Look, we all know Madonna as the Queen of Pop. But when someone mentions "Madonna directed movies," eyebrows raise. Seriously? That Madonna? Yep. She didn't just dabble; she went full-on director mode for three feature films. Was it a vanity project? Did she actually know what she was doing? Let's cut through the noise and see what really happened.
Madonna's Director Hat: Why She Stepped Behind the Camera
Madonna always pushed boundaries. Music videos? She changed the game. So film directing felt like the next mountain. She told Vanity Fair once: "I don’t just want to perform, I need to create worlds." Ambitious? Absolutely. Maybe too ambitious. But you gotta respect the guts it takes. She studied under legends like Warren Beatty and Alan Parker during acting gigs, soaking it all up. Still... book smarts aren't street smarts in directing. Just saying.
Funny story: On the set of her second film, I heard she insisted on doing playback checks herself – like she would for a concert. Crew members apparently exchanged glances. Film sets don't work like stadium tours, Madge. Shows her hands-on approach, though. Misguided? Maybe. Committed? Totally.
Breaking Down Madonna's Feature Films as Director
Forget quick music videos. Madonna directed three full-length movies. Let's rip off the band-aid: they weren’t box office gold. Not even close. But were they interesting? Hell yes. They give you a raw look at what she cares about.
Filth and Wisdom (2008): The First Attempt
This one came out of nowhere. A low-budget indie ($6 million, peanuts in movie terms) shot in London. It follows three flatmates – a Ukrainian immigrant cross-dressing rocker (Eugene Hutz), a pharmacist chasing charity work in Africa, and a ballerina forced into dominatrix work. Yeah, it’s… a lot.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Budget | ~$6 million |
| Release | Premiered at Berlin Film Festival (2008), Limited theatrical release |
| Critical Reception | Ouch. Mostly negative. Rotten Tomatoes: 22%. Called "messy," "self-indulgent." |
| Madonna's Role | Directed, wrote the screenplay, co-produced |
| Where to Watch Now | Tubi (Free with ads), Amazon Prime Video (Rental/Purchase) |
The vibe? Chaotic energy. Like her early punk days translated to film. Handheld cameras, jump cuts, raw performances. Some moments genuinely crackle – especially Hutz’s wild charisma. But the plot? Thin as paper. It feels like a bunch of edgy ideas thrown at a wall. Worth a watch for curiosity? Sure. Expecting a polished gem? Nah. It screams "first-time director figuring it out."
W.E. (2011): The Passion Project
This is where Madonna went big. Double storylines! Historical drama! Love, betrayal, royalty! Inspired by Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII’s scandalous romance. Madonna co-wrote it and poured serious passion (and cash - budget ballooned to $36 million) into it.
What Worked?
- Looks stunning. Oscar-winning costume design (Arianne Phillips). Every frame drips luxury.
- Andrea Riseborough as Wallis Simpson? Flawless casting. She nails the allure and complexity.
- Cool editing tricks blending past (1930s) and present (1998). Shows technical growth.
What Tanked?
- Modern storyline (Abbie Cornish) feels pointless and whiny.
- Madonna's script gets slammed for historical whitewashing. Critics tore it apart.
- Box office bomb: $10 million worldwide? Oof.
My take? Visually, it's her best work. You see her director's eye developing seriously. But the writing... man, it undermines everything. The Golden Raspberry "Worst Director" nomination? Harsh, but you see why it happened. Passion alone isn't enough. Still, find it on STARZ or rent it ($3.99 HD on Amazon) just for the spectacle.
Swept Away (2002) - The Misstep?
Wait, didn't Guy Ritchie direct this infamous flop? Correct. But here's the insider bit: Madonna wielded significant creative control. Casting herself? Check. Changing scripts reportedly mid-shoot? Check. Co-producing? Check. While Ritchie’s name is on it, it’s widely seen as heavily influenced by Madonna’s vision. It’s crucial context for understanding her **directorial instincts**.
The film became a legendary disaster. A $10 million bomb earning back less than $600k? Worst Picture Razzie? Reviews calling it "excruciating"? It likely scared studios off her directing ambitions for years. Tough lesson learned? Probably.
Madonna's Directing Style: What Defines It?
Looking at her directed movies, patterns emerge. Forget subtlety. Her films scream her fixations:
- Outsiders & Rebels: Ukrainian punks, scandalous divorcees, domineering socialites – she loves characters breaking rules.
- Visual Spectacle: From gritty London flats to opulent palaces, she crafts striking images. Music video roots show (W.E.’s dance sequence is pure pop choreography).
- Provocation: Sexuality, power dynamics, societal norms – she pokes the bear. Sometimes effectively (Filth and Wisdom’s rawness), sometimes clumsily (W.E.’s tone-deaf moments).
- Music is King: Soundtracks aren't background; they drive scenes. Obscure tracks mixed with her own tunes.
The main critique? Story coherence often takes a backseat to style and theme. She struggles with narrative focus.
Madonna Directed Movies vs. Music Videos
Her music videos ("Like a Prayer," "Vogue," "Frozen") are masterclasses. So why didn't that translate to features?
| Music Videos | Feature Films |
|---|---|
| Short format (3-10 mins) | Long format (90+ mins - huge challenge!) |
| Concept-driven visuals | Needs sustained plot/character arcs |
| Absolute creative control (her song!) | Collaboration hell – writers, actors, studios pulling |
| Instant cultural impact | Slow burn reception (mostly negative) |
The jump is massive. Features demand endurance in storytelling she hasn't quite mastered. Controlling every second works in a 5-minute video, not a 2-hour film.
Where to Watch Madonna's Directed Films (Streaming Guide)
Alright, you're curious now. Where can you actually find these?
- Filth and Wisdom (2008): Free on Tubi (with ads). Rent/Buy: Amazon Prime Video ($2.99-$3.99), Apple TV ($3.99), YouTube ($3.99).
- W.E. (2011): Streaming on STARZ (subscription needed). Rent/Buy: Amazon Prime Video ($3.99 HD), Vudu ($2.99 SD), Google Play ($3.99).
- Swept Away (2002): While Ritchie-directed, it’s essential context. Rent/Buy: Amazon Prime Video ($3.79), Apple TV ($3.99), YouTube ($3.99).
Pro Tip: Check JustWatch.com for deals. Prices change.
Would She Direct Again? The Future
After W.E.'s beating? She went quiet on the film front. Focus shifted back to music and tours. But never say never with Madonna. She hinted in a 2023 interview about having "more stories to tell visually." Maybe a documentary format? Or a limited series? Features seem less likely given the past reception. But if she did... man, you know it would be an event. Probably controversial. Definitely stylish. Maybe this time she’d get a killer co-writer?
Madonna Directed Movies: Your Burning Questions Answered (FAQs)
Q: How many movies has Madonna actually directed?
A: Two official feature films: Filth and Wisdom (2008) and W.E. (2011). She also directed the short film Secret Project Revolution (2013) with Steven Klein. Don't forget her massive catalogue of self-directed music videos though!
Q: Did Madonna direct Evita or any other movies she starred in?
A: Nope. Alan Parker directed Evita (1996). Madonna acted in films like Desperately Seeking Susan, A League of Their Own, and Dick Tracy, but didn't direct them. Her directing efforts started later.
Q: Are Madonna's directed movies worth watching?
A: Worth it? Depends.
* Filth and Wisdom: Watch for raw energy, Eugene Hutz's performance, and curiosity about her first try. Don't expect polish.
* W.E.: Watch for stunning visuals, costumes, and Andrea Riseborough's performance. Fast-forward through the modern bits if you want.
If you're a Madonna completist or a film student studying auteur ambition vs. execution? Absolutely. Looking for light entertainment? Maybe skip.
Q: Why do Madonna directed movies get such bad reviews?
A: Several reasons blend together: Her massive fame sets expectations sky-high. Critics often seemed primed to pounce. More fairly: the scripts (Filth and Wisdom's thin plot, W.E.'s historical issues/weak modern story) were major weak points. Her ambition sometimes outstripped narrative control. The "pop star vanity project" tag is hard to shake, even if unfairly applied.
Q: Did Madonna win any awards for her directing?
A> Not for the features, no. W.E. won the Oscar for Best Costume Design (Arianne Phillips), but that's for the designer, not Madonna as director. She did win the Razzie for Worst Director for W.E. though. Filth and Wisdom got no major accolades. Her music videos, directed by her and others, scooped tons of MTV/VMA awards.
Q: What's Madonna's best movie as a director?
A: Objectively, W.E. shows the most technical skill and visual flair. Subjectively? Some fans prefer the messy punk heart of Filth and Wisdom. Neither is a masterpiece, but W.E. feels like the more accomplished piece of filmmaking, despite its script problems.
The Bottom Line on Madonna as Director
Madonna's journey directing movies is a fascinating case study. It wasn't a runaway success. Filth and Wisdom was messy debut energy. W.E. had visual chops but a script that sank it. The shadow of Swept Away loomed large. Critics weren't kind. Audiences stayed away. So... failure?
Not so fast. She took huge swings. She financed passion projects. She learned the brutal craft of feature directing – a world away from music videos or the stage. You see clear vision in the aesthetics and themes, even if execution faltered. That takes guts most pop stars wouldn't dream of.
Will she direct another movie? Who knows. Madonna thrives on reinvention. But her existing **directed movies** offer a raw, unfiltered look into her artistic obsessions beyond the pop icon facade. Flawed? Absolutely. Forgettable? Never. They demand to be seen, argued over, and understood on their own messy, ambitious terms. And hey, that's more interesting than playing it safe any day.
So, fire up Tubi for Filth and Wisdom, queue up W.E. on STARZ, and see what you think. Just leave your preconceptions at the door.
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