A Big Bold Beautiful Journey Divides Critics as Box Office Stumbles

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Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell’s fantasy romance earns admiration for its visuals and sentiment, but weak dialogues, poor chemistry, and a disappointing $3.5M opening weigh it down.

By TRH Entertainment Desk

MUMBAI, September 21, 2025 — Director Kogonada’s much-anticipated romantic fantasy A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, has sparked sharply divided reactions from critics and audiences alike.

On one hand, film critics such as Jonathan Sim hailed it as “the most emotional movie of the year… sentimental cinema at its best,” while Jillian Chitli likened it to “cinematic EMDR therapy… healing your inner child.” Others praised its visual beauty and emotional resonance. One user wrote, “every frame like a painting.”

But the reception has not been uniformly glowing. Variety reported the film “cratered with $3.5 million in its first weekend,” despite its A-list leads. It holds a 38% Rotten Tomatoes score and a lukewarm CinemaScore of B-, showing weak word-of-mouth.

Some critics expressed disappointment. Vulture called it “a discount version of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” criticizing its shallow characters and predictable storytelling. A viewer noted that Robbie and Farrell’s on-screen chemistry “just doesn’t click.”

Still, supporters remain captivated. Maggie M praised its cinematography, music, and costumes, though she admitted some dialogue felt flat. Others found its themes inspiring, with one Arabic-speaking reviewer describing it as “a calm and enjoyable journey between past and present.”

Based on a Black List script by Seth Reiss, the film follows David (Farrell) and Sarah (Robbie), strangers who miss a wedding connection but embark on a surreal road trip guided by a mysterious GPS. Along the way, they revisit their pasts through magical doors, confronting lost memories and emotional truths.

Despite its commercial struggles, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey continues to spark conversation, with some declaring it an underrated gem and others branding it one of 2025’s biggest misfires.

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