A Big Bold Beautiful Journey Review: Worth Watching

What is the plot of the big bold beautiful journey?

The setup: A magical door and a shared past

Kogonada directs this romantic fantasy about Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell), two strangers who discover a mysterious door that allows them to revisit formative moments from their lives. The film opens with both characters at a crossroads, each dealing with personal regrets and unfulfilled dreams. The magical door presents an opportunity to understand their pasts and, perhaps, find each other.

The journey: Reliving key moments

The narrative follows Sarah and David as they step through the door into specific memories. They witness pivotal scenes from their respective younger years, often observing themselves as adolescents. These flashbacks provide emotional context for their present-day anxieties. The film’s non-linear structure aims to evoke the disorienting nature of memory, though critics noted it ultimately slows the pacing rather than deepening the drama.

Why did A Big Bold Beautiful Journey get bad reviews?

Critical consensus

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports a 37% Tomatometer score, based on professional critic reviews. The consensus on Rotten Tomatoes says the film is “too solemn for its high concept and too saccharine for its wistful themes.” Metacritic assigned the film a score of 43 out of 100, indicating mixed or average reviews. Rotten Tomatoes Wikipedia

“A drama about love, loss and the fear of commitment, with a let’s-go-on-an-adventure twist.” — NPR review

Key criticisms

Many critics highlighted a disconnect between the film’s ambitious premise and its execution. The pacing was described as slow and overly abstract. Several reviews noted that despite a strong cast, the emotional payoff remained muted, leaving audiences with more questions than catharsis.

“A big, bad waste of time.” — critic quote via Rotten Tomatoes

The over-arching complaint was that the film tried to be both a high-concept fantasy and a meditative character study but succeeded fully at neither. This misalignment between intent and delivery became a recurring theme in early reviews.

Why don’t people like A Big Bold Beautiful Journey?

Audience reactions

Audience reception reflected similar dissatisfaction. IMDb users rated the film 5.8/10, while CinemaScore gave it a B− grade. PostTrak respondents gave the film 2.5 out of 5 stars, with only 44% stating they would definitely recommend it. Wikipedia

Box office performance

The film’s domestic opening weekend brought in $3,252,578, according to Box Office Mojo. This figure appears to be far below industry expectations for a project starring two A-list actors. Weak word-of-mouth further damaged its theatrical run. The film’s total domestic gross reached $6,671,082, while international markets contributed $15,722,331, for a worldwide total of $22,393,413. Box Office Mojo

Did the big bold beautiful journey flop?

Box office numbers

Yes. Deadline reported the film launched to about $3.5 million domestically and $8 million worldwide. By the end of its run, Box Office Mojo recorded a worldwide gross of $22,393,413, while IMDb’s total of $22,331,708 shows a minor variation. Deadline Box Office Mojo IMDb

Comparison to other films

Wikipedia describes the film as having mixed reviews and notes that it was a box office bomb. The film incurred over $50 million in global expenses. The gap between these expenses and its $20-22 million box office is substantial. Netflix’s acquisition of streaming rights shortly after the theatrical run suggests a quick pivot to digital recuperation.

Was Colin Farrell turned on by Margot Robbie?

Colin Farrell’s comment

During the press tour for the film, Colin Farrell made a lighthearted remark about being “turned on” by his co-star Margot Robbie. The quote circulated widely on social media and became a notable talking point in coverage of the film’s promotional cycle.

Context and misinterpretation

Farrell later clarified that the comment was made in jest and was taken out of context. The remark reflected the chemistry between the two actors on set, a dynamic that many critics noted was one of the few genuinely compelling elements of the film. The episode highlights how promotional material sometimes overshadows the film itself.

Snapshot facts

Timeline

• 2024: Production begins; casting announced. Variety
• March 2025: First trailer released.
• September 2025: Theatrical release; mixed reviews. Box Office Mojo
• October 2025: Reported as box office flop. Deadline
• Late 2025: Netflix acquires streaming rights.

Confirmed facts

• The film was directed by Kogonada and written by Seth Reiss. Box Office Mojo
• It stars Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell. Box Office Mojo
• Rotten Tomatoes score is 35%. Rotten Tomatoes
• It grossed $12 million at the box office. Box Office Mojo
• The plot involves a magical door and reliving past moments.

What’s unclear

• Exact audience reaction metrics beyond simple scores.
• Potential long-term cult status.
• Specific reasons for Colin Farrell’s comment being misinterpreted.

Frequently Asked Questions