Audiences Hate This Old Hollywood Film, But Margot Robbie Absolutely Loves It

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Should I give him a chance?

The actress won't back down from her love for Damien Chazelle's "Babylon" (2022) — even though audiences keep tearing the film apart.

In a Letterboxd interview, the actress declared: "Babylon" will definitely become one of those films people will start talking about in 20 years, wondering why it didn't get recognition earlier. If you love "Babylon," then I love you, and we see cinema the same way."

For , this is a matter of principle: she played one of the lead roles — the wild actress Nellie LaRoy — and she's still proud of that work. But audiences proved far harsher: reactions range from "masterpiece about old Hollywood" to "complete waste of life."

Why the film divided everyone

Sure, some critics praise the film's scope, cinematography, and vibrant performances (especially from Robbie and Brad Pitt). But beyond that, opinions split dramatically.
Actress Margot Robbie with wavy hair smiles against a blue background
Still of Margot Robbie from "Babylon"
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Some call "Babylon" an adrenaline-fueled spectacle where cinema, music, and madness merge into one symphony. Others dismiss it as "three hours of drug-addled nonsense" with no structure or meaning.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film sits at just 57% "fresh," with the audience consensus reading: "The scope is impressive, but chaotic structure prevents taking the film seriously."

IMDb rates it slightly higher at 7.1, but even there viewers split into camps: "brilliant mess" versus "never again."

What viewers are saying

  • "This wasn't really a movie but a collection of random scenes. 90% of them were meaningless," - jasinskamagdalenaa on IMDb.
  • "Repetitive, very derivative, too reliant on jazz to hide very weak moments, including an awkward ending," - claired on Metacritic.
  • "What pointless garbage. Unlikable characters in a long — WAY longer than necessary — dreary and lowbrow film. Not one character has any redeeming qualities," - chipparker-420-268697 on IMDb.

What "Babylon" was about

The story unfolds in late 1920s Hollywood. Silent film stars gradually lose their grip as sound takes over, and this transition comes with messy affairs, banned substances, and shattered dreams. Against a backdrop of wild parties, viewers follow newcomers — ambitious Nellie (Margot Robbie) and Manny (Diego Calva) — trying to claw their way to fame at any cost.
Group of people in 1920s evening wear posing against a golden background
"Babylon" movie poster
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Where we ended up

"Babylon" became a rare example of a film that's simultaneously hated and worshipped. For Margot Robbie, it's an important project, and her passion for the film shows — maybe that's exactly why she's still defending it.

But for most viewers, "Babylon" will remain a loud, expensive, and overly chaotic experiment. A film some will call very bold, and others will dismiss as a "complete waste of life." Earlier on zoomboola.com, we covered criticism of the final "The Conjuring" franchise film: the most terrible part of the series, in the worst sense.