Despite all the drama surrounding the production and release of Don't Worry Darling, Olivia Wilde's thriller secured the top spot at the U.S. box office during its first weekend in theaters. Even before its behind-the-scenes chaos became public, Don't Worry Darling was one of the most anticipated movies of 2022 thanks to the movie's excellent ensemble cast and the success of Wilde's feature directorial debut, Booksmart. The backstage turmoil has since overshadowed the intriguing mystery of Don't Worry Darling. Still, the movie grossed a healthy $30 million globally during its opening weekend, with only the theatrical re-release of James Cameron's 2009 3D phenomenon Avatar topping Don't Worry Darling in the worldwide charts.
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Don't Worry Darling centers on Alice Chambers (Florence Pugh), a 1950s-era housewife who supports her workaholic husband, Jack (Harry Styles), and enjoys a rich social life in the fictional Victory, California. What first seems to be an idyllic community takes a turn after a series of unexplainable events that lead one of Alice's neighbors to start to question the leader of their residential development, Frank (Chris Pine). Don't Worry Darling is a modern re-imagining of The Stepford Wives while also taking inspiration from The Truman Show and The Matrix. Don't Worry Darling may not have the on-screen legacy of those movies, yet Wilde's film will likely be long-remembered for its messy production.
Don't Worry Darling's many public controversies include an alleged feud between Florence Pugh and Olivia Wilde, Harry Styles replacing Shia LaBeouf as Jack, and the infamous SpitGate. The series of altercations has gained Don't Worry Darling plenty of attention, and the drama off-screen has been met with more intrigue than the movie itself. The critical response to Don't Worry Darling has been underwhelming, with criticism aimed at the movie's unoriginal storyline, heavy-handed direction, and Harry Styles' unconvincing lead performance. Reviews haven't been wholly negative, however, with credit given to Matthew Libatique's slick cinematography and several acting performances, most notably Pugh. Even with the controversy and unfavorable reviews, Don't Worry Darling is set to become a box office success — here's why.
Is Don't Worry Darling A Success Yet? How Much It Cost To Make
Don't Worry Darling features elaborate set pieces, stylish costumes, and an ensemble cast, yet the movie had a surprisingly modest budget of $35 million. Thanks to a strong opening weekend, the movie has almost made that back. Globally, Don't Worry Darling grossed $30 million in its first three days of release, with $19.2 million of that coming from the domestic market. Don't Worry Darling's gross should exceed its budget after its first week in theaters, but the movie won't likely reach the same levels of financial success as 2022's highest-grossing movies, like Top Gun: Maverick.
Why Don't Worry Darling's Bad Reviews Didn't Matter
Don't Worry Darling's bad reviews have not hurt its box office performance. One reason for that is the movie's two stars, Florence Pugh and Harry Styles. Since her breakout role in 2016's Lady Macbeth, Pugh's following has consistently grown, and she has quickly become one of cinema's most reliable actors. Starring roles in Midsommar, Little Women, and Black Widow have made Pugh one of the most recognizable performers today, and Don't Worry Darling's box office success, in part, has to be attributed to her popularity.
While he is not the same caliber actor as Pugh, Harry Styles is undeniably one of the biggest stars in the world right now. The former One Direction member is more popular than ever following the release of his third solo studio album, Harry's House, and his ongoing world tour. His huge and loyal fan base flocked to see his Eternals post-credit scene appearance, and they will likely do the same for Don’t Worry Darling despite the reviews of his performance.
Did All The Controversy Actually Help Don't Worry Darling?
In addition to the two lead actors being a considerable part of Don't Worry Darling's attraction, the controversy surrounding the production has certainly raised the profile of Olivia Wilde's movie. The director herself was involved in Don't Worry Darling's best-known production problems, including alleged tensions between her and Florence Pugh, her romantic relationship with Harry Styles, and the ambiguous departure of Shia LaBeouf as Pugh's original co-star. The movie's promotional tour was also full of incidents, including a disinterested-looking Chris Pine becoming an internet meme, and Harry Styles seemingly spitting on Pine at the movie's Venice International Film Festival premiere.
While several members of the production team have refuted many of the scandals, Don't Worry Darling's behind-the-scenes drama has become public gossip, and this has made the movie more well-known than it otherwise would have been. Although we'll never know how well the film would have performed at the box office without all of its controversies, the scandals very likely have helped with Don't Worry Darling's financial success. Many people are presumably buying tickets to Don't Worry Darling just to find evidence of the off-screen tension, rather than going to the theater to enjoy the movie itself.
How Much Will Don't Worry Darling Ultimately Make?
After a good opening weekend, the controversial Don't Worry Darling should be expected to comfortably reach the $100 million mark at the box office. Where The Crawdad's Sing, another romantic thriller released this year, has brought in almost $130 million after an opening weekend of similar success to Don't Worry Darling. While Don't Worry Darling doesn't have the appeal of being based on a popular novel, it does have the advantage of a more recognizable cast and intrigue surrounding the off-screen drama.
Don't Worry Darling could make as much as $150 million, which may be helped by the lack of any big-budget blockbusters currently in theaters. Movies that could break $1 billion later this year, like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Avatar: The Way of Water, are not releasing for at least another two months, meaning the more niche Don't Worry Darling could be a popular choice for moviegoers in the meantime. The theatrical re-release of the first Avatar is Don't Worry Darling's biggest challenge at the box office given its enduring popularity. Still, in spite of all of its controversy and mixed reviews, Don't Worry Darling is sure to make a profit and become a box office success.