A Lesson From Ari Aster: If Your Movie Doesn't Have Haters, You Aren't Doing It Right

Whenever I see a new movie that gets everyone talking, it makes me excited. No matter if I liked it or hated it, I think art that is provocative and gets a response is the best.

One of the movies I've debated with friends and colleagues this year is Eddington, a movie I adored. I've read the good and bad reviews, agreed with points in both, and have just been so happy we've had a film that got people talking.

When you get a movie with good word of mouth that challenges you, it helps the box office, and it keeps this art form relevant.

But look, as someone who's made things and heard both kinds of reviews, if you're the person behind the movie, the bad ones hurt.

That's why I was so inspired to see Ari Aster on stage during a Q&A, reading a negative review of his movie.

Let's unpack it.

Ari Aster Reads a Bad Review of Eddington

One of the things I hear over and over in both sports and art is the idea that if people are not visceral reacting to your team or your works, you're probably playing it too safe.

Aster is not a guy who plays it safe at all. His movies are challenging and not for everyone. Even the best reviewed versions have some pretty off-putting ideas in them or challenging themes.

Eddington is a movie that feels designed in a lab to poke and prod. It's about COVID and America and violence and corporate greed and social media.

I have felt like every day since it came out, it's gotten more and more relevant.

And it's a movie that got a lot of responses. It felt like everyone had a hot take on it or wanted it to be reflective of different political beliefs. The arguments over the movie were delightful, and I engaged in many.

But seeing Aster embrace the conversation around his film was so inspiring. It's like he knew he was making something that would get people talking, and while you want everyone to embrace your idea, I think it must feel good to know your work got responses.

There are a lot of filmmakers who can take from this situation.

Lessons for Filmmakers

I am always encouraging people to write a noisy spec. Write something that gets people's attention and gets them talking. The only way to really succeed in Hollywood is to stand out from all the straightforward ideas and screenplays and make your imprint on the town.

So, if you're a filmmaker embarking on something new, think about what you believe. Think about what you care about. Think about what makes you uncomfortable. and start tackling these issues head-on with your art.

Chances are, other people will feel the same way.

While you want people to want to make your stuff, you only need one yes, even if it comes with 99 "nos."

I also think these provocative and noisy scripts are the stack busters that get read immediately when they're sent out in the world.

You don't have to offend, but you need to get an emotional response out of people reading it. That can be something political like Eddington, or it can be something like When Harry Met Sally, which poses men and women can't be friends.

The point is that you're writing something you believe in and something that can get other people talking and passing your work around, too.

Summing It Up

Art is supposed to elicit a response from its audience. Eddington did that, and no matter where you land, you can see that someone with beliefs and ideas made it. To me, that makes it stand out against some of the slop out there, and I find it very inspirational.

Let me know what you think in the comments.