Elizabeth Banks Defies 'Can't Direct Men' with Liotta
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- Elizabeth Banks was told she couldn’t direct male actors, yet later directed Ray Liotta in the 2023 film “Cocaine Bear”.
- Cocaine Bear grossed $90 million worldwide in 2023, marking a box‑office success for Banks’ direction.
- Pitch Perfect 2 earned $287 million globally, one of the highest‑grossing films she directed.
- Charlie’s Angels made $73 million worldwide and was marketed as a “chick flick”, a framing Banks said pigeonholed her work.
- Peacock is promoting Banks’ new comedy series “The Miniature Wife”, which she discussed on “The Kelly Clarkson Show”.
Why it matters: Studios gain $90 M from Cocaine Bear, $287 M from Pitch Perfect 2 and $73 M from Charlie’s Angels, proving Banks’ direction drives box‑office returns and undermining the bias that women can’t direct men.
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