Damien Chazelle's Future Film News Unveils Surprising Twist After His Previous Box Office Setback

Director Damien Chazelle has expressed concerns about the budgets for his future films after his 2022 film Babylon flopped. However, it would be a shame if studios didn't trust him with larger projects. Chazelle's career has been centered around themes of control. His debut film Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench in 2009 and La La Land in 2016 both explored the consequences of characters losing control of their careers. On the other hand, the suspense thriller Grand Piano in 2013 and Whiplash in 2014 focused on musicians who risked everything to excel in their art.

Ironically, the ending of Babylon in 2022 was considered the most unrestrained filmmaking of Chazelle's career. The film, which starred big names like Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, and Tobey Maguire, tells the story of Hollywood's transition from silent films to sound. Despite its star-studded cast, Babylon was criticized as a bloated mess by many reviewers. Clocking in at a lengthy 189 minutes, the film's unfocused storytelling was not well-received by audiences.

Damien Chazelle Doesn’t Believe He Will Get A Big Budget After Babylon

La La Land’s director said the flop could hurt his future prospects

Margot Robbie as Nellie LaRoy crying in Babylon - La La Land’s director said the flop could hurt his future prospects - Damien Chazelle Doesn’t Believe He Will Get A Big Budget After Babylon

Chazelle, like many successful directors, started with smaller projects before being given a big budget and creative freedom. Recently, he mentioned in an interview on TCM’s Talking Pictures podcast that he knows he won't have a budget as large as Babylon's for his next projects due to the movie's financial flop. While it's important to be realistic, it would be unfortunate if Babylon's failure negatively impacted Chazelle's future work.

Despite its mixed reviews, Babylon should not be dismissed as a failure. While it may not be Damian Chazelle's standout work, it still showcases his high standard of filmmaking. Both Robbie and Pitt deliver strong performances, and the visual style of Babylon is reminiscent of classic musicals, adding to its charm. Although the film may drag on at times, it is a bold and unconventional project that pushes boundaries. Projects like Babylon, such as Southland Tales or Beau Is Afraid, should not hinder a director's creative endeavors in the future.

Why Babylon Bombed At The Box Office

Babylon’s lengthy Hollywood satire was too much for audiences and critics

Brad Pitt stands on the balcony in front of a rocky landscape in Babylon - Babylon’s lengthy Hollywood satire was too much for audiences and critics - Why Babylon Bombed At The Box Office

Babylon didn't do well at the box office due to several reasons. It received mixed reviews, had a long runtime, and its storyline was unclear. The trailers led viewers to expect Pitt and Robbie in major roles, but the main character in the movie was not clearly defined in the marketing. Additionally, Stephen King defended the film, but focusing on the silent era may have turned some viewers off. Silent era movies are usually family-friendly, so showing the dark and disturbing aspects of that time may not have been appealing to everyone.

Babylon’s disappointing performance at the box office should not be the defining moment in Damien Chazelle’s career. The film attempted to capture the essence of the roaring ‘20s, much like Baz Luhrman’s The Great Gatsby did with its modern twist. However, Babylon’s portrayal of excess sometimes crossed the line into grotesque, especially with Tobey Maguire’s disturbing character, James McKay. Chazelle’s admiration for Hollywood’s golden age clashed with the darker themes in the movie, creating a confusing and muddled tone.

Chazelle has potential despite this major flop

Diego Calva as Manny at a party in Babylon. - Chazelle has potential despite this major flop - Babylon’s Disastrous Box Office Shouldn’t Define Damien Chazelle’s Career

Even though Babylon was not a success, Damien Chazelle has shown potential to continue making big-budget movies. In his early career, he already achieved major successes with Whiplash in 2014 and La La Land in 2016. La La Land earned $447 million with a budget of $30 million, while Whiplash made $49 million with a budget of only $3.3 million. Chazelle's box office success is evident, but his potential should not be solely defined by this. All of his movies also demonstrate his critical credibility.

Chazelle's biopic First Man, starring Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong, received positive reviews despite its under-performance at the box office. Both La La Land and Whiplash were well-received critically, and even Babylon, though criticized, was acknowledged for its visual appeal and intriguing storyline. Babylon made $63 million with a budget of $110 million, resulting in a significant loss when factoring in advertising costs. This loss may impact Chazelle's future projects, but it should not overshadow the fact that Babylon is not a terrible movie and should not have an overly negative impact on his career.

Damien Chazelle Has Proven He Can Work On Smaller Budgets

Whiplash and La La Lands showcased what Chazelle can do with less

J. K. Simmons as Terence Fletcher in Whiplash - Whiplash and La La Lands showcased what Chazelle can do with less - Damien Chazelle Has Proven He Can Work On Smaller Budgets

Chazelle has shown his talent for creating successful movies with limited budgets through films like Whiplash and La La Land. Instead of rushing into bigger projects, he may benefit from focusing on smaller ones for now. By staying true to his roots, he can avoid the financial risks associated with ambitious failures like Babylon. The disappointing performance of First Man further emphasized the importance of making strategic choices in his filmmaking career.

It may be a good idea for Chazelle to go back to working with smaller budgets after his last two big-budget films did not do well financially. Returning to smaller budgets can give him a chance to demonstrate his skill in making films economically, as he did with successful movies like La La Land, Whiplash, and Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench. Despite the challenges faced by Babylon and First Man, Chazelle can show that he is capable of handling bigger projects by working on smaller ones first. The reviews for Babylon suggest that the film's issues were not solely related to its budget, so Chazelle may benefit from working on smaller projects to regain the trust of audiences.

Editor's P/S:

The article presents a compelling case for Damien Chazelle's continued relevance in filmmaking despite the box office failure of his latest film, "Babylon." While Chazelle's concerns about future budgets are understandable, it would be a disservice to his artistry if studios were to limit his creative vision. His previous works, such as "Whiplash" and "La La Land," demonstrate his exceptional ability to explore complex themes and create captivating cinematic experiences.

Chazelle's bold and unconventional approach in "Babylon" may have alienated some audiences, but it also showcased his willingness to push boundaries and challenge established norms. While the film's lengthy runtime and unclear storytelling may have been polarizing, it is important to recognize the ambition and artistic merit behind the project. By fostering an environment where directors like Chazelle can experiment and take risks, studios can cultivate a vibrant and innovative cinematic landscape that caters to a diverse range of audiences.