Dakota Johnson Says ‘Madame Web’ Flop ‘Wasn’t My Fault’: Decisions Are Made in Hollywood by ‘People Who Don’t Have a Creative Bone in Their Body’

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During her interviews on the “Materialists” press tour, Dakota Johnson explained to the Los Angeles Times that the poor reception of “Madame Web”, which included both critics and audiences, wasn’t her fault. The Sony-produced comic book film was heavily criticized in winter 2024, earning only $43 million at the U.S. box office and a low rating of 11% on Rotten Tomatoes. Johnson played the lead role as Cassandra Webb, a character who gains the ability to see the future after a close brush with death.

Johnson stated that he wasn’t responsible for the film’s issues. He explained that nowadays, many creative choices are made by groups or individuals lacking creativity. This makes it challenging to produce art or something enjoyable. He believes ‘Madame Web’ initially had potential but transformed into something different. By this point, he was just going along with the changes, as such occurrences are common. However, high-budget movies often fail, unfortunately.

I don’t have a wound covering it. Nothing within me thinks, ‘Never again!’ about anything. I’ve been part of small films that didn’t succeed. So what?

Last year, the actor shared with Bustle weeks following the underperformance of “Madame Web” in cinemas, expressing that movies are a collaborative effort between a director and an artistic team. He stated that art can’t be driven by numbers and mathematical formulas. The actor has long believed that audiences are intelligent, but some executives seem to doubt this. However, he emphasized that audiences have the ability to discern insincerity.

The actor spoke to Bustle not long after “Madame Web” failed at the box office, explaining that making a movie is a team effort involving a director and artists. He thinks you can’t create good art based on numbers and math rules. He feels audiences are smart, but some bosses don’t think so. But, he added, audiences can always tell when things aren’t genuine.

Right now, Johnson is out promoting “Materialists,” a fresh film from Oscar-nominated director Celine Song, produced by A24. In this movie, Johnson acts alongside Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans, creating a unique blend of embracing and twisting the conventional romantic-comedy genre. This marks Johnson’s return to romantic comedies since 2016’s “How to Be Single,” despite not being short on attempts to do so in the intervening years.

Johnson expressed her dissatisfaction about the romantic comedy scripts she’s received over time, stating, “They lack depth and emotion.” She went on to say, “Celine, however, embodies soul and heart. I truly appreciate a rom-com where I can identify with the characters. Unfortunately, I’ve found it challenging to connect with some of the characters in the scripts I’ve been given.

Johnson’s ‘Materialists’ resonated deeply with some people due to the intricate nature of the characters, the paradoxes they faced, and the universal confusion about navigating emotions and making tough decisions. This raw honesty and relatability struck a chord with many.

The film ‘Materialists’ is set to hit theaters on June 10, distributed by A24. For additional information, check out Johnson’s recent interview on the Los Angeles Times’ site.”

Or simply:

“Catch ‘Materialists’, a new release from A24 in theaters starting June 10! Read more in an interview with Johnson at the Los Angeles Times website.

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2025-06-06 00:46