Grimes has spoken out in defense of Francis Ford Coppola’s divisive new film Megalopolis, sharing her thoughts on the film’s intricate themes and visionary approach.
Released in theaters on September 27, Megalopolis is set in an alternate version of present-day America. It stars Adam Driver as Cesar Catilina, a futuristic architect who can pause time, and Giancarlo Esposito as Franklyn Cicero, the conservative mayor of New Rome. Despite its star power and bold premise, the film has struggled to connect with audiences, earning it the nickname "Megaflopolis" online and facing a rough reception at Cannes.
But Grimes has a different take. In a series of posts on social media, the artist praised the film’s depth and complexity. “I know people had issues with Megalopolis, but I loved it,” she wrote. She went on to describe the central conflict between Cesar Catilina and Cicero as a necessary debate between creativity and order, likening it to Greek tragedies and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet.
Grimes acknowledged that the film might be “too dense to be populist” but praised Coppola for creating something that pushes boundaries. She noted that while the characters could have been more flawed, the overall concept left her “melting.”
Grimes isn’t alone in embracing the film’s ambition, but Megalopolis faces an uphill battle at the box office. With a budget of $120 million, it earned just $4 million in its opening weekend in the US. However, for fans like Grimes, the film’s artistic risks are what make it stand out in today’s cinema landscape.
Grimes recently addressed the reignited feud with Poppy, a conflict that has simmered for years. The tension between the two musicians dates back to 2018, when they worked together on the track “Play Destroy” from Poppy’s album Am I A Girl?. At the time, Poppy publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the collaboration, saying she “could have gone without” the complications that allegedly arose while working with Grimes.
Despite the ongoing friction, Grimes remains focused on her music and collaborations. She recently teamed up with K-pop sensation aespa for a remix of their track “Supernova” and continues to push creative boundaries across multiple genres.
Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer and Franco Origlia/Getty Images
