Werner Herzog’s Thoughts After Watching 30 Minutes of ‘Barbie’: “Could It Be That the World of ‘Barbie’ Is Sheer Hell?”
Werner Herzog may have not gotten through all of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, but the legendary filmmaker didn’t seem too keen on the part he did watch.
During a recent appearance on the show Piers Morgan: Uncensored, the host asked Herzog if he was Team Barbie or Team Oppenheimer — the two films that led the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon last summer.
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“I have not seen Oppenheimer yet, but I will do it,” the director admitted. “Barbie, I managed to see the first half hour, and I was curious. I wanted to watch it because I was curious. And I still don’t have an answer, but I have a suspicion. Could it be that the world of Barbie is sheer hell?”
He added, “For a movie ticket, as an audience, you can witness sheer hell, as close as it gets.”
Herzog didn’t expand on whether he was referring to the Margot Robbie-led movie directly or Barbie Land, filled with plastic dolls. The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to the filmmaker’s rep for clarification.
Morgan, who has previously publicly criticized the movie, seemed pleased with Herzog’s answer, saying, “Yes! Let me spare you the horror. I watched the whole thing, and it is hell. I completely concur with your initial assessment after half an hour.”
But Herzog noted that he doesn’t have a definitive opinion on Barbie yet, at least not until he watches the whole film himself.
“I don’t know yet,” the Aguirre, the Wrath of God director said. “Give me a moment to watch the whole thing. I have to watch the whole thing first.”
Though Gerwig’s Barbie was met with some criticism following its release in July, the movie went on to break numerous box office records, including being named the top-grossing title of 2023. The movie also scored eight Oscar nominations.
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