Part 5/8:
Don’t Worry Darling opened in 4,100 theatres with a modest $21 million gross, despite swirling controversies and negative publicity surrounding its cast and production. The film was heavily promoted as being divisive, with marketing that targeted specific demographics while alienating others. This tactic seems to have discouraged many potential viewers from attending.
The Cost of Alienating Audiences
A recurring pattern emerges: Hollywood is increasingly marketing its films with a partisan, divisive tone that can be off-putting to many viewers. The industry began pushing these tactics around 2016, possibly influenced by political events such as elections, and has continued to deepen this trend.