Slumdog Millionaire - Successes

Slumdog Millionaire – Successes 


To decide whether Slumdog Millionaire is classed as a successful film, many aspects should be taken into account, not just Box Office draw.

At the Box Office, Slumdog took, in total, $377 million. This is an impressive figure when the budget, believed to be around $15 million, is taken into account, as it leaves the film gaining a profit of over $360 million.

However, this does not guarantee success, as those who viewed the film in cinemas – and indeed even now – will have one of three readings; the preferred, negotiated, and oppositional.
This encompasses two, possibly three points that are vital for a film’s success; the views of the audience (whether expectations were met/challenged), the taking of the preferred reading, and critical acclaim/praise.

In researching Slumdog’s successes, I found an example of each reading, either from film critics or ordinary audience members.
With the film being labelled as the summer’s “must see feel good” film, it is no surprise that the most common reading was the preferred one, which is one success for the film. However, Prairie Miller took the negotiated reading, saying that the film included a “rousing all-star Bollywood boogie finale and even a little romance tossed in, to send any problematic plot points on their way”, whilst Tony Green took an oppositional reading by saying that it “fails miserably” at being entertaining and that the “reality of the slums casts a shadow over the whole movie. It’s not uplifting, it just feels tawdry”

Despite some negative reviews and readings, which are expected of any film, the film was a resounding success with audience members and critics alike, winning the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2008 prior to its official release. This not only created a social buzz, something else that classes the film as a success, but also led the way when it came to awards.

In total, Slumdog won an amazing 122 awards out of 184 nominations, including 8 Oscars and 4 Golden Globes. This illustrated that the film could have a mainstream appeal, and was not just limited to the ‘niche’ market of many films that have successes at film festivals prior to their release. This ‘mainstream’ appeal also influenced the global impact that the film would have. Since Slumdog’s release, a spark in interest in India and Bollywood has developed, with more projects about or set in India being made in recent years.

The influence Slumdog had on the making of newer projects shows how far reaching the scope of its success was. Although the two main stars, Dev Patel and Freida Pinto, have been in few serious roles since the film’s release, director Danny Boyle has been hugely successful, having made the Hollywood hit 127 Hours, and even being the brains behind the huge opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games, seen around the world.
No one can say that this would not have happened without Slumdog, but it is likely that this would have been the case, as Slumdog was a rejuvenating piece for Boyle as a director, and opened him up to opportunities he may not have had otherwise.

What else is particularly striking about Slumdog’s success is that it was achieved without any real synergy; merchandise for the film was limited, with DVDs and CDs being the typical releases, whilst there was no sequel planned or promoted, meaning the film is a stand alone piece.

This shows the strength of the film and how it appears to have met audience expectations (of the romantic drama), whilst also reaching the target audience; one that was quite widespread, as the certificate (in the UK) was a 15, and the film would be suitable for, and was marketed in such a way that it appeals to, 15 and upwards.

In conclusion, Slumdog Millionaire was a huge success. Possibly most noticeable is the money it took at the box office; drawing around $377 million. However, the critical acclaim the film received should not be ignored. Garnering mostly positive reviews from critics, the film also received over 100 awards, including 8 Oscars, after its first taste of success at the Toronto Film Festival. This overwhelming praise from critics, other professionals and the audience alike shows just how popular the film was across each 'board', and also shows the social buzz and cultural impact that the film had, with a new interest in Bollywood being born out of Slumdog's partially traditional Bollywood approach. Danny Boyle as also tasted individual success after Slumdog, with his recent projects including 127 Hours and, iconically, the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics in London. It is hard to say that this definitely wouldn't have happened without Slumdog's success, but it is clear to see how Slumdog's success influenced later opportunities that came Boyle's way, and the same can be said for some of the actors, including Dev Patel.