Ocean's 8

Ocean's 8
Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	June 8, 2018; 8 years ago
Founder	Gary Ross, Olivia Milch (writers), Gary Ross (director)
Products	Heist comedy film
Parent	Warner Bros. Pictures

Ocean's 8 is a 2018 American heist comedy film directed by Gary Ross and co-written by Ross alongside Olivia Milch. Serving as a spin-off from Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's trilogy, it marks the fourth entry in the Ocean's series. The movie features a star-studded ensemble cast including Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina, Rihanna, and Helena Bonham Carter. The narrative follows Debbie Ocean, sister to Danny Ocean, who gathers a team to pull off a heist during New York City's prestigious annual event, the Met Gala.

The film debuted at Alice Tully Hall on June 5, 2018, before its wide release by Warner Bros. Pictures on June 8, 2018—coming eleven years after Ocean's Thirteen (2007). It garnered favorable critiques for its performances and direction and achieved commercial success, earning $298 million globally from a production budget of $70 million.

Plot

Debbie Ocean, recently released on parole and younger sibling of Danny Ocean, reunites with her former accomplice Lou Miller to orchestrate an ambitious robbery. Their objective is the Toussaint, an exquisite $150 million diamond necklace owned by Cartier, intended to be stolen during the upcoming Met Gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. To execute the plan, Debbie and Lou recruit a specialized crew: Rose Weil, a fashion designer burdened by IRS debts; Amita, an independent-minded jeweler; Nine Ball, an expert hacker; Constance, a skilled pickpocket; and Tammy, a suburban mom who deals in stolen goods.

The scheme depends on persuading actress Daphne Kluger, a Gala attendee, to wear the Toussaint necklace so the team can access it. Rose secures a position as Daphne’s stylist and collaborates with Amita to scan the necklace at Cartier in order to produce a cubic zirconia duplicate. Tammy obtains temporary employment at Vogue to gain guest list access, while Lou infiltrates the Gala posing as a nutritionist. Nine Ball engineers a brief security blind spot within the museum’s surveillance system. Seeking personal closure, Debbie manipulates Daphne into inviting Claude Becker—an art dealer whose betrayal previously led to Debbie’s imprisonment—as her date. Lou expresses concern about Debbie risking revenge motives but Debbie assures her it won’t compromise their plan.

During the Gala, Daphne becomes ill after consuming spiked soup and rushes to the restroom. While Cartier’s security guards remain stationed outside, Constance discreetly removes the necklace and hands it over to Amita, who divides it into smaller components. Tammy “discovers” the replica necklace just in time to divert suspicion. Amidst lockdown and security sweeps, the team covertly smuggles out genuine fragments of the necklace while Debbie plants one piece on Becker to implicate him.

Daphne reveals she has figured out the heist and proposes joining the crew in exchange for her silence. Debbie accepts, making Daphne the eighth member of their team. Insurance investigator John Frazier, who has prior dealings with the Oceans, suspects Debbie but her alibi backed by security footage protects her. Debbie cooperates by framing Becker; Daphne provides photographic evidence while actresses disguised as elderly socialites sell off the jewels with proceeds funneled into Becker’s bank account. Subsequently, Becker is arrested.

As celebrations commence, Lou discloses an additional twist: during lockdown she and The Amazing Yen—Danny Ocean’s former partner—stole a display of royal jewels loaned to the museum, substituting them with replicas crafted by Amita. These royal gems surpass the Toussaint’s value considerably, boosting their total haul.

With their shares secured, each member moves forward: Amita relocates to Paris, Rose launches her own store, Constance pursues a career as a YouTuber, Tammy expands her fencing business, Nine Ball opens a pool hall, Daphne embarks on directing films, and Lou sets off on a road trip. Meanwhile, Debbie visits Danny’s gravesite and raises a toast with a martini, satisfied that her brother would be proud.

The Eight

Sandra Bullock portrays Deborah "Debbie" Ocean, a skilled thief and sibling of Danny Ocean
Cate Blanchett plays Lou Miller, Debbie's accomplice
Anne Hathaway appears as Daphne Kluger, a well-known actress
Mindy Kaling takes on the role of Amita, a jewelry artisan
Sarah Paulson is Tammy, a suburban mother who acts as a fence
Awkwafina embodies Constance, a streetwise pickpocket and hustler
Rihanna features as Leslie "Nine Ball" Jordan, an expert hacker
Helena Bonham Carter plays Rose Weil, a fashion designer with a tarnished reputation

Supporting Roles

Richard Armitage portrays Claude Becker, an art dealer responsible for framing Debbie
James Corden appears as John Frazier, an investigator specializing in insurance fraud
Dakota Fanning is Penelope Stern, a celebrity rival to Daphne
Nathanya Alexander plays Veronica Jordan, sister to Nine Ball
Elliott Gould acts as Reuben Tishkoff, a wealthy casino owner linked to Danny
Gideon Glick takes the role of Kyle McCallister, director of security at the Met
Qin Shaobo portrays "The Amazing" Yen, an acrobat who previously worked with Danny
Marlo Thomas, Dana Ivey, Mary Louise Wilson, and Elizabeth Ashley appear as veteran actresses supporting the team

A variety of celebrities make guest appearances as themselves, including Anna Wintour, Katie Holmes, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, Kim Kardashian, Adriana Lima, and Kylie Jenner, among others.

Matt Damon and Carl Reiner returned as Linus Caldwell and Saul Bloom respectively; however, their scenes were ultimately removed from the final cut.

Development

Following the 2007 release of Ocean's Thirteen, director Steven Soderbergh confirmed there would be no continuation with Ocean's Fourteen, as lead actor George Clooney wished to conclude the trilogy on a high note. In December 2008, Soderbergh reiterated that a fourth installment was improbable, partly due to the passing of key cast member Bernie Mac. Nevertheless, in October 2015, it was announced that a female-led spin-off would be produced, starring Sandra Bullock. Initial reports hinted that actresses such as Helena Bonham Carter, Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kaling, and Elizabeth Banks might join; however, Banks did not participate.

By August 2016, the principal cast was secured with Bullock, Blanchett, Bonham Carter, and Kaling confirmed. Subsequently, additions included Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Awkwafina, and Sarah Paulson.

Casting

Initially cast were Dakota Fanning and Damian Lewis, with Lewis later replaced by Richard Armitage due to scheduling issues. Fanning’s involvement was officially announced in March 2017. Additionally, Richard Robichaux joined the ensemble in November 2016.

Matt Damon, known for his role as Linus Caldwell in the Ocean's series, filmed a cameo for this film which was ultimately excluded from the theatrical release. In January 2017, James Corden was added to portray an insurance investigator connected to the heist.

The movie featured numerous celebrities playing themselves during scenes set at the Met Gala. These included notable figures such as Anna Wintour, designers like Alexander Wang and Zac Posen, personalities including Derek Blasberg and Lauren Santo Domingo, as well as celebrities like Kim Kardashian, sisters Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner, along with Katie Holmes, Olivia Munn, Hailey Bieber, and singer Zayn Malik.

Filming

Principal photography commenced on October 25, 2016, in New York City, with various scenes shot throughout Manhattan.<ref> By March 2017, Cate Blanchett confirmed that the main filming phase had wrapped.<ref> Nonetheless, additional shooting took place in May 2017 on Staten Island at the former Arthur Kill Correctional Facility, a location recently acquired by Broadway Stages.<ref>

Box office

Ocean's 8 had its premiere at Alice Tully Hall in New York City on June 5, 2018, followed by a theatrical release across North America on June 8, 2018, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.<ref> The movie earned $140.2 million domestically and $157.5 million internationally, amassing a global total of $297.7 million against a production budget of $70 million.<ref>

In the North American market, Ocean's 8 debuted alongside Hotel Artemis and Hereditary, with forecasts estimating earnings between $30 million and $45 million from 4,145 theaters. Industry tracking likened its performance potential to other female-led comedies such as The Heat, Spy, and Girls Trip. The film generated $4 million during Thursday night previews and $15.8 million on its initial full day, ultimately opening with $41.6 million and drawing a predominantly female audience of 69%.<ref> In its second weekend, it secured $19 million, trailing behind Incredibles 2, and dropped to $11.6 million in the third weekend, placing third behind Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Incredibles 2.<ref>

Critical response

Overall, Ocean's 8 was met with generally favorable reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 69% approval rating based on 360 critiques, with an average score of 6.2/10. The site's consensus reads: "While not as seamless as its predecessors, Ocean's 8 offers sufficient cast chemistry and style to provide an enjoyable caper for audiences seeking light entertainment." On Metacritic, it achieved a weighted average score of 61 out of 100 from 50 critics, signifying "generally favorable reviews". Audience polls by CinemaScore awarded it a "B+," matching the ratings of both Ocean's Eleven (2001) and Ocean's Thirteen (2007).

The ensemble cast and visual style received commendations, although some reviewers pointed out weaknesses in the storyline. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone rated it three out of four stars, describing it as "a heist film that looks stunning, maintains engaging twists, and moves with an irresistible comedic rhythm." Alonso Duralde from TheWrap called it "slick, charming, and funny," but noted it "never fully accelerates into high gear." Variety's critic Owen Gleiberman referred to it as "a casually winning heist movie," praising Anne Hathaway while critiquing the limited development of roles for Cate Blanchett and Sarah Paulson.

Ty Burr of The Boston Globe highlighted Blanchett’s portrayal positively, whereas Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune felt the film lacked ensemble synergy, stating: "It’s smooth and competent but doesn’t deliver much fun." Richard Roeper from the Chicago Sun-Times appreciated the chemistry among the cast but remarked on the absence of a compelling antagonist or significant stakes. Meanwhile, Manohla Dargis of The New York Times expressed dissatisfaction with romantic subplots in a female-driven heist narrative, labeling portions as "unnecessary filler."

Actor's response

Following the movie’s release, Mindy Kaling suggested that some negative critiques might stem from limited diversity among film reviewers, implying that many may not relate similarly to female-led projects. However, several journalists pointed out that unfavorable reviews also originated from female critics such as Emily Yoshida and Stephanie Zacharek. Commentator Justin Chang acknowledged the importance of diversity in criticism but emphasized that diverse viewpoints are more critical than identity alone. Additionally, Donald Clarke observed that Ocean's 8 maintained a "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes and scored higher than Ocean's Twelve (2004).

Screenwriter Olivia Milch spoke about the heightened pressure placed on female-led films to succeed due to their scarcity, noting that this increases expectations and risks concerning future opportunities.

Accolades

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result
Teen Choice Awards	August 12, 2018	Choice Summer Movie	Ocean's 8	Template:Nom
Teen Choice Awards	August 12, 2018	Choice Summer Movie Star: Female	Sandra Bullock	Template:Nom
People's Choice Awards	November 11, 2018	The Action Movie of 2018	Ocean's 8	Template:Nom
		Female Movie Star	Sandra Bullock	Template:Nom
		Female Movie Star	Anne Hathaway	Template:Nom
Costume Designers Guild	February 19, 2019	Excellence in Contemporary Film	Sarah Edwards	Template:Nom
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards	March 23, 2019	Favorite Movie Actress	Rihanna	Template:Nom

Home media

Distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Ocean's 8 became available on Digital HD starting August 21, 2018. Physical formats including DVD, Blu-ray, and a 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack were released on September 11, 2018. Upon its physical launch, the title debuted at number one on the NPD VideoScan First Alert chart for the week ending September 15, reflecting robust home video sales.

External links