The surprising legacy of Sofia Coppola's 'Marie Antoinette'

Sofia Coppola's 2006 film "Marie Antoinette," once famously booed at the Cannes Film Festival and criticized for its historical inaccuracies and modern soundtrack, has since achieved a significant cult status. Initially dismissed by critics, the movie is now lauded as a genre-defining work that paved the way for "vibes-based" period dramas, prioritizing mood over strict historical accuracy.

The film's unique visual style and sympathetic portrayal of the young queen have left a lasting impression, inspiring recent exhibitions. Notably, London's V&A museum showcased a collection related to Marie Antoinette, which curator Sarah Grant stated "wouldn't have been possible" without Coppola's film. Versailles has also opened its own exhibition focused on the movie.

This month marks the 20th anniversary of "Marie Antoinette," celebrated with a full theatrical re-release. Complementing this, two new media pieces immortalize the film's production: photographer Andrew Durham's curated book of 400 behind-the-scenes images, and Eleanor Coppola's documentary, "Making Marie Antoinette," completed by Sofia Coppola after her mother's passing in 2024.

Durham's photography captured striking juxtapositions of 18th-century attire with early 2000s technology, resonating with audiences online and becoming cultural shorthand. He noted the film's production, shot the year before the iPhone's release, acts as a time capsule reflecting a different era. Eleanor Coppola's documentary, filmed during 2020's quarantine, offers an intimate, mother's perspective on the production, highlighting Sofia's determination and the film's eventual success against initial odds.