful imagery, the film's explicit content and ambitious themes have led to a perception of it being a 'messy jumble,' impacting its overall rating.

What challenges did Babylon face during its release in theaters?

Babylon faced significant challenges during its release, including fierce competition from blockbusters like Avatar: The Way of Water and harsh winter conditions in the US, which decreased cinema attendance. These factors contributed to its disappointing box office debut.