One of the most polarizing films of 2022 is becoming a sleeper hit on streaming.Damien Chazelle’s Hollywood epicBabylon, which currently holds a 57% Rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is currently the #3 top-streaming movie on Paramount+. Despite underwhelming audience and critical support during its release, it seems that the film is now finding its audience on streaming.
Babylonwas a big risk for Chazelle, coming off the critical acclaim but box-office underperformance ofFirst Man, hisNeil Armstrongbiopic. Its star-studded cast reunitedBrad PittandMargot RobbiefromQuentin Tarantino’s 2019 hitOnce Upon a Time In Hollywood, and carried a budget of $80 million USD. Ultimately, it too was a financial disappointment, grossing only $64.9 million. Audiences may have been put off by its epic length (over three hours), its unflinching depiction of over-the-top decadence, or by its reviews, which were wildly polarized: some critics hailed it as a masterpiece, while others found it repellent and overindulgent. Collider’sRoss Bonaimewas in the former camp;in his review, he called it “one of the best and most singular experiences in film all year.” Star Robbie, whose performance in the film was widely praised, recently stated that she “still can’t figure out why people hated it.” It did earn three Oscar nominations, for Costume Design, Original Score, and Production Design; it lost all three.
What Is ‘Babylon’ About?
Babylon, which is named in homage toKenneth Anger’s mostly made-up tell-all bookHollywood Babylon, follows Mexican immigrant Manny Torres (Diego Calva) as he climbs the ranks of the Hollywood studio system in the 1920s and 30s, and encounters a number of characters as they navigate the transition from silent films to talkies. They include troubled movie star Jack Conrad (Pitt), aspiring starlet Nellie LaRoy (Robbie), gossip columnist Elinor St. John (Jean Smart), jazz trumpeter Sidney Palmer (Jovan Adepo), cabaret singer Lady Fay Zhu (Li Jun Li), and dangerous gangster James McKay (Tobey Maguire). They all collide in tragic fashion, as Hollywood’s increasingly puritan nature puts an end to the free-spirited bacchanals that open the film.
Chazelle has yet to direct another film followingBabylon, although he is producingDavid Ayer’sHeart of the Beast, which will also star Pitt. He is next set to direct an untitled prison film starringDaniel CraigandCillian Murphy.
Babylonisnow streaming on Paramount+. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.
