Olivia Wilde has been given a rare gift – the freedom to create without fear of critics' cut-downs. And it's all thanks to the largely scathing reception her 2022 film 'Don't Worry Darling' received at the box office and from reviewers.
The psychological thriller, starring Florence Pugh, Chris Pine, and Harry Styles, was Wilde's sophomore effort following her acclaimed indie comedy 'Booksmart', which won over audiences in 2019. But this time around, despite its A-list cast, 'Don't Worry Darling' tanked at the box office, securing a paltry 38 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The production was dogged by whispers of on-set tensions between Wilde and Pugh, as well as Pine and Styles – not to mention rumoured relationship drama with Styles.
But instead of letting the negative reviews get her down, Wilde has taken a lesson from the experience. In a recent interview, she explained that the low ratings have actually helped her shake off the pressure of pleasing everyone. 'It's liberating,' she said, 'because you start to understand that true achievement is about dedication and taking risks – not about what others think.'
Wilde also touched on the idea of "early failure" as a valuable learning experience in Hollywood. She pointed out that success can create unrealistic expectations, making it hard to detach from public opinion. The critical drubbing 'Don't Worry Darling' received served as a healthy reminder of this subjectivity.
And despite all the on-set drama, Wilde insists that there was never any truth to the rumoured screaming match between herself and Pugh. Similarly, Pine has vouched for Styles, describing his co-star as "a very, very kind guy." Meanwhile, some reviewers did manage to see beyond the hype – one publication even gave 'Don't Worry Darling' a glowing four-star review, praising it as "really quite good" despite being overshadowed by all the gossip.
Now Wilde is looking forward to her next project, 'The Invite', which boasts an impressive cast including Penelope Cruz, Seth Rogen, and Edward Norton. And for UK audiences who missed out on 'Don't Worry Darling' the first time around, it's still available to stream on Netflix.
Wilde's third feature hits cinemas on 3rd July – and based on her newfound liberation from critics' opinions, we can't wait to see what she brings to the table next.