‘Thelma & Louise‘ is now widely celebrated as one of Hollywood’s most iconic feminist films, but Geena Davis says that wasn’t the reaction it received when it first hit theaters.
Now, more than three decades later, the actress recalled how some critics attacked the movie, calling it “male bashing” and even warning that it promoted a “horrible message.”
Geena Davis Looks Back At The Backlash Against ‘Thelma & Louise’
Speaking on the Armchair Expert podcast, Davis revealed that the 1991 road drama sparked a surprising amount of criticism despite the praise it eventually earned. She remembered that several reviewers strongly objected to the film’s story and themes.
Related: ‘Thelma & Louise’ Alternate Endings Would’ve Totally Ruined Its Most Iconic Moment
“A lot of the reviewers had a problem with it,” Davis recalled. “A week after it came out, [Susan Sarandon] and I were on the cover of Time. But there were two editorials denouncing the movie about ‘how bad this is, this is a horrible idea.’ A lot of reviews were like, ‘This is male bashing.’”
The movie, written by Callie Khouri and directed by Ridley Scott, follows best friends Thelma and Louise as their road trip across the American South and Southwest takes a dramatic turn. After Thelma is brutally attacked by a man she meets at a bar, Louise shoots him to protect her friend while also acting out of anger over what happened.
Davis Says Critics Missed What The Movie Was Really About
The shocking incident sends the pair on the run and turns the film into a fresh take on the buddy movie, road trip adventure, and Western genres.
While some critics labeled it anti-men, Davis believes that description completely missed the point. Responding to the accusations, the Oscar winner pointed out, “There’s seven important male characters.”
In case you missed it: 10 Surprising Facts About ‘Thelma & Louise’ Most Fans Don’t Know
She also remembered another complaint that made the rounds after the movie’s release. According to Davis, critics believed the film carried the “horrible message” that “‘now the women have guns.’ So it was really frowned on. But it didn’t impact its success. People really liked it and it did well.”
Despite the early backlash, ‘Thelma & Louise‘ became both a commercial and critical success. The film earned nearly three times its production budget worldwide. It showed that audiences embraced it even while some reviewers questioned its themes.
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