Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles’ romance emerged as one of the most unexpected celebrity pairings in 2021. Their paths intertwined during the production of the movie Don’t Worry Darling, with Wilde serving as the director and Styles as one of the cast members. Numerous sources confirmed their romantic involvement after they were seen holding hands at his manager’s wedding in the early months of 2021.
Before her involvement with Harry Styles, Olivia Wilde had been in a committed long-term relationship with actor Jason Sudeikis, with whom she shares two children. However, in November 2020, Sudeikis and Wilde publicly announced their separation. Meanwhile, Styles, known for his high-profile dating history, had previously been romantically linked to several prominent figures, including Taylor Swift and Kendall Jenner.
WB Producers Weren’t Bothered By Olivia Wilde’s Romance
WB producers De Luca and Abdy gained firsthand insight into the evolving landscape of the film industry with the release of Don’t Worry Darling, one of their early major projects that had come under their stewardship. The sci-fi film debuted at the Venice Film Festival in August, where director Olivia Wilde found herself engulfed in negative publicity surrounding her relationship with Harry Styles, one of the film’s stars, and alleged conflicts with lead actress Florence Pugh.
“That was just a bad PR head wind,” De Luca said. “I found it a little sexist because if a male director had a romance with someone on his cast? It happens all the time; no one cares.”
Sighing with a knowing air, Abdy reflected, remarking, “It’s an age-old story.” And indeed, if there’s anyone well-versed in the intricacies of storytelling, it’s undoubtedly them.
The romantic involvement between Wilde and Harry Styles swiftly garnered a fervent spotlight from the media. Their every outing was captured by paparazzi lenses, and their every gesture was meticulously dissected by both fans and the press.
Did Bad PR Affect Don’t Worry Darling’s Performance
Don’t Worry Darling opened in theaters on September 23, 2022. Projections indicated a promising opening weekend, with estimations ranging from $17 to $20 million, and some even speculating a figure as high as $25 million. The film achieved a strong start, amassing $9.4 million on its first day, including a combined total of $3.1 million from preview screenings held on Monday and Thursday.
Ultimately, Don’t Worry Darling debuted at the top of the box office with $19.3 million, attracting an audience dominated by 66% female viewers, primarily falling within the 18-34 age range. Regrettably, the film’s performance during its opening weekend was regarded as underwhelming, falling short of the higher projections.
Several factors potentially played a role in this lackluster debut, including strong competition from other releases like The Many Saints of Newark and Halloween Kills. Additionally, the film faced the challenge of mixed reviews from critics, which may have impacted its overall appeal to audiences.
Don’t Worry Darling is available for streaming on HBO Max.
Source: Variety
