Margot Robbie defends $120 million box office flop: ‘Can’t figure out why people hated it’

Margot Robbie has defended her $120 million film after it flopped at the box office, leaving the Aussie actress “confused”.

Margot Robbie has defended her $120 million film after it spectacularly flopped at the box office.

Speaking on the Talking Pictures podcast, the Australian actress said she was left “confused” after her movie Babylon failed to get a good reception from critics and moviegoers alike when it was released in 2022.

“I love it. I don’t get it either,” she told podcast host Ben Mankiewicz when he said he doesn’t understand why people didn’t like the comedy-drama.

Margot Robbie starred in Babylon with Diego Calva in 2022. Picture: Credit: Paramount Pictures

The film was not well received and flopped at the box office. Picture: Paramount

“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. 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, ‘How is that possible?’”

Babylon was directed by La La Land Oscar winner Damian Chazelle and also starred Brad Pitt and Olivia Wilde.

The movie focused on silent movie stars in the 1920s as they struggled to adapt as the industry transitioned to sound films. Robbie played wide-eyed newcomer Nellie LaRoy, a character that was inspired by the real-life actress Clara Bow.

Robbie with her co-stars (from left to right): Brad Pitt, Damien Chazelle and Diego Calva at the global premiere in LA in 2022. Picture: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

The film had a budget of approximately $120 million to make but it bombed, raking in a pitiful $23 million in the US box office and $96 million worldwide. By calculations, it failed to break even.

The reviews reflected the box office with various outlets giving the Robbie’s movie the thumbs down.

The Guardian wrote: “Despite star wattage from Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt, ​the ​La La Land​ director’s ​overcooked portrait of a nascent Tinseltown is more hysterical than historical.”

And this from Variety: “Babylon feels like the last of a certain kind of movie: epic, extravagant and so unreasonably expensive, it would’ve taken pre-pandemic moviegoing habits to make its money back.”

Robbie attends the Australian premiere of Babylon at Sydney’s State Theatre on January 16, 2023. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

The actress wowed her hometown crowd at the premiere, which shut down Market Street in Sydney. Picture: Hanna Lassen/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

However, in Robbie’s eyes the movie was a success thanks to director Chazelle at the helm.

“Damian is so thorough,” she said on the podcast. “Do you know what I loved so much about working with him? 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.”

Despite the negative reviews, Babylon went on land three Oscars nominations and five Golden Globes nominations, during which it won Best Original Score - Motion Picture.

Robbie also promoted the film in Sydney at the Australian premiere during a whirlwind tour back in January 2023.

Wearing a striking, powder blue vintage Versace gown with red lace details for the event, the former Neighbours star wowed her home crowd.