Scarlett Johansson was not initially a fan of Tom Cruise’s 1999 film Eyes Wide Shut until she watched it three times at the theater.

Scarlett Johansson’s perspective on filmmaking has evolved through the years after she has done a variety of projects ranging from heavy drama to superheroes to romantic comedy. Because of this, she realized she wanted extreme reactions from fans rather than lukewarm responses, at least when it comes to the appreciation of her movies.

Credits: Scarlett Johansson in Vicky Cristina Barcelona / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

It was the same experience she had when she saw one of Tom Cruise’s famed films back in the day. Apparently, Johansson didn’t like it — she hated it, but she also watched it three times at the theater.

Why Scarlett Johansson Despised Tom Cruise’s Eyes Wide Shut

While speaking with The Guardian, actress Scarlett Johansson shared her experience watching Tom Cruise’s 1999 mystery thriller Eyes Wide Shut and remembered how much she despised it.

I saw it like three times in the theatre and the first time I saw it, I hated it. I had a visceral reaction to it I hated it so much. And then I was like, I have to see that movie again, I hated it so much.

She realized that after her third watch, she actually loved the movie. It’s not uncommon for an audience to feel cold towards a film the first time they see it because there are stories that need more than one viewing to appreciate their essence and meaning.

Johansson reflected on why she hated it and revealed “in some ways, I hated the emotional experience, it’s like a visceral reaction.” She remarked how there was passion behind the project and that she could not fault a movie that she despised.

Credits: Tom Cruise in Eyes Wide Shut / Warner Bros.

Eyes Wide Shut was released shortly after the death of director Stanley Kubrick, which made the actress more eager to watch it back then. It took a while before Johansson figured that mixed reviews and strong responses often describe a high-quality and thought-provoking film.

In the same conversation with the outlet, she mused how she would rather not have the middle ground or receive unenthusiastic reactions from viewers. “I would way rather fail in someone’s eyes than be that sort of tepid,” a thing she believed is way worse than getting half-hearted reactions.

Tom Cruise Talks About Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut

Credits: Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise in Eyes Wide Shut / Warner Bros.

In a 1999 CNN interview with Larry King, Tom Cruise explained Stanley Kubrick’s approach to making Eyes Wide Shut. The film has become controversial, but it was also a passion project from the director, thus deeper meaning lies within the surface.

Kubrick is a guy who gives you the landscape with the least amount of color. He wants the audience to participate. He wants them to imbue almost their own life and poses these questions to them…

It was, indeed, a thought-provoking movie, and the extreme reactions from the audience, including Johansson, easily proved that. As mentioned, it is a film meant to be watched several times to be understood and appreciated.

Eyes Wide Shut is currently available to watch on Prime Video.