"A flop recognizes another flop": Internet reacts as Madonna says her favorite movie of the year is 'Emilia Perez'

Pop singer Madonna found herself in the news recently when she announced Emilia Pérez as her film of the year. The musician had seen the film at the premiere during the New York Film Festival on 1st October 2024 and subsequently proceeded to social media to praise it as a "masterpiece" with "unbelievable performances," as reported by AOL. The pronouncement brought on a storm of mixed responses to social media.

Following the thumbs up from Madonna, social media reacted with

"A flop recognises another flop" expressing disbelief at her choice.

The film, which was given a dubious reception, has failed commercially based on its pretentious plot and star-studded cast.

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Social Media reactions to Madonna's response

Madonna's endorsement of the film generated a flurry of online responses. Most users cited her recent music and career path to challenge her approval, resulting in the popular meme "A flop acknowledges another flop." Others, however, came to the defense of both Madonna and the film, contending that public opinion should not be allowed to determine artistic appreciation.

"…she’s like the best selling female artist of all time" a fan commented

Another said, "Madonna and flop in the same sentence??? Crazy"

One fan exclaimed, "Mind you her and Ariana are like mother and daughter I hate that movie too but girl don’t be stupid"

This remark talked about the strong connection between Madonna and Ariana Grande, likening them to a mother-daughter pair. As much as the user dislikes Emilia Pérez, so does he caution against uneducative rhetoric. It captures the affective and typically polarizing character of celebrity endorsement disputes on the Internet.

But another defender comes to the rescue of Madonna from the charge of being a "flop," stating that she is among the greatest pop acts ever.

A fan said,"Flop? You realize she's one of the most successful pop stars of all time right"

"Omg you didn't just say that to a LEGEND" said yet another

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What is Emilia Pérez About?

Emilia Pérez is a Spanish musical drama film directed by Jacques Audiard. The film is the story of a Mexican cartel leader who undergoes a sex-change operation to start a new life. Emilia Pérez is crime, drama, and music mixed in a strange tale, with a star-studded cast including Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Edgar Ramírez.

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Box Office Performance and Critical Reception

Though Emilia Pérez took the Best Film honor at the 2024 European Film Awards, its box office performance in Mexico was disappointing. The film opened with revenues of around 17 million pesos (over $800,000) but experienced a steep weekly drop of over 60%. This resulted in it being labeled as a box office failure.

Critics were polarized on the film. While others lauded its unconventional storytelling and acting, some denounced its representation of Mexican culture and the trans experience. Others believed the film reveled in eurocentric stereotypes and fell short in presenting serious topics like narco-violence and disappearances.

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Controversies Involving the Film

Apart from its reception being mixed, Emilia Pérez was controversial as well. The main actress, Karla Sofía Gascón, was criticized due to past racist remarks on social media. The way the film approached trans identity in crime was also controversial, with some people believing it did not handle the subject matter sensitively.

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Madonna's support for Emilia Pérez has caused internet controversy about both the movie and Madonna's artistic credibility. While the film encountered box office failures and scandals, it was also positively received by industry experts. The internet response is a reflection of thea ongoing gap between celebrity power and popular opinion during the age of the internet.

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