Bombshell (2019 film)
{{short description|2019 film directed by Jay Roach}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Bombshell
| image = Bombshell poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Jay Roach
| writer = Charles Randolph
| based_on =
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Aaron L. Glibert
- Jay Roach
- Robert Graf
- Michelle Graham
- Charles Randolph
- Margaret Riley
- Charlize Theron
- A. J. Dix
- Beth Kono
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Charlize Theron
- Nicole Kidman
- Margot Robbie
- John Lithgow
- Kate McKinnon
- Connie Britton
- Malcolm McDowell
- Allison Janney
}}
| cinematography = Barry Ackroyd
| editing = Jon Poll
| music = Theodore Shapiro
| production_companies = {{Plainlist|
- Bron Studios
- Annapurna Pictures
- Denver and Delilah Productions
- Gramsci
- Lighthouse Management & Media
- Creative Wealth Media
}}
| distributor = Lionsgate Films
| released = {{Film date|2019|12|13|United States}}
| country = United States
Canada
| language = English
| budget = $32 million{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/how-charlize-theron-nicole-kidman-margot-robbie-created-pervasive-paranoia-roger-ailes-1258931|title=Making of 'Bombshell': How Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie Re-Created the "Pervasive Paranoia" of Roger Ailes's Fox News|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Rebecca|last=Keegan|date=December 5, 2019|access-date=December 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208000212/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/how-charlize-theron-nicole-kidman-margot-robbie-created-pervasive-paranoia-roger-ailes-1258931|archive-date=December 8, 2019|url-status=live}}
}}
Bombshell is a 2019 biographical drama film directed by Jay Roach and written by Charles Randolph. The film stars Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, and Margot Robbie, and is based on the accounts of the women at Fox News who set out to expose CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment. John Lithgow, Kate McKinnon, Connie Britton, Malcolm McDowell, and Allison Janney appear in supporting roles.
Bombshell was released in December 13, 2019. The film's box office results were seen as disappointing, but it received mostly positive reviews. It garnered praise for its acting as well as its choices of makeup and hair, which won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, while earning some criticism of the screenplay and inaccuracies in the plot and character portrayals.
Plot
After co-moderating the 2016 Republican debate, Megyn Kelly faces numerous insults from Donald Trump, who is angry because she asked him about his offensive comments toward women. Under pressure from the network, and after receiving death threats and unwanted paparazzi attention, Kelly eventually reconciles with Trump.
Meanwhile, Gretchen Carlson is removed as co-anchor of the popular Fox & Friends show, and is transferred to a less popular show. Inundated by sexist comments on and off the air, including by Roger Ailes, Carlson meets with lawyers, Nancy Smith and Neil Mullin, who explain that Carlson's contract prevents her from suing the network, but she can sue Ailes personally.
On her first day on The O'Reilly Factor, Kayla Pospisil meets fellow female staffer Jess Carr, and the two have sex. The next day, Ailes begins sexually harassing Pospisil. Pospisil begins to tell Carr about what happened, but Carr interrupts, saying she cannot get involved.
Carlson is later fired, ostensibly for her on-air support of the federal assault weapons ban, and decides to sue Ailes. When the news breaks the next day, Ailes denies the allegations and Kelly admits to her core team Ailes sexually harassed her when she started at Fox. In the following weeks, despite a number of other women voicing their public support against Ailes, Kelly conspicuously refuses to make a comment on Carlson's accusations.
After more women accuse Ailes, Kelly starts to find other women at the network. Kelly visits Pospisil, and the two confide in each other. Kelly advises Pospisil to come forward, and after consulting with Carr, she does. Through her attorneys, Carlson later informs Ailes she has recorded conversations to support her claims, deliberately withholding them from Ailes's lawyers in order to undermine his credibility. Defeated, Ailes is fired by Fox co-creator Rupert Murdoch. Ailes settles Carlson's lawsuit for $20 million and an apology from Fox, but the settlement contains a non-disclosure agreement. Fox eventually pays the victims of sexual harassment $50 million, while paying Ailes and O'Reilly $65 million in severance.
Cast
{{castlist|
- Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly
- Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson
- Margot Robbie as Kayla Pospisil (composite character){{Cite web|url=https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/a30187373/who-is-kayla-pospisil-bombshell-movie/|title=Margot Robbie's 'Bombshell' Character, Kayla Pospisil, Isn't Real|accessdate=May 3, 2021|website=Marie Claire|date=December 12, 2019}}
- John Lithgow as Roger Ailes
- Kate McKinnon as Jess Carr
- Connie Britton as Beth Ailes
- Malcolm McDowell as Rupert Murdoch
- Allison Janney as Susan Estrich
- Rob Delaney as Gil Norman
- Mark Duplass as Douglas Brunt
- Liv Hewson as Lily Balin
- Jack Haven{{efn|name=Jack|Credited as Brigette Lundy-Paine}} as Julia Clarke
- Richard Kind as Rudy Giuliani
- Stephen Root as Neil Mullin
- Robin Weigert as Nancy Smith
- Mark Moses as Bill Shine
- Holland Taylor as Faye
- Brooke Smith as Irena Brighanti
- Ben Lawson as Lachlan Murdoch
- Josh Lawson as James Murdoch
- Alanna Ubach as Jeanine Pirro
- Bree Condon as Kimberly Guilfoyle
- Kevin Dorff as Bill O'Reilly
- Michael Buie as Bret Baier
- Marc Evan Jackson as Chris Wallace
- Anne Ramsay as Greta Van Susteren
- Tricia Helfer as Alisyn Camerota
- Jennifer Morrison as Juliet Huddy
- Ashley Greene as Abby Huntsman
- Ahna O'Reilly as Julie Roginsky
- Lisa Canning as Harris Faulkner
- Elisabeth Röhm as Martha MacCallum
- Alice Eve as Ainsley Earhardt
- P. J. Byrne as Neil Cavuto
- Tony Plana as Geraldo Rivera
- Nazanin Boniadi as Rudi Bakhtiar
}}
Production
=Development=
On May 18, 2017, shortly after the death of Fox News founder Roger Ailes, it was announced that Annapurna Pictures was in the early stages of developing a film centered on the allegations made against Ailes by female employees, including Megyn Kelly and Gretchen Carlson. Charles Randolph was expected to write the film's screenplay.{{cite web |last1=Lang |first1=Brent |title=Roger Ailes Will Be the Subject of Competing Film and TV Projects |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/roger-ailes-dead-fox-news-film-projects-1202433571/ |website=Variety |access-date=August 1, 2018 |date=May 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819061030/https://variety.com/2017/film/news/roger-ailes-dead-fox-news-film-projects-1202433571/ |archive-date=August 19, 2018 |url-status=live }} On May 22, 2018, it was announced that Jay Roach had been hired to direct the film.{{cite web |last1=Hipes |first1=Patrick |title=Charlize Theron To Play Megyn Kelly In Fox News Movie At Annapurna |url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/charlize-theron-megyn-kelly-fox-news-women-movie-cast-1202395634/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=August 1, 2018 |date=May 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723223259/https://deadline.com/2018/05/charlize-theron-megyn-kelly-fox-news-women-movie-cast-1202395634/ |archive-date=July 23, 2018 |url-status=live }} On August 1, 2018, it was announced that Roach, Randolph, Beth Kono, A. J. Dix, and Margaret Riley would act as the film's producers and that Denver and Delilah Productions would serve as the film's production company.{{cite web |last1=Kroll |first1=Justin |title=Nicole Kidman to Play Gretchen Carlson in Fox News Movie (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/nicole-kidman-gretchen-carlson-roger-ailes-movie-1202858792/ |website=Variety |access-date=August 1, 2018 |date=August 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802012505/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/nicole-kidman-gretchen-carlson-roger-ailes-movie-1202858792/ |archive-date=August 2, 2018 |url-status=live }} On October 9, 2018, it was announced that Annapurna Pictures had dropped out of producing the film, reportedly due to concerns over the film's growing budget. At the time of the announcement, it was confirmed that Bron Studios was staying on and that producers were looking at Focus Features, Participant Media, and Amblin Entertainment to help finance the film.{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title=Roger Ailes Movie No Longer In Works At Annapurna; Others Circling To Resuscitate Project |url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/roger-ailes-movie-no-longer-in-the-works-at-annapurna-others-circling-to-resuscitate-project-1202479338/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=October 9, 2018 |date=October 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009201851/https://deadline.com/2018/10/roger-ailes-movie-no-longer-in-the-works-at-annapurna-others-circling-to-resuscitate-project-1202479338/ |archive-date=October 9, 2018 |url-status=live }} The following week, Lionsgate began negotiating to join the production after Focus Features and Amblin Entertainment passed on the project.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/roger-ailes-jay-roach-lionsgate-in-talks-to-acquire-after-annapunra-1202483498/ |title=Lionsgate In Talks For Jay Roach's Roger Ailes Project In Wake Of Annapurna Pulling Plug & Focus Features Passing |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |date=October 15, 2018 |access-date=October 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016011848/https://deadline.com/2018/10/roger-ailes-jay-roach-lionsgate-in-talks-to-acquire-after-annapunra-1202483498/ |archive-date=October 16, 2018 |url-status=live }} By the end of the month, Lionsgate was reported to be closing a deal to distribute the film.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/mark-duplass-alice-eve-jay-roach-roger-ailes-movie-1202489423/|title=Mark Duplass & Alice Eve Join Jay Roach's Roger Ailes Movie|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=October 25, 2018|access-date=October 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028033622/https://deadline.com/2018/10/mark-duplass-alice-eve-jay-roach-roger-ailes-movie-1202489423/|archive-date=October 28, 2018|url-status=live}} In December 2018, it was reported that Theodore Shapiro would compose the film's score and that Barry Ackroyd would serve as the film's cinematographer.{{cite web |last= Mavity |first= Will |title= Interview With "Destroyer" Composer, Theodore Shapiro |url= https://nextbestpicture.com/interview-with-destroyer-composer-theodore-shapiro/ |website= Next Best Picture |access-date= December 16, 2018 |date= December 14, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181217110814/https://www.nextbestpicture.com/latest/interview-with-destroyer-composer-theodore-shapiro |archive-date= December 17, 2018 |url-status= live }}{{cite web |last= Lester |first= Margot Carmichael |title= Generation Next |url= https://issuu.com/icgmagazine/docs/decdigitaledition/87 |website= ICG Magazine |access-date= December 16, 2018 |date= November 29, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190402090253/https://issuu.com/icgmagazine/docs/decdigitaledition/87 |archive-date= April 2, 2019 |url-status= live }} The film was given the working title Fair and Balanced, before being announced as Bombshell in August 2019.{{cite web |url= https://twitter.com/cevangelista413/status/1163937746525839365|title=It's the Fox News movie which was previously untitled, FYI.pic.twitter.com/IK0a5Ui2Ha |last= Evangelista |first= Chris |date= August 20, 2019 |website= @cevangelista413 |access-date= August 21, 2019 }} Kelly later stated that she had no involvement with the film.{{Cite web |url= https://www.instagram.com/p/B6Bt8fEHJ_K/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/megynkelly/2198240161750097866 |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |url-access=subscription|title= Megyn Kelly on Instagram: "My husband @dougbrunt and I recently took our three kids to see the movie "Frozen 2." As we walked into the theatre, our 6-year-old stopped…" |website= Instagram }}{{cbignore}}
=Casting=
Alongside the directing and writing announcements, it was reported that Charlize Theron had entered negotiations to portray Kelly in the film. On August 1, 2018, it was reported that Nicole Kidman had begun negotiations to star as Carlson and that Margot Robbie was in talks to play a composite associate producer at the network, with Theron confirmed to star.{{cite web |last1=Galuppo |first1=Mia |last2=Kit |first2=Borys |title=Margot Robbie Joins Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron in Fox News Movie (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/margot-robbie-joins-roger-ailes-fox-news-movie-1131337 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=August 1, 2018 |date=August 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802014153/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/margot-robbie-joins-roger-ailes-fox-news-movie-1131337 |archive-date=August 2, 2018 |url-status=live }} Later that month, it was announced that John Lithgow had been cast as Roger Ailes.{{cite web |last1= Brent |first1= Lang |last2= Kroll |first2= Justin |title= John Lithgow to Play Roger Ailes in Fox News Movie (EXCLUSIVE) |url= https://variety.com/2018/film/news/john-lithgow-fox-news-movie-chief-roger-ailes-1202913585/ |website= Variety |access-date= August 22, 2018 |date= August 22, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180822185045/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/john-lithgow-fox-news-movie-chief-roger-ailes-1202913585/ |archive-date= August 22, 2018 |url-status= live }} In September 2018, it was reported that Allison Janney had been cast as lawyer Susan Estrich and that Kate McKinnon had been cast to play a fictional producer.{{cite web |last1=Wiseman |first1=Andreas |title=Allison Janney To Play Attorney Susan Estrich In Annapurna's Movie About The Roger Ailes Fox News Harassment Scandal |url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/allison-janney-susan-estrich-fox-news-roger-ailes-movie-1202468190/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=September 20, 2018 |date=September 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921120131/https://deadline.com/2018/09/allison-janney-susan-estrich-fox-news-roger-ailes-movie-1202468190/ |archive-date=September 21, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Wiseman |first1=Andreas |title=Kate McKinnon Joins Annapurna's Fox News Sexual Harassment Drama |url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/kate-mckinnon-fox-news-roger-ailes-sexual-harassment-snl-1202469859/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=September 24, 2018 |date=September 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925120239/https://deadline.com/2018/09/kate-mckinnon-fox-news-roger-ailes-sexual-harassment-snl-1202469859/ |archive-date=September 25, 2018 |url-status=live }}
In October 2018, it was announced that Malcolm McDowell, Mark Duplass, and Alice Eve had been cast as Rupert Murdoch, Douglas Brunt, and Ainsley Earhardt, respectively.{{cite web |last1=Kroll |first1=Justin |title=Malcolm McDowell to Play Rupert Murdoch in Fox News Movie (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/malcolm-mcdowell-rupert-murdoch-fox-news-movie-1202967284/ |website=Variety |access-date=October 8, 2018 |date=October 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008234252/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/malcolm-mcdowell-rupert-murdoch-fox-news-movie-1202967284/ |archive-date=October 8, 2018 |url-status=live }} In November 2018, it was reported that Brigette Lundy-Paine and Liv Hewson had been cast as two fictional characters{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title=Jay Roach's Roger Ailes-Fox News Movie Adds Brigette Lundy-Paine & Liv Hewson |url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/jay-roachs-roger-ailes-fox-news-movie-adds-brigette-lundy-paine-liv-hewson-1202498380/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=November 8, 2018 |date=November 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109070750/https://deadline.com/2018/11/jay-roachs-roger-ailes-fox-news-movie-adds-brigette-lundy-paine-liv-hewson-1202498380/ |archive-date=November 9, 2018 |url-status=live }} and that Alanna Ubach,{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title=Alanna Ubach To Play Fox News' Jeanine Pirro In Jay Roach's Untitled Roger Ailes Feature |url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/fox-news-jay-roach-movie-alanna-ubach-cast-as-jeanine-pirro-1202501897/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=November 14, 2018 |date=November 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114210558/https://deadline.com/2018/11/fox-news-jay-roach-movie-alanna-ubach-cast-as-jeanine-pirro-1202501897/ |archive-date=November 14, 2018 |url-status=live }} Elisabeth Röhm, Spencer Garrett, Connie Britton, Ashley Greene, Brooke Smith, Michael Buie, Nazanin Boniadi, and Bree Condon had been cast as Jeanine Pirro, Martha MacCallum, Sean Hannity, Beth Ailes, Abby Huntsman, Irena Brigante, Bret Baier, Rudi Bakhtiar, and Kimberly Guilfoyle, respectively.{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title=Elisabeth Röhm To Play Fox News Host Martha MacCallum; Spencer Garrett Is Sean Hannity: Jay Roach's Roger Ailes Movie |url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/elisabeth-rohm-to-play-fox-news-host-martha-maccallum-spencer-garrett-is-sean-hannity-jay-roachs-roger-ailes-movie-1202502974/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=November 15, 2018 |date=November 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116044714/https://deadline.com/2018/11/elisabeth-rohm-to-play-fox-news-host-martha-maccallum-spencer-garrett-is-sean-hannity-jay-roachs-roger-ailes-movie-1202502974/ |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Galuppo |first1=Mia |title=Connie Britton to Play Roger Ailes' Wife in Fox News Drama (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/connie-britton-play-roger-ailes-wife-fox-news-drama-1162049 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=November 16, 2018 |date=November 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117022432/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/connie-britton-play-roger-ailes-wife-fox-news-drama-1162049 |archive-date=November 17, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Ramos |first1=Dino-Ray |title=Ashley Greene To Play Former 'Fox & Friends' Host Abby Huntsman In Roger Ailes Film |url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/ashley-greene-fox-and-friends-host-abby-huntsman-roger-ailes-fox-news-charles-randolph-nicole-kidman-jay-roach-1202504627/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=December 5, 2018 |date=November 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120015138/https://deadline.com/2018/11/ashley-greene-fox-and-friends-host-abby-huntsman-roger-ailes-fox-news-charles-randolph-nicole-kidman-jay-roach-1202504627/ |archive-date=November 20, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/jay-roach-roger-ailes-project-brooke-smith-michael-buie-1202505621/|title=Jay Roach's Roger Ailes Project Adds Brooke Smith & Michael Buie|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Amanda|last=N'Duka|date=November 20, 2018|access-date=November 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121002154/https://deadline.com/2018/11/jay-roach-roger-ailes-project-brooke-smith-michael-buie-1202505621/|archive-date=November 21, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title=Jay Roach's Untitled Roger Ailes Movie: Nazanin Boniadi To Play Former Fox News Reporter Rudi Bakhtiar |url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/jay-roachs-untitled-roger-ailes-movie-nazanin-boniadi-to-play-former-fox-news-reporter-rudi-bakhtiar-1202505733/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=December 5, 2018 |date=November 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402090256/https://deadline.com/2018/11/jay-roachs-untitled-roger-ailes-movie-nazanin-boniadi-to-play-former-fox-news-reporter-rudi-bakhtiar-1202505733/ |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=N'Duka |first1=Amanda |title=Bree Condon To Play Kimberly Guilfoyle In Jay Roach Fox News Film; Chelsea Harris Books 'Top Gun: Maverick' |url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/bree-condon-kimberly-guilfoyle-jay-roach-fox-news-film-chelsea-harris-top-gun-maverick-1202510440/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=December 5, 2018 |date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129100222/https://deadline.com/2018/11/bree-condon-kimberly-guilfoyle-jay-roach-fox-news-film-chelsea-harris-top-gun-maverick-1202510440/ |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |url-status=live }} In December 2018, it was announced that Rob Delaney had joined the cast of the film in an undisclosed role and that Ahna O'Reilly had been cast as Julie Roginsky.{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Peter |title=Rob Delaney, Co-Creator Of 'Catastrophe' & Star Of 'Deadpool 2', Joins Jay Roach's Roger Ailes Film |url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/rob-delaneyjay-roach-fox-news-1202512921/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=December 5, 2018 |date=December 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206001559/https://deadline.com/2018/12/rob-delaneyjay-roach-fox-news-1202512921/ |archive-date=December 6, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title=Ahna O'Reilly To Play Fox News Correspondent Julie Roginsky In Jay Roach's Roger Ailes Movie |url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/roger-ailes-fox-news-movie-julie-roginsky-ahna-oreilly-cast-1202517386/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=December 10, 2018 |date=December 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211111931/https://deadline.com/2018/12/roger-ailes-fox-news-movie-julie-roginsky-ahna-oreilly-cast-1202517386/ |archive-date=December 11, 2018 |url-status=live }} In June 2019, Robin Weigert announced she had joined the cast of the film.{{cite web|url=https://theknockturnal.com/exclusive-robin-weigert-jeffrey-nordling-crystal-fox-p-j-byrne-talk-big-little-lies-season-2-video/|title=Exclusive: Robin Weigert, Jeffrey Nordling, Crystal Fox & P. J. Byrne Talk 'Big Little Lies' Season 2 [Video]|website=The Knockturnal|date=June 6, 2019|access-date=June 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821183115/https://theknockturnal.com/exclusive-robin-weigert-jeffrey-nordling-crystal-fox-p-j-byrne-talk-big-little-lies-season-2-video/|archive-date=August 21, 2019|url-status=live}}
=Filming=
Principal photography for the film began on October 22, 2018, in Los Angeles, California.{{cite web |last1=Dupre |first1=Elyse |title=See Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly in First Look at Roger Ailes Movie |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/980843/see-charlize-theron-as-megyn-kelly-in-first-look-at-roger-ailes-movie |website=E! News |access-date=October 30, 2018 |date=October 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029071556/https://www.eonline.com/news/980843/see-charlize-theron-as-megyn-kelly-in-first-look-at-roger-ailes-movie |archive-date=October 29, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/megyn-kelly-character-cut-showtimes-roger-ailes-series-1156563|title=Showtime's Megyn Kelly Character "Has Yet to Be Cast" in Roger Ailes Series|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Tatiana|last=Siegel|date=October 30, 2018|access-date=October 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031012108/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/megyn-kelly-character-cut-showtimes-roger-ailes-series-1156563|archive-date=October 31, 2018|url-status=live}}
Release
The film was scheduled for release on December 20, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/lionsgate-sets-holiday-release-date-for-charlize-therons-roger-ailes-scandal-film/|title=Lionsgate Sets Holiday Release Date for Charlize Theron's Roger Ailes Scandal Film|date=March 6, 2019|work=TheWrap|access-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822115855/https://www.thewrap.com/lionsgate-sets-holiday-release-date-for-charlize-therons-roger-ailes-scandal-film/|archive-date=August 22, 2019|url-status=live}} However, it was pushed up to December 13, 2019, in a limited release, opening to public viewing on December 20.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/patrick-schwarzenegger-moxie-amy-poehler-drama-1203387576/|title=Film News Roundup: Patrick Schwarzenegger Joins Amy Poehler's Drama 'Moxie'|website=Variety|first=Dave|last=McNary|date=October 29, 2019|access-date=October 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030003251/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/patrick-schwarzenegger-moxie-amy-poehler-drama-1203387576/|archive-date=October 30, 2019|url-status=live}}
Reception
=Box office=
Bombshell grossed $31.8 million in the United States and Canada, and $29.6 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $61.4 million.{{cite web |title= Bombshell (2019) |url= https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2550760961/?ref_=bo_hm_rs |website= Box Office Mojo |publisher= IMDb |access-date= March 5, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191220011341/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2550760961/?ref_=bo_hm_rs |archive-date= December 20, 2019 |url-status= live }}{{cite web |title= Bombshell (2019) |url= https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Bombshell#tab=summary |website= The Numbers |access-date= March 6, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191219125550/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Bombshell#tab=summary |archive-date= December 19, 2019 |url-status= live }}
In its limited opening weekend the film made $312,100 from four theaters for a per-venue average of $78,025, the fifth best of 2019.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/jumanji-the-next-level-richard-jewell-black-christmas-opening-weekend-box-office-1202808689/ |title=How Sony Took 'Jumanji' To 'The Next Level' With A $60M+ Opening; 'Richard Jewell' & 'Black Christmas' Earn Lumps Of Coal |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=December 15, 2019 |access-date=December 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214223910/https://deadline.com/2019/12/jumanji-the-next-level-richard-jewell-black-christmas-opening-weekend-box-office-1202808689/ |archive-date=December 14, 2019 |url-status=live }} The film went wide at 1,480 theaters the following weekend and, despite being projected to gross around $10 million, finished sixth with $5.1 million. The audience was 58% female, with 60% being between 18 and 34 years old.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-opening-weekend-box-office-cats-bombshell-1202814594/|title='Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker' Lowers Lightsaber To $179M+, But Still 3rd Best December Opening; 'Cats' Oh Drat $6.5M, 'Bombshell' $5.1M – Sunday AM Early Update|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=December 22, 2019|access-date=December 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221165400/https://deadline.com/2019/12/star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-opening-weekend-box-office-cats-bombshell-1202814594/|archive-date=December 21, 2019|url-status=live}} The following weekend the film made $4.7 million (a total of $8.3 million over the five-day Christmas frame), falling to ninth.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-little-women-uncut-gems-spies-in-disguise-post-christmas-box-office-1202817539/ |title='Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker' Chasing 'Last Jedi' With $76M 2nd Weekend; 'Little Women' Not So Tiny With $29M 5-Day |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=December 28, 2019 |access-date=December 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229033102/https://deadline.com/2019/12/star-wars-rise-of-skywalker-little-women-uncut-gems-spies-in-disguise-post-christmas-box-office-1202817539/ |archive-date=December 29, 2019 |url-status=live }} The film's box office results were seen as a disappointment, with The Hill saying that the presence of other projects about Ailes, such as the documentary Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes and the Showtime series The Loudest Voice, had lowered the demand for a film on the subject.{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/opinion/criminal-justice/476377-bombshell-bombing-at-box-office-isnt-exactly-a-shock-heres-why|title='Bombshell' bombing at box office isn't exactly a shock — here's why|last=Concha|first=Joe|work=The Hill|date=December 31, 2019|access-date=January 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104020100/https://thehill.com/opinion/criminal-justice/476377-bombshell-bombing-at-box-office-isnt-exactly-a-shock-heres-why|archive-date=January 4, 2020|url-status=live}} Forbes also noted that audiences likely do not want to "shell out movie theater money and time to watch a film about women being treated terribly by powerful men... especially (generally speaking) women".{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2019/12/22/box-office-grumpy-cats-earns-just-65m-as-bombshell-implodes/#1a59af816b1a|title=Box Office: Grumpy 'Cats' Earns Just $6.5M As 'Bombshell' Implodes|last=Mendelson|first=Scott|work=Forbes|date=December 31, 2019|access-date=January 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103121317/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2019/12/22/box-office-grumpy-cats-earns-just-65m-as-bombshell-implodes/#1a59af816b1a|archive-date=January 3, 2020|url-status=live}}
=Critical response=
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On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The website's critics consensus reads: "Bombshell benefits from a terrific cast and a worthy subject, but its impact is muffled by a frustrating inability to go deeper than the sensationalistic surface."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bombshell_2019|title=Bombshell (2019)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218204039/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bombshell_2019|archive-date=December 18, 2019|url-status=live}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 64 out of 100, based on reviews from 46 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.{{cite web|title=Bombshell Reviews|url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/bombshell|website=Metacritic|url-status=live|access-date=January 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114141044/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/bombshell|archive-date=January 14, 2020}} Audiences polled by PostTrak gave the film an average 4 out of 5 stars, with 70% saying they would definitely recommend it.
Variety{{'}}s Owen Gleiberman gave the film a positive review and wrote: "Bombshell is a scalding and powerful movie about what selling, in America, has become. The film is about selling sex, selling a candidate, selling yourself, selling the truth. And about how at Fox News all those things came together."{{cite web |date= December 9, 2019 |last= Gleiberman |first= Owen |author-link= Owen Gleiberman |title= 'Bombshell': Film Review |url= https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/bombshell-review-charlize-theron-nicole-kidman-megyn-kelly-1203426314/ |website= Variety |access-date= January 19, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191213220114/https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/bombshell-review-charlize-theron-nicole-kidman-megyn-kelly-1203426314/ |archive-date= December 13, 2019 |url-status= live }} Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "The actors throw themselves into their roles with terrific zeal, enlivened by the often blunt dialogue and the issues at stake."{{cite web |date=December 9, 2019 |first= Todd |last= McCarthy |authorlink= Todd McCarthy | title= 'Bombshell': Film Review |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/bombshell-review-1254240 |website= The Hollywood Reporter |access-date= January 19, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191218105144/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/bombshell-review-1254240 |archive-date= December 18, 2019 |url-status= live }} Kevin Maher of The Times gave the film 4/5 stars, describing it as "a timely satirical takedown that finds black humour and absurdist comedy in the subject of workplace sexual harassment while never losing sight of its devastating repercussions."{{Cite news|last=Maher|first=Kevin|date=January 16, 2020|title=Bombshell review — this post-Weinstein movie is explosive|language=en-GB|work=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/bombshell-review-this-post-weinstein-movie-is-explosive-cq26wxqrt|access-date=January 23, 2022|issn=0140-0460}} Ann Hornaday of The Washington Post gave the film 3/4 stars, calling it "an absorbing, well-crafted chronicle of the sexual harassment accusations that forced Fox News founding CEO Roger Ailes to resign in disgrace."{{Cite news|last=Hornaday|first=Ann|date=December 17, 2019|title=Review {{!}} 'Bombshell' takes aim at Fox News, and, with Theron and Kidman headlining, hits its target|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/bombshell-takes-aim-at-fox-news-and-with-theron-and-kidman-headlining-hits-its-target/2019/12/17/51b24c32-1ea0-11ea-87f7-f2e91143c60d_story.html|access-date=January 23, 2022|issn=0190-8286}}
Moira Macdonald of The Seattle Times gave the film 2/4 stars, writing that it "went wrong"; much of it due to Charles Randolph's "cutesy screenplay ... which unfolds at a cartoony pace more suitable to a dark comedy."{{Cite web |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2019/12/heres-how-critics-viewed-bombshell.html?page=all |title=Here's how critics viewed 'Bombshell' |last=Guziot |first=Betsey |date=December 20, 2019 |website=bizjournals.com |access-date=February 19, 2020}} Simran Hans of The Observer gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "What happened to these women is appalling; that the film takes such pains to sand down the politics of its central characters to make them more sympathetic undermines its entire thesis. Kelly's racist attitudes are smoothed over, while Carlson's homophobia is conveniently erased." Hans went on to argue that the film would have been more complete had it engaged with the "tension" between what Hans claimed were its protagonists' dual roles as perpetuators of sexism themselves, owing to their status as conservative icons as well as women harmed by a deeply sexist organization; and that by presenting the protagonists simply as sympathetic characters the film failed to make sufficient criticism of these women and their role as cogs in an organization which, in her view, espouses rightwing ideology.{{Cite web|last=Hans|first=Simran|date=January 18, 2020|title=Bombshell review – redacted notes on a scandal|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jan/18/bombshell-review-charlize-theron-nicole-kidman-margot-robbie|url-status=live|access-date=January 23, 2022|website=The Observer|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118185647/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jan/18/bombshell-review-charlize-theron-nicole-kidman-margot-robbie|archive-date=January 18, 2020}} Linda Holmes of NPR wrote: "It has a few strong moments, mostly courtesy of Robbie, but it's both underwhelming and overworked, inelegantly structured and missing something fundamental at the core."{{Cite news|last=Holmes|first=Linda|date=December 12, 2019|title='Bombshell' Imitates, But Fails To Enlighten|language=en|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/12/12/787112042/bombshell-imitates-but-fails-to-enlighten|access-date=January 23, 2022}} Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal said that the film was "a movie with a compelling story to tell turns into a blunt-force polemic that can't stop hammering its message home."{{Cite web|last=Morgenstern|first=Joe|date=December 11, 2019|title='Bombshell' Review: Explosive Potential Defused|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/bombshell-review-explosive-potential-defused-11576099354|url-status=live|access-date=January 23, 2022|website=The Wall Street Journal|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211232225/https://www.wsj.com/articles/bombshell-review-explosive-potential-defused-11576099354|archive-date=December 11, 2019}}
=Reactions from the depicted=
In January 2020, Kelly posted a 30-minute video on her YouTube channel of a roundtable discussion, including her, Huddy, Bakhtiar, Brunt and former Fox News producer Julie Zann and their reactions and opinions after viewing a screening of the film. The panel confirmed many details depicted, including having to do the "spin" to show off their bodies to Ailes in private; Zann tearfully noted that reality was "worse than that" and the filmmakers "let Roger off easy".{{Cite AV media |date= January 9, 2020 |first= Megyn |last=Kelly |authorlink=Megyn Kelly|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmSz7HqkI9s |title= Megyn Kelly Presents: A Response to "Bombshell" - Full Discussion |via= YouTube |access-date= January 12, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200113054047/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmSz7HqkI9s |archive-date= January 13, 2020 |url-status= live }}{{Cite web|last1=Evans|first1=Greg|date=January 10, 2020|title=Megyn Kelly, Other Fox News Accusers Dissect 'Bombshell' In New Video|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/megyn-kelly-bombshell-response-video-juliet-huddy-rudi-bakhtiar-julie-zann-1202826788/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111140020/https://deadline.com/2020/01/megyn-kelly-bombshell-response-video-juliet-huddy-rudi-bakhtiar-julie-zann-1202826788/|archive-date=January 11, 2020|access-date=January 12, 2020|website=Deadline Hollywood}} Kelly took particular issue with the scene where Robbie's character blames Kelly for not speaking up, calling the scene victim blaming and noting that the scene was "written by a man"; however, she also noted that the scene belongs in the film as a reminder to herself that she could have done more to help other victims. She also felt the film "took liberties" with her story and specifically denied that she told Murdoch the question she was going to ask Donald Trump in advance of the debate or that Ailes liked the question. "The notion that Roger liked the Donald Trump 'woman' question because it created controversy and a TV moment was not true. Roger did not like the question — at all — and was very angry at me for asking it. At one point [he] actually said to me, 'No more female empowerment stuff!'."{{Cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/movies/2020/01/09/megyn-kelly-reviews-bombshell-accuracy-charlize-theron/ |title=Megyn Kelly reveals what she thinks Bombshell got right — and wrong |last=Coggan |first=Devan |date=January 9, 2020 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |url-status=live |access-date=February 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111192308/https://ew.com/movies/2020/01/09/megyn-kelly-reviews-bombshell-accuracy-charlize-theron/ |archive-date=January 11, 2020 }}
Accolades
At the 92nd Academy Awards, it earned three nominations: Best Actress (Theron), Best Supporting Actress (Robbie), and Best Makeup and Hairstyling, winning the latter. The film also received two nominations at the 77th Golden Globe Awards (for Theron and Robbie), four at the 26th Screen Actors Guild Awards (Theron, Robbie, and Kidman, as well as Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture) and three at the 73rd British Academy Film Awards (Theron, Robbie, and Best Makeup and Hair). The theme song, "One Little Soldier", performed by Regina Spektor, won the 2020 "Best Song Written or Recorded for a Film" from the Guild of Music Supervisors Awards.
See also
- New Yorkers in journalism
- The Loudest Voice (2019) – A miniseries based on the life of Roger Ailes, which also depicts the events leading up to his departure from Fox News.
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.bombshell.movie/}}
- {{IMDb title|6394270}}
- {{TCMDb title|id=2209421}}
- {{AFI film|113229}}
{{Jay Roach}}
{{Charlize Theron}}
{{Producers Guild Stanley Kramer Award}}
{{Annapurna Pictures}}
Category:2010s English-language films
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Category:English-language biographical drama films
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Category:American feminist films
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Category:Drama films based on actual events
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Category:LGBTQ-related films based on actual events
Category:Films directed by Jay Roach
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Category:Films scored by Theodore Shapiro
Category:Films about television people
Category:Films about sexual harassment
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Category:Cultural depictions of Rupert Murdoch
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