Damien Chazelle isn’t sure what his next movie will look like after Babylon flopped at the box office.
Speaking on the Talking Pictures podcast, via Variety, Chazelle reflected on 2022’s Babylon and how its box office numbers will impact the film he’s currently writing.
“I’ve been head in the sand,” Chazelle said. “I’ve been sort of busy writing. So I’ll get a real taste of how it’s changed or not [since Babylon] once I get to finish this script and try to actually get it made. I’m in a sort of trepidatious state of mind, but I have no illusions. I won’t get a budget of Babylon size any time soon, or at least not on this next one.”
He added, “Certainly, in financial terms, Babylon didn’t work at all. You try to not have that effect what you’re doing creatively, but, at some level, it can’t help but affect it. But maybe that’s okay? I have very mixed mind about it. Who knows. Maybe I won’t be able to get this one made. I have no idea. We’ll have to wait and see.”
How much did Babylon make at the global box office?
Released in December 2022, Babylong made approximately $63.4 million at the global box office off of an estimated budget of $78-80 million. The movie starred Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Diego Calva, and Jean Smart.
While it may not have been a box office hit, Babylon was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Costume Design (Mary Zophres), Best Original Score (Justin Hurwitz), and Best Production Design (Florencia Martin and Anthony Carlino). Hurwitz won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.
Chazelle — who previously made 2014’s Whiplash, 2016’s La La Land, and 2018’s First Man prior to Babylon — didn’t provide any details regarding the movie he’s currently writing.
Babylon is currently streaming on Prime Video and Paramount+.
