This 91% Rotten Tomatoes World Wide Phenomenon Would Not Have Been Made Today

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In 2008, Danny Boyle released a movie that won an Oscar and became a massive crowd favorite, but he feels that Slumdog Millionaire would never work today if made like it was when he directed it. Danny Boyle got his start by directing movies that meant a lot to him, based on his growing up in England. He made films like Shallow Grave and Trainspotting, two crime films that had a strong grasp on the society in which he lived. However, he won his first Oscar by making a film based on a completely different society.

In 2008, Boyle released Slumdog Millionaire, and it was his greatest success. The Bollywood drama earned 10 Oscar nominations and won eight of them. The film won Best Picture and Boyle won Best Director at the Oscars that year, and it was a crowd favorite as well, making $378.4 million at the box office on a $15 million budget. Dev Patel stars as a young man who grew up in the slums of Mumbai and went on a televised game show attempting to get the attention of his childhood sweetheart.

Danny Boyle Believes Slumdog Millionaire Wouldn’t Work In 2025

Danny Boyle Believes An Indian Should Have Made The Film

Danny Boyle was born and raised in England, so it seems a little strange that the movie that won him an Oscar was based on Indian culture. When Boyle set out to make Slumdog Millionaire, he wanted to take a small crew with him and then hire a staff almost entirely consisting of Indian cast, crew, and production workers. His idea was to make it as much an Indian film as he could, but there was one big problem. As the director, Boyle made the movie based on his view of Indian culture.

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In a recent interview, Boyle said there was no way this movie would get made today like it was in 2008. Boyle said that he wouldn’t make it anyway, because there should be an Indian filmmaker behind the camera making the decisions to ensure the film remained culturally respectful.

“Yeah, we wouldn’t be able to make that now. And that’s how it should be. It’s time to reflect on all that. We have to look at the cultural baggage we carry and the mark that we’ve left on the world.”

There was also another problem other than cultural appropriation. The film received harsh criticism from audiences in India. Many people felt the depiction of poverty in India was exploited in the film, and other critics felt that the movie disrespected the people of India’s sense of self-worth. This was made worse since it was an English filmmaker making the movie, and not someone with a strong grasp of the culture.

Slumdog Millionaire Should Never Be Remade

The Movie Has Too Much Baggage

Slumdog Millionaire Dave Patel playing on a game show

There is a chance that Slumdog Millionaire could work if remade today. The film plays similarly to other Bollywood movies when it comes to the music and inspirational story, and there have been many Indian films that accomplished these themes so much better. However, several problems with the film make it problematic to remake it today.

Frieda Pinto's Latika stands on the street smiling in Slumdog Millionaire

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The biggest problem lies in the depiction of India’s poverty situation, which was a very important part of Jamal’s story growing up. Yes, an Indian filmmaker could do it respectfully, but there is no need to. There is even a sequel that is possibly on the way, and that doesn’t seem necessary either. The sequel rights were bought in 2024, and the film, based on Q+A by Vikas Swarup, could be getting a follow-up all these years later, albeit without Danny Boyle as the director.

With Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle directed a fantastic movie with a touching story, and despite its flaws, it remains a wonderful film to go back and watch today. There are so many stories that Indian filmmakers can tell without regurgitating one that has already won an Oscar.