Margot Robbie says she makes films for ticket buyers, not critics. “I consider audience always,” she said. “I’ve never, ever been on set and thought, ‘What are the critics going to think of this?’”
That philosophy now faces an early test. Weekend box office results for her latest film, “Wuthering Heights”—which Robbie both starred in and produced—will tell the full story.
Emotional Experience Over Ideas
For the video interview moderated by Joel Edgerton for Vogue Australia, Robbie was joined by her “Wuthering Heights” co-star Jacob Elordi. “I’m like, ‘What’s an audience going to feel right now? What’s their emotional response going to be?'” she said. “I believe you should make movies for the people who are going to buy tickets to see the movies. It’s as simple as that.”
Margot Robbie as Stereotypical Barbie in Barbie (2023), Warner Bros. Pictures
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Robbie has produced all three of director Emerald Fennell’s features, though “Wuthering Heights” is her first time acting in one of her films.
“I love working with Emerald because she always prioritizes an emotional experience over a heady idea,” Robbie said. She went on to express appreciation for Fennell’s creativity. “She’s got great ideas, but she’ll let a cool idea fall by the wayside to offer the option that’s going to be most exciting for the audience,” the actress added.
In a marketplace where word-of-mouth and social media may carry more weight than critics, an audience-focused approach could be the best marketing.
A Test at the Box Office
“Wuthering Heights” opened in the top spot at the U.S. box office with $34.8 million and brought in $42 million internationally. However, the $34.8 million debut came in well below the roughly $48 million domestic opening projected by Box Office Theory—a significant gap for a holiday weekend launch. OMB Reviews at Geeks + Gamers noted that a $76.8 million global opening for a period drama is significant. However, with a budget of roughly $80 million, the film will need to earn between $200–$240 million to break even.
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi in “Wuthering Heights” – Warner Bros., YouTube
The four-day holiday weekend, which included Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day, may have inflated expectations. OMB Reviews said he anticipates a sizable domestic drop in the coming week. Robbie’s appeal to ticket buyers will likely determine whether the film has staying power.
Mixed Reviews, Divergent Scores
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, “Wuthering Heights” has a critics’ score of 59% Rotten to a 78% Fresh score from audiences. Critic Christian Toto said in his review that “the two-plus-hour running time is a mistake, but there isn’t a sequence that isn’t lovely to behold.” He added, “Those willing to accept a story that’s merely influenced by a literary classic will come away entertained.”
Margot Robbie in “Wuthering Heights” – Warner Bros., YouTube
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The audience-focused site Criticless has eight reviews for “Wuthering Heights” at the time of this writing, which is below the threshold for a verified score. However, user reviews range from “Heinous” to “Decent,” suggesting that the film may struggle to sustain long-term momentum.
Audience Approval Will Decide
While Robbie may be on the right track in theory, actors and producers need to know their audience if they intend to make movies for them. In an industry long shaped by awards campaigns and critical prestige, shifting focus entirely to ticket buyers can be easier said than done. If Robbie’s philosophy is that audiences matter more than critics, then box office legs—not opening weekend headlines—will determine whether she truly read the room.
What do you think of Robbie’s philosophy? Let us know in the comments!
