WHAT WENT WRONG

Don't Worry Darling

January 12, 2026

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  • The hosts agree that the film *Don't Worry Darling* is structurally flawed, feeling like two different movies mashed together, despite having incredible production value and strong performances from actors like Florence Pugh and Olivia Wilde. 
  • The original script, which was on the 2019 Blacklist, was a clearer mystery/thriller, and the rewrite by Katie Silberman, while adding necessary female perspective, resulted in a confused tone that oscillates between a mystery and a 'vibes movie'. 
  • The casting of Harry Styles, who struggled with a consistent accent in the film, and the poorly written male roles (especially Chris Pine's character) are cited as significant detriments to the final product. 
  • The initial drama surrounding the film began publicly when Olivia Wilde was served custody papers on stage at Cinemacon, overshadowing the movie's promotion and validating early audience predictions that the behind-the-scenes drama would be more compelling than the film itself. 
  • The production of *Don't Worry Darling* was plagued by significant behind-the-scenes drama, including Shia LaBeouf's disputed exit, Olivia Wilde's relationship with Harry Styles, and subsequent tension with Florence Pugh, which overshadowed the film itself. 
  • The narrative surrounding Shia LaBeouf's departure shifted from a 'scheduling conflict' to Wilde claiming she fired him to protect Florence Pugh, a claim LaBeouf publicly refuted with evidence, including a video message from Wilde. 
  • Despite the on-set conflicts and confusing marketing that focused heavily on personal lives and sexual tension, the film's production design, costumes, and Florence Pugh's performance were widely praised as high points. 

Segments

Initial Film Impressions
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(00:01:50)
  • Key Takeaway: The film Don’t Worry Darling is considered a public collapse misfire comparable to Ishtar.
  • Summary: The hosts immediately frame Don’t Worry Darling as a significant cinematic misfire that suffered a public collapse. One host believes the film is half of a very good movie, while both agree the off-screen drama is far more compelling than the movie itself. They note the extensive public information available primarily concerns the onset drama rather than post-production issues.
Aesthetics vs. Story Failure
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(00:04:27)
  • Key Takeaway: The movie excels in production design and cinematography but fails due to confusing narrative choices and an inability to commit to being either a mystery or a ‘vibes movie’.
  • Summary: The production value, cinematography by Matthew Lebatik, and costume design are praised as incredible, and Florence Pugh is highlighted as a perfectly cast actress. However, the male casting, particularly Harry Styles, is deemed bafflingly poor, creating an ’emotional void.’ The story is criticized for having a strong first and last 30 minutes but an hour in the middle where the movie goes nowhere, failing to provide evidence for its major reveals.
Original Script Comparison
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(00:09:53)
  • Key Takeaway: The original script was a much clearer, self-aware mystery thriller that featured Alice escaping the simulation multiple times, unlike the final film.
  • Summary: The original script, which the hosts both read, was structured as a clear mystery/thriller where the protagonist actively tested boundaries and escaped the simulation mid-story. The rewrite by Katie Silberman, while adding a needed female perspective to the story originally written by two men, resulted in a confused structure. The original script’s clarity would have better supported the final reveals, such as Alice being a doctor.
Stylistic Choices and Pacing
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(00:12:57)
  • Key Takeaway: A major complaint is the film’s reliance on ’tell-don’t show,’ exemplified by confusing stylistic choices like referencing 1930s Busby Berkeley choreography.
  • Summary: The film suffers from being all ’tell-don’t show,’ relying on spooky moments that do not pay off or connect logically to the plot. Stylistic elements, such as the black-and-white dance numbers referencing Busby Berkeley, are noted as temporally strange since they predate the film’s 1950s aesthetic by about 25 years. Well-executed moments, like the empty eggs or the bathtub reflection, are too few and far between.
Character Casting Critique
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(00:14:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Chris Pine’s character, Frank, is deemed unnecessary and poorly written, serving as a poorly executed hybrid of Jordan Peterson/Andrew Tate archetypes.
  • Summary: Chris Pine’s character is considered totally unnecessary and unsupported by the script, despite Pine being a favorite actor of the host. The character is based on Jordan Peterson but feels out of place in the narrative structure. The relationship dynamic between Jack (Harry Styles) and Alice (Florence Pugh) is fundamentally undermined because the film fails to establish any appealing or consensual basis for their connection.
Olivia Wilde Background
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(00:22:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Olivia Wilde (born Olivia Jane Cockburn) comes from a highly accomplished, politically active journalistic family and chose directing for greater creative control after acting roles.
  • Summary: Wilde was born into a family of prominent journalists, including her father Andrew Cockburn and mother Leslie Cockburn, and her grandfather was the communist writer Claude Cockburn. She was babysat by Christopher Hitchens and chose acting over journalism, feeling frustrated by the lack of control afforded to actresses on set, citing an awakening while working on Tron.
Script Acquisition and Development
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(00:32:21)
  • Key Takeaway: The original script by the Van Dyke brothers landed on the 2019 Blacklist, leading to a bidding war won by New Line Cinema based on their promise of a theatrical release.
  • Summary: The original script was written on spec by Shane and Carrie Van Dyke, Dick Van Dyke’s grandsons, and was recognized on the Blacklist. Olivia Wilde brought on Booksmart collaborator Katie Silberman for a rewrite, resulting in Silberman receiving the screenwriting credit. Wilde aimed for a ‘Trojan horse movie’ that was entertaining on the surface but complex underneath, a goal New Line initially worried about due to the ambiguous ending.
Casting Shia LaBeouf and COVID Delay
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(00:41:08)
  • Key Takeaway: Shia LaBeouf, who had a decade-long public history of volatile behavior and substance abuse, was cast before the COVID-19 pandemic delayed production, allowing time for his replacement.
  • Summary: Shia LaBeouf’s casting was notable given his highly public struggles, including arrests and performance art pieces like wearing a paper bag that read ‘I am not famous anymore.’ His career had recently seen a renaissance with Honeyboy and The Peanut Butter Falcon. The COVID-19 lockdown provided a window for his exit due to a ‘scheduling conflict’ before filming began, which was seen as unsurprising given his history.
Harry Styles Replacement
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(00:52:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Harry Styles replaced Shia LaBeouf, having been Wilde’s first choice after seeing him in Dunkirk, and his availability opened up due to pandemic-related delays.
  • Summary: Harry Styles, a massive pop star with one acting credit in Dunkirk, stepped in to play Jack. Wilde claimed he was always her first choice, noting that other young actors were hesitant to take a supporting role opposite the lead actress. The production delay caused by COVID-19 made Styles, who was previously touring, suddenly available for the role.
Shia LaBeouf Exit Details
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(00:52:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Harry Styles replaced Shia LaBeouf in Don’t Worry Darling following LaBeouf’s disputed exit, which Wilde initially attributed to scheduling conflicts.
  • Summary: Shia LaBeouf’s departure was announced, with Harry Styles stepping in; this was initially believable due to COVID-related scheduling shifts. Styles, a major pop star, was reportedly Wilde’s first choice after seeing him in Dunkirk. Wilde noted that casting the role was difficult as many young male actors did not want to be second fiddle to the lead actress.
Cast and Production Influences
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(00:53:40)
  • Key Takeaway: The production design and costumes for Don’t Worry Darling were heavily influenced by mid-century aesthetics, including the photography of Slim Aarons.
  • Summary: Key cast members included Gemma Chan and Kiki Lane, with Sydney Chandler replacing Dakota Johnson. Wilde provided influences like The Truman Show and Inception before filming began in October 2020 on a tight $35 million budget and 45-day shoot. Costume designer Ariane Phillips subtly used anachronistic colors like cobalt blue and vivid fuchsia to indicate the simulated reality. Production design was informed by Slim Aarons’ photography, specifically his iconic ‘Poolside Gossip’ photo featuring the Kaufman Desert House, which served as Frank’s home.
Wilde’s Directing Stress and Sudeikis Split
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(00:59:13)
  • Key Takeaway: Olivia Wilde found balancing directing and acting while managing pandemic protocols extremely exhausting, coinciding with the public revelation of her split from Jason Sudeikis.
  • Summary: Wilde described the difficulty of juggling producer updates, directorial decisions, and acting duties, leading to extreme exhaustion. In November 2020, amidst filming shutdowns, People Magazine reported Wilde’s split from fiancé Jason Sudeikis. The relationship dynamic became public in January 2021 when Wilde and Styles were photographed holding hands, which the hosts deemed professionally inappropriate due to the director-actor power dynamic.
FKA Twigs Lawsuit and LaBeouf Firing Claim
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(01:01:28)
  • Key Takeaway: FKA Twigs filed a lawsuit against Shia LaBeouf for abuse allegations shortly before Variety reported Wilde fired LaBeouf for poor on-set behavior, leading to Wilde’s ’no assholes policy’ statement.
  • Summary: FKA Twiggs sued LaBeouf for sexual battery and assault in December 2020, prompting Wilde to publicly support Twigs on Instagram. Variety then reported Wilde fired LaBeouf due to clashes, introducing the ’no assholes policy.’ Wilde later claimed she chose Florence Pugh over LaBeouf after he issued an ultimatum, though LaBeouf provided texts suggesting he quit due to rehearsal issues.
Vogue Interview and Press Tour Issues
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(01:06:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Wilde’s early promotional framing of Don’t Worry Darling as a film about ‘female sexual pleasure’ and challenging ‘puritanical society’ seemed disconnected from the final product’s themes of continuous sexual assault within a simulation.
  • Summary: In late 2021, Wilde described the film as ’the feminine mystique on acid’ and focused on female pleasure, which the hosts found odd given the plot’s themes. The custody papers served to Wilde at Cinemacon in April 2022 further cemented the press narrative around her personal life. Florence Pugh subsequently limited her press appearances, citing commitments to Dune Part 2, though she was spotted in Venice shortly after claiming she couldn’t attend the press conference.
Venice Festival Chaos and Film Reception
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(01:23:04)
  • Key Takeaway: The Venice Film Festival premiere was defined by bizarre interactions, including the alleged ‘Spitgate’ incident involving Harry Styles and Chris Pine, and visible tension between Wilde and Pugh.
  • Summary: The festival provided endless tabloid fodder, highlighted by the video suggesting Harry Styles spat on Chris Pine, which Pine later dismissed as an inside joke. Pugh and Wilde avoided sitting together or making eye contact, despite the film receiving a four-to-five-minute standing ovation. A Vulture exposé claimed Pugh had a screaming match with Wilde over Styles’ behavior, though 40 crew members later denied this.
Final Verdict and Future Projects
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(01:30:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite the disastrous press cycle and confusing direction, the film’s visual elements—costumes and production design—were considered excellent, and Wilde is slated for a new, smaller film, Don’t Worry Darling.
  • Summary: The consensus was that Don’t Worry Darling was a depressing waste of talent, though Florence Pugh’s performance was consistently praised. The hosts agreed that the production design by Katie Byron and the costumes by Ariane Phillips were visually stunning and seamless. Wilde is moving on to direct The Invite, a smaller film premiering at Sundance, suggesting she is getting another chance after the mistakes made with this production.