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The Bling Ring

From Alfawiki
The Bling Ring
Company typeFilm
IndustryEntertainment
Founded2013; 13 years ago (2013)
FounderSofia Coppola (director and writer)
Headquarters
Los Angeles
,
United States
ProductsCrime film
ParentAmerican Zoetrope (executive production)

The Bling Ring is a 2013 crime film both written and directed by Sofia Coppola, showcasing a cast led by Emma Watson, Katie Chang, Israel Broussard, Taissa Farmiga, Claire Julien, Georgia Rock, and Leslie Mann. The movie draws inspiration from the 2010 Vanity Fair article titled "The Suspects Wore Louboutins" by Nancy Jo Sales, which detailed the activities of a real-life group known as the Bling Ring. The storyline centers on teenagers obsessed with celebrity culture who exploit the internet to monitor famous individuals' locations and subsequently burglarize their residences.

As a multinational production involving the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan, development began under Coppola’s direction in December 2011. The project was executive produced by Francis Ford Coppola through American Zoetrope, with Roman Coppola serving as producer. This film marked Sofia Coppola’s thematic shift toward examining consumerism, tabloid fascination, and reality television culture. Early 2012 casting emphasized selecting primarily young, relatively unknown actors. Filming occurred in Los Angeles from March to April 2012. Brian Reitzell supervised the soundtrack and co-composed the score alongside Daniel Lopatin.

The Bling Ring made its debut on May 16, 2013, in the Un Certain Regard category at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. It was released in a limited capacity in the U.S. by A24 on June 14, 2013, followed by a wider distribution one week later. Critics generally commended the ensemble cast and Coppola’s stylish directorial approach, with particular praise for Watson’s portrayal. Some reviewers expressed reservations regarding the film’s ambiguous moral stance. The production earned $20 million globally against an $8 million budget.

This film represents the final cinematographic work of Harris Savides, who passed away from brain cancer during post-production; the movie is dedicated to his memory.

Plot

Marc Hall, a reserved teenager, transfers to Indian Hills High School located in Agoura Hills, California, where he quickly befriends Rebecca Ahn, who is captivated by celebrity culture. At a social gathering, Rebecca persuades Marc to participate in stealing valuables from unlocked cars. As their friendship develops, Marc begins to regard Rebecca as a sister figure.

Upon mentioning an affluent acquaintance vacationing in Jamaica, Rebecca convinces Marc to break into the empty residence, where they steal cash, a handbag resembling that of her idol Lindsay Lohan, keys to a Porsche, and other valuables before escaping in the car. They indulge in an extravagant shopping spree. At a nightclub, Marc encounters Rebecca’s friends Chloe Tainer and sisters Nicki and Sam Moore; they spot celebrities such as Kirsten Dunst and Paris Hilton. Learning that Paris is away, the group breaks into her home and steals jewelry including a bracelet that Rebecca later displays proudly.

At Nicki’s insistence, they return to Paris's house with her, Sam, and Chloe to steal shoes, handbags, dresses, cash, and more jewelry. Chloe crashes while driving intoxicated and is sentenced to community service. Marc and Rebecca attempt a third burglary but narrowly avoid capture by security personnel. Subsequently, they target Audrina Patridge's residence using online research to time their break-in accurately and sell unwanted items at an outdoor market.

The group then burglarizes Megan Fox’s home with Nicki's younger sister Emily entering through a pet door. Nicki discovers a handgun; Sam jokingly threatens Marc before taking the weapon to her boyfriend Rob's house. An accidental gunshot occurs without injury. Later they rob the home of Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr; Marc finds seven of Orlando’s Rolex watches along with cash. Chloe assists in selling the watches through her nightclub manager friend Ricky. The teens return again to Paris's residence accompanied by Rob, who steals large quantities of jewelry.

A news broadcast showing security footage from Patridge's burglary alarms Marc; however, Rebecca urges further thefts at Rachel Bilson’s home and ultimately breaks into Lindsay Lohan's house herself. Rebecca eventually relocates to Las Vegas with her father, leaving some stolen items with Marc. Media attention escalates as the public dubs the criminals "The Bling Ring." Authorities identify members through security footage analysis, peer confessions regarding bragging rights, and stolen goods shared on social media platforms. Marc, Nicki, Chloe, Rebecca, Rob, and Ricky are apprehended; Sam escapes suspicion.

Feeling remorseful, Marc cooperates with law enforcement by providing information and naming Rebecca as the group's leader. A Vanity Fair interview captures Marc’s regret alongside his astonishment at the media attention he receives; meanwhile, Nicki deflects blame onto others while portraying herself as a devout humanitarian. The group receives jail sentences along with orders to pay millions in restitution. Marc is incarcerated among older inmates.

Later on a talk show, Nicki recounts her 30-day jail experience while revealing that Lindsay Lohan was imprisoned simultaneously. She promotes her website chronicling her personal "journey."

Cast

Cameos

Development

In December 2011, Sofia Coppola initiated the creation of a screenplay inspired by the Bling Ring burglaries, taking on both directing and producing responsibilities. Her father, Francis Ford Coppola, served as executive producer through his company American Zoetrope. By April 2012, funding was secured via NALA Films, with Roman Coppola joining the project as a producer.

Coppola characterized the adolescent offenders depicted in the film as "products of our growing reality TV culture." The female characters represented a departure from her earlier women-centered narratives; contrary to the introspective mood of Lost in Translation, The Bling Ring focuses on "girls trying on other people's stuff to find themselves." While adopting a more consumer-driven and flamboyant aesthetic, Coppola remarked it was "fun to indulge this style that's so different from my own," contrasting with her typical subtle visual approach.

Casting

The director selected predominantly young and relatively unknown performers—except for Emma Watson—whose ages closely aligned with those of the real-life figures to enhance authenticity. Watson joined the cast on February 29, 2012, followed by Taissa Farmiga on March 1. Early March brought additions of Leslie Mann and Israel Broussard to the principal cast. Claire Julien was added on March 16, with both Katie Chang and Georgia Rock confirmed shortly thereafter. Carlos Miranda was cast in a supporting role later that month. Cameo appearances by Kirsten Dunst and Paris Hilton were filmed in late March, while Gavin Rossdale completed his scenes around the same period.

Filming

Principal photography took place primarily throughout March and April 2012 in various locations across and near Los Angeles, California, including areas such as West Hollywood, Lynwood, and Venice in Los Angeles. Certain sequences were filmed inside the homes of celebrity victims and at the Century Regional Detention Facility located in Lynwood.

Soundtrack

The Bling Ring: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was overseen by Brian Reitzell, a frequent collaborator of director Sofia Coppola, and it was released on June 11, 2013, through Def Jam Records. This soundtrack showcases an eclectic blend of styles, including hip-hop/rap, krautrock, and electronic music. The musical score was crafted by Reitzell alongside Daniel Lopatin, who performs under the name Oneohtrix Point Never. Additionally, the title track comes from Phoenix, the band of Coppola’s husband, featured on their album Bankrupt!.

Reitzell worked intimately with Coppola to curate modern songs that complemented the film’s atmosphere. A notable contribution came from rapper Kanye West, who suggested incorporating Frank Ocean’s then-unreleased track "Super Rich Kids."

Tracklist

Release

In January 2013, A24 secured the domestic distribution rights for the film. It had its debut in the Un Certain Regard category at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival on May 16. Coppola regarded Cannes as an appropriate and prestigious platform for The Bling Ring. Additionally, the film served as the closing feature for the 39th Seattle International Film Festival on June 9, 2013.

Home media

The Bling Ring became available for digital purchase on September 6, 2013, with physical formats including DVD and Blu-ray released shortly after on September 17, 2013, through Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The special edition content features a behind-the-scenes documentary, a segment about the actual Bling Ring, and an exclusive tour of Paris Hilton’s residence, which was both a filming location and the site of the crimes depicted.

Box office

The movie opened in the United States across five theaters, generating $214,395 and achieving a per-theater average of $42,879—Coppola’s strongest opening average to date, surpassing that of Lost in Translation (2003). The following weekend saw an expansion to 650 venues, where it grossed $2 million with a per-theater average of $3,080. Ultimately, it amassed $5.8 million domestically and $20 million globally.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, 60% of 208 reviewers offered positive feedback, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The critical consensus acknowledged the film’s stylish and timely execution but critiqued Coppola for not delving deeply into the underlying motivations behind the characters’ criminal behavior. Metacritic assigned a score of 66 out of 100 based on 40 reviews, indicating generally favorable opinions. Visually, the film drew comparisons to Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers, another A24 Films release.

Owen Gleiberman from Entertainment Weekly commended the movie for its penetrating look into the mindset of the thieves while maintaining an objective stance. Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph praised its compelling visuals, performances, soundtrack, and Coppola’s morally ambiguous approach. In contrast, Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter felt that Coppola’s social critique lacked substantial depth.

Emma Watson’s role as Nicki Moore was met with widespread acclaim. Richard Roeper described her performance as "comedic gold," while Gleiberman highlighted her expanding acting range and capacity to enhance even simple dialogue. Cath Clarke from Time Out remarked that Watson’s sharp portrayal defied expectations beyond her previous Harry Potter roles. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone called her "sensational," effectively embodying her character’s narcissism. Even critics less enthusiastic about the film singled out Watson: Peter Howell from Toronto Star identified her as a standout amid a largely forgettable cast, and Joe Neumaier from New York Daily News lauded her believable depiction of a fame-obsessed youth.

Accolades

Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result
2013 Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard Award Sofia Coppola Template:Nom
Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards Dorothy Arzner Directors Award Template:Won
International Online Cinema Awards Best Supporting Actress Emma Watson Template:Nom
Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards Template:Nom
Village Voice Film Poll Template:Nom
2014 Golden Trailer Awards Best Independent TV Spot "Roster" Trailer (A24) Template:Nom
Best Teaser Poster The Bling Ring (Pathé) Template:Nom
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