We've All Been Criminally Wrong About Babylon: It Deserved Better

Damien Chazelle's 2022 film Babylon was perhaps, if not the biggest, then certainly the most embarrassing box office flop in recent memory, grossing $63 million against a $110 million budget.

The epic period film starring Diego Calva, Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt was seemingly destined for success, but failed miserably for a variety of reasons and is perhaps one of the most criminally underrated films of recent years.

First of all, it's understandable what led to such a disaster, as the crazy and shocking elements of the story are definitely not everyone's cup of tea, leading to mixed reviews, as well as the three hour running time.

Besides that, the misguided marketing campaign that made it hard to understand what the story was all about, painting it as mostly comedy, along with the huge budget and COVID restrictions were the final nails in the movie's coffin.

However, if you decide to give it a chance, you might just be in for a great story that has been described as "a love letter to Hollywood" that will make you nostalgic for an era you never even lived in.

Occasional shocking moments aside, it is a story of how the film industry underwent massive changes and how it affected the cast of characters presented in the film.

The sudden switch from comedy to drama midway through the movie perfectly illustrates the rise and subsequent fall of those who failed to adapt to the changes, with each character forced to try to find a new path in life.

If you are looking for analogies in other movies, Babylon is quite similar to Boogie Nights (1997), only set at the end of the silent movie era.

The creators have done a great job with excellent direction, cinematography, and editing, and all of the cast deliver stunning performances that fully immerse you in this crazy story, while the soundtrack takes it all to a whole new level.

It also has two of perhaps the most heartbreaking scenes in Brad Pitt's entire career, as his Jack Conrad's dialogues with the film critic and Lady Fay are absolutely devastating to hear (in a good way).

And the final montage scene was an incredible cinematic experience that sent shivers down your spine in the theater and is still incredibly powerful when watching at home.

So if you haven't seen it yet and don't mind the occasional gross-out scene, you might want to give Babylon a chance, as it might be 100% worth your time in the end.