A 2022 period drama starring Margot Robbie and Tobey Maguire is set to depart Netflix's streaming library next month. The R-rated film, titled Babylon, was written and directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Damien Chazelle, renowned for modern classics such as La La Land, Whiplash, and First Man. According to streaming tracking service What's on Netflix, Babylon will be removed from the catalog on Sunday, June 7, 2026.
Released in December 2022 by Paramount Pictures, Babylon is an epic tale that paints a vivid picture of Hollywood in the late 1920s, when the industry underwent a seismic shift from silent films to sound cinema. The narrative weaves together the stories of three central characters: Manny Torres, an ambitious immigrant who dreams of making it in the movie business; Nellie LaRoy, a self-destructive and wildly talented aspiring actress from New Jersey; and Jack Conrad, a matinee idol of the silent era who struggles to adapt to the new world of talkies. Their intersecting journeys showcase the exhilarating highs and devastating lows of a rapidly changing industry.
Plot Overview and Historical Context
The film opens in 1926, capturing the debauchery and creative chaos of a lavish Hollywood party. Manny, played by Diego Calva, works as a fixer for a film studio and becomes infatuated with Nellie (Margot Robbie), a free-spirited woman who crashes the party and quickly gets discovered. Her raw talent and charisma propel her to stardom, but her addiction to partying and scandalous behavior threaten to derail her career. Meanwhile, Jack Conrad (Brad Pitt) is a megastar of the silent screen, adored by millions, but his deep voice and trained delivery are met with ridicule once sound films arrive. The film also follows Lady Fay Zhu (Li Jun Li), a lesbian cabaret performer who writes intertitles, and Sidney Palmer (Jovan Adepo), a Black trumpeter who finds fame but faces racism. Tobey Maguire plays James, a menacing underworld figure who embodies the dark side of Hollywood's excess.
Chazelle’s script draws heavily on real Hollywood history. The transition to sound, known as the “talkie revolution,” began with The Jazz Singer in 1927. Many silent film stars—such as John Gilbert, who had a high-pitched voice—saw their careers collapse. Others, like Greta Garbo and Charlie Chaplin (who resisted until 1936), adapted. The film also references the era’s racism and homophobia, as well as the rampant drug and alcohol abuse. Chazelle has described Babylon as a “love letter to Hollywood” that does not shy away from its ugly underbelly.
Cast and Performances
The ensemble cast of Babylon is one of its strongest assets. Margot Robbie delivers a fearless performance as Nellie LaRoy, a character inspired by real-life silent film stars like Clara Bow and Jeanne Eagels. Robbie throws herself into the role, capturing both the vibrant energy and the tragic vulnerability of a woman consumed by fame. Brad Pitt, as Jack Conrad, channels the charm and fading relevance of matinee idols such as John Gilbert. His performance is nuanced, showing a man wrestling with irrelevance while clinging to dignity. Diego Calva, in his first major English-language film, portrays Manny Torres with earnestness and depth, serving as the audience’s anchor in the chaos. Tobey Maguire, in a supporting role as James, transforms into a sleazy, reptilian gangster—a departure from his friendly Spider-Man persona. Jean Smart brings gravitas as gossip columnist Elinor St. John, a composite of figures like Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper. Other notable cast members include P. J. Byrne, Lukas Haas, Olivia Wilde, Spike Jonze, and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Chazelle’s direction calls for high-energy, often chaotic scenes—including an infamous elephant defecation shot and a massive orgy sequence—that showcase his ambition. The cinematography by Linus Sandgren, who won an Oscar for La La Land, is lush and kinetic. The score, composed by Justin Hurwitz (also an Oscar winner for La La Land), merges jazz with classical elements and features a haunting theme that underscores the characters’ dreams and disappointments. The film runs 189 minutes, making it one of the longest Hollywood dramas released in recent years.
Critical Reception
Upon its release, Babylon divided critics and audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 57% approval rating based on over 350 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The critics’ consensus reads: “Babylon’s decadent sprawl will be too much for some, but for those who surrender to its excesses, it offers a beguilingly ambitious look at Hollywood’s golden age.” The audience score is slightly lower at 52%, suggesting that general viewers found it uneven or overly long. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 61 out of 100 from 63 critics, indicating “generally favorable” reviews. The user score on Metacritic stands at 7.0 out of 10.
Some critics praised the film’s audacity, scale, and performances. The New York Times’ A.O. Scott called it “a fever dream of cinematic history” and highlighted Robbie’s performance. The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw gave it 4 out of 5 stars, describing it as “a glorious, messy epic.” Other reviewers, however, found the film bloated and self-indulgent. Variety’s Owen Gleiberman wrote that “Chazelle has made a movie that is too much of everything, yet not enough of the one thing a movie needs to be: involving.” The split reception mirrors the fate of other ambitious period epics like Heaven’s Gate or Apocalypse Now.
Box Office Performance
Financially, Babylon was a major disappointment. Produced on a reported budget of $80 million (some estimates go higher due to reshoots and marketing), the film grossed only $65.2 million worldwide. Of that, roughly $25 million came from domestic (U.S. and Canada) box office, with the remaining $40 million from international markets. The film opened during the crowded Christmas 2022 season, competing with Avatar: The Way of Water, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and The Fabelmans. Its R-rating, three-hour runtime, and niche subject matter limited its appeal. Additionally, poor word-of-mouth after a middling critical response hurt its legs. Paramount reportedly lost tens of millions on the film, marking one of the most notable bombs of 2022.
The film’s underperformance was particularly stinging given the high expectations for Damien Chazelle following the success of La La Land (which grossed $447 million on a $30 million budget). Chazelle had earned a reputation as a young auteur, winning the Best Director Oscar at age 32. Babylon was his passion project, and he spent years researching and writing it. The financial failure led to speculation about his future projects, though Chazelle has since moved on to develop a new film.
Awards and Nominations
Despite its box office struggles, Babylon received some recognition from award bodies. At the 95th Academy Awards (2023), the film earned three nominations: Best Original Score (Justin Hurwitz), Best Production Design (Florencia Martin and Anthony Carlino), and Best Costume Design (Mary Zophres). It did not win any Oscars, but the nominations themselves were a credit to the film’s technical achievements. Hurwitz’s score, in particular, was praised and later released as a standalone soundtrack. The film also received nominations from the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards, and various guilds for its production design, cinematography, and score.
Why It’s Leaving Netflix and What It Means for Subscribers
Netflix periodically rotates its library, and Babylon was likely acquired through a licensing deal with Paramount that expires on June 7, 2026. After that date, the film may become available on other streaming platforms, such as Paramount+ (the studio’s own service) or via digital rental/purchase. For Netflix subscribers who have not yet seen Babylon, the next few weeks are the last chance to stream it as part of their subscription. The film is also available for purchase on Blu-ray and DVD, and on digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, and Vudu.
Babylon remains a fascinating entry in Damien Chazelle’s filmography—a big, messy, passionate ode to cinema itself. While it may not have resonated with mainstream audiences, its ambition and craft are undeniable. For cinephiles interested in the history of Hollywood, the film offers a visually stunning and emotionally chaotic portrait of an era when the movies learned to talk. Whether it will be rediscovered as a cult classic in years to come remains to be seen, but for now, Netflix users have a brief window to experience it.
The film’s departure also highlights the transient nature of streaming rights. As the streaming wars intensify, libraries shrink and titles move between services. So if you’ve been meaning to watch Margot Robbie channel Clara Bow or see Tobey Maguire play a sinister gangster, mark your calendar: Babylon says goodbye to Netflix on June 7, 2026.
Source: AOL.com News