DC movies haven’t always been successful, and some have proven to be worse than others, and no series knows that more than the 2004 movie Catwoman starring Halle Berry.
The star-studded female-led action failed to grasp audiences, and was a let-down for many who finally got to see an anti-hero DC fans know all too well on screen, but in her own solo movie. 2004’s Catwoman starred Berry as Patience Phillips as she discovers a corporate conspiracy and washes up on an island where she’s resurrected and provided with cat-like powers, which she plans on using to take revenge on those who wronged her, but her new beau, Tom Lone (played by Benjamin Bratt), is hot on her tail.
Catwoman is finally receiving some accolades 22 years after its release, as it has become a streaming hit on Netflix around the world. The DC movie is in the top 10 on Netflix’s top movie charts in 21 countries around the world, as well as being number one in three of the countries. The movie wasn’t received well and is considered a box office flop by many, only grossing $82 million against a $100 million budget.
The DC movie is also considered a flop in terms of critics and audience reviews, with an 8% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and an 18% rating from the general audience. Some reviews state the movie is “painful“, “bereft of excitement“, and “soulless“. However, it isn’t Berry’s performance receiving the harsh critique but simply the film as a whole. Berry did win a Razzie for Worst Actress, but has since stated she unfairly carried the blame for its failure:
“I didn’t want to be casual about it, but I went and collected that Razzie, laughed at myself, and kept it moving. It didn’t derail me because I’ve fought as a Black woman my whole life. A little bad publicity about a movie? I didn’t love it, but it wasn’t going to stop my world or derail me from doing what I love to do.”
The movie’s director, Pitof (known for Vidocq), has also spoken publicly about Catwoman, stating that the movie was “ahead of its time” in an interview with EW. “She was the first Black female superhero [of the era], so people weren’t ready for that kind of movie. Now, after some key movements, we have more diversity and inclusiveness. Younger audiences see things differently and are much more open. Back then, comic-book fans hated the movie because the film didn’t involve Batman; with a new generation, it’s not a problem,” stated the director.
Catwoman is available to stream on Netflix now.
- Release Date
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July 22, 2004
- Runtime
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104 minutes
- Director
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Pitof
- Writers
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John Rogers
- Producers
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Denise Di Novi, Edward McDonnell, Alison Greenspan
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Patience Phillips / Catwoman
