The Warning Signs of Ridley Scott's Napoleon Project Were Evident Over Half a Century Ago
Discover how the signs of Napoleon's downfall were already visible more than 50 years in advance, shedding light on Ridley Scott's failed project.
Despite being an iconic director, Ridley Scott faced disappointment when his film Napoleon flopped in theaters in 2023. This unfortunate outcome could have been predicted based on the performance of another Napoleon Bonaparte movie that premiered over 50 years ago. At the end of 2023, Scott released his historical action film, Napoleon, starring Joaquin Phoenix. Despite critics praising the battle scenes, they were perplexed by the lack of historical accuracy and the strange tone of the film, which wasn't evident in the trailer. As a result, the movie turned out to be a box office flop.
The failure of Ridley Scott's Napoleon holds significant implications for the director. Throughout his career since 1977, Scott has delivered iconic films like Alien, Thelma and Louise, and Gladiator. Furthermore, he has several highly anticipated projects in the pipeline, including Gladiator 2 with Paul Mescal. Therefore, Napoleon's underperformance casts a shadow on Scott's otherwise impressive track record, potentially tarnishing his reputation moving forward. Nevertheless, it's possible that Napoleon would have failed regardless of the director at the helm.
Waterloo's Box Office Failure Predicted Napoleon
The battle field in the 1970 classic, Waterloo. - Waterloo's Box Office Failure Predicted Napoleon
Napoleon's poor performance at the box office could have been foreseen by examining the shortcomings of the 1970 film Waterloo. Both Napoleon and Waterloo were historical war movies that focused on the Battle of Waterloo, highlighting the key figures of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington. Waterloo boasted grand battle sequences featuring thousands of extras in elaborate period costumes. However, despite its epic scale, the film was marred by numerous historical inaccuracies and even a star-studded cast could not salvage it from going over budget.
In many ways, Napoleon and Waterloo shared similar flaws, indicating that Napoleon's lack of success was inevitable. Despite its visually impressive production values and popular cast, Napoleon's shortcomings overshadowed its strengths. The film's historical inaccuracies and genre ultimately hindered its ability to recoup its substantial budget, a fate shared with Waterloo.
Both films certainly have their good parts, but ultimately, they do not have the ingredients for a box office hit.
Clearly, Napoleon did not learn from Waterloo's mistakes.
Why Napoleon Projects Keep Failing
Joaquin Phoenix wearing a crown in Napoleon - Why Napoleon Projects Keep Failing
Ultimately, the lack of interest in historical films, including those about Napoleon Bonaparte, leads to them flopping at the box office. This was evident in 1970 when Stanley Kubrick decided to cancel his Napoleon biography project following the failure of "Waterloo." To succeed in this genre, a director must innovate and present a unique and captivating concept to attract audiences to a film centered around Napoleon.
Editor's P/S:
The article highlights the unfortunate failure of Ridley Scott's "Napoleon" and draws parallels to the earlier flop "Waterloo." It astutely observes that both films suffered from historical inaccuracies and a lack of innovation, leading to their underwhelming performances at the box office. The analysis suggests that historical films about Napoleon Bonaparte face an uphill battle due to diminishing audience interest.
The article's thoughtful examination of the factors contributing to the failure of Napoleon projects underscores the importance of originality and a compelling narrative in captivating audiences. While historical accuracy is crucial, it should not come at the expense of engaging storytelling. Directors seeking to succeed in this genre must find ways to present Napoleon's story in a fresh and captivating manner that resonates with modern viewers.
