Emily Shire, politics editor at Bustle, highlighted how Gadot's portrayal of Wonder Woman challenged longstanding stereotypes of Jewish women, who were often relegated to secondary or unattractive roles in film. He compared Gadot's representation of the character to Raquel Welch films of the 1960s, and reinforced a comparison with Linda Hamilton's portrayal of Sarah Connor. In contrast, he states, his character Sarah Connor "was not a beauty icon. She was strong…troubled…a terrible mother and…earned the respect of the audience through pure grit." Jenkins responded that Cameron's "inability to understand what 'Wonder Woman' is, or stands for, to women all over the world is unsurprising as, though he is a great filmmaker, he is not a woman".
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Beyond the US and Canada, the film was released day-and-date with its North American debut in 55 markets (72% of its total release) and was projected to debut with anywhere between $92–118 million. It was also the 16th superhero film to cross $100 million in its domestic box office launch. This included $11 million it made from Thursday previews, also the best start for a film directed by a woman, surpassing Fifty Shades of Grey's (2015) $8.6 million which was directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and the third-biggest of the year, behind Beauty and the Beast and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. The film opened Friday, June 2, 2017, across 4,165 theaters and made $38.2 million on its opening day, including $3.7 million in IMAX. Jenkins wanted to make a "classic, Richard Donner-style superhero movie— a tentpole of yesteryear" film.
In present-day Paris, Diana receives a photographic plate from Wayne Enterprises of herself and four men taken during World War I, prompting her to recall her past. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers and her true destiny. On July 18, Alamo Drafthouse proposed settlement offers of a Wonder Woman DVD to the complaints, stating "Respondent did not realize that advertising a 'women's only' screening was a violation of discrimination laws." The chain responded with an online statement saying the event "may have created confusion—we want everybody to see this film" and announced a similar event at their Brooklyn location. Jordan was reportedly also considering a ban of the film and suspended screenings pending a decision, but on June 11, it was reported that the government decided not to do so, as there was no legal precedent for it. On June 6, Variety reported that Algiers, the capital of Algeria, pulled the film from the "Nuits du Cinéma" film festival.
Patty Jenkins
- The Lebanese government did not ban Gadot’s Fast & Furious films which did screen in Lebanon.
- Scott Mendelson of Forbes called it “the best female-centric comic book movie,” far surpassing films like Catwoman (2004) and Elektra (2005), though he noted it has flaws and doesn’t match the 2009 animated film Wonder Woman.
- Williams then juxtaposes Wonder Woman with past female action heroes Sarah Connor, Ellen Ripley and Lara Croft, whom she suggests were all constructed for the male gaze, in which a “female warrior becomes a sex object”.
- Some criticized the casting, arguing that Gadot’s Israeli background should have disqualified her from playing the role, which is often seen as an American symbol of freedom.
- Gadot’s Wonder Woman, by contrast, presented a powerful and visually striking image of Jewish femininity, offering a new, empowering archetype for Jewish women in Hollywood.
- By August 8, the film had garnered $400 million in ticket sales, becoming the second female-fueled film (after Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), Warner Bros.’ third-biggest movie (after Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises), holding the record of the highest-earning superhero origin film, replacing the previous record held by Spider-Man (2002).
That same month, it was announced that Pedro Pascal would have a key role in the film. Jenkins officially returned as director in September 2017, with Gal Gadot reprising her role, and David Callaham joined to co-write the script with Jenkins and Johns. Gadot initially signed a contract for three DC Extended Universe (DCEU) films, including Wonder Woman, later extending it to include appearances in further DCEU projects. Annika Hernroth-Rothstein, writing for Israel Hayom, highlighted how Wonder Woman is a feminist masterpiece, portraying a strong, independent woman who challenges traditional female stereotypes. The film's release also sparked debates about reconciling feminist values with Gadot's support for Israel.
Others said she was too thin to portray the character, who traditionally is depicted as busty and muscular. Some criticized the casting, arguing that Gadot's Israeli background should have disqualified her from playing the role, which is often seen as an American symbol of freedom. Gadot later signed a three-picture deal and received a base salary of $300,000 for the film itself. Gadot had previously been offered the role of the Faora-Ul in Man of Steel (2013) but turned it down due to her pregnancy. Gadot said that the movie is a "coming-of-age story, it's about her become an adult, really. From a child to an adult, and understanding the complexities of life."
- Killian suggests these elements “should not be the focus of a kickass heroine—her beauty, bone structure and sexiness—if she is to be a feminist icon”.
- Gadot later signed a three-picture deal and received a base salary of $300,000 for the film itself.
- In its second week, the film grossed $58.5 million, again topping the box office, while also defeating The Mummy ($31.7 million).
- DC Entertainment president Diane Nelson said Wonder Woman “has been, since I started, one of the top three priorities for DC and for Warner Bros. We are still trying right now, but she’s tricky.” On October 5, 2013, WB chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara said he wanted to get Wonder Woman in a film or on TV.
- Others said she was too thin to portray the character, who traditionally is depicted as busty and muscular.
- Jenkins emphasized that creating a relatable, multifaceted character was essential, citing The Hunger Games as a significant step in changing perceptions of female leads.
- Themyscira, Wonder Woman’s utopian homeland, was depicted with azure skies, verdant fields, and clear waters, symbolizing a paradise untouched by war.
Women-only screenings
The San Francisco Chronicle's Mick LaSalle lauded the performances of Gadot, Pine, Huston and Thewlis while commending the film's "different perspective" dingo casino login and humor. Critics commented favorably on Gadot's performance of the titular character and Chris Pine's Steve Trevor. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported filmgoers gave it an 85% overall positive score and a 73% "definite recommend".
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Christina Cauterucci felt Wonder Woman's ability to be considered a "feminist antidote" was undermined by her "sex appeal". Killian suggests these elements "should not be the focus of a kickass heroine—her beauty, bone structure and sexiness—if she is to be a feminist icon". Kyle Killian found an inherent contradiction in the construction of Wonder Woman as "a warrior" who, she states, is highly sexualized. Wonder Woman, according to the BBC had "some thinking it's too feminist and others thinking it's not feminist enough".
One came from Jesse McLaren who states "Cameron's just confused there's a female hero whose motivations aren't centered around motherhood." Noah Berlatsky found areas of agreement between Cameron and Jenkins, stating that while Cameron's objection is "an old point that's been made over and over for decades", Jenkins's film is not "solely focused on objectifying Gal Gadot for a male audience". A Newsweek article suggests that in contrast to his criticism of Jenkins, Cameron's own films include "lot of objectification" and quotes Hollywood celebrities who echoed this view. She argued "there is no right and wrong kind of powerful woman" because "if women have to always be hard, tough and troubled to be strong and we aren't free to be multidimensional or celebrate an icon of women everywhere because she is attractive and loving, then we haven't come very far, have we?" Reaction to this debate was mixed. In a 2017 interview, Cameron qualifies Jenkins's vision of Wonder Woman as "an objectified icon" and called the film "a step backwards". Other critics refer to the construction of Wonder Woman in the film as "an implausible post-feminist hero".
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Jenkins responded by giving him some extra creative control over his character, which Brave Rock said was "unprecedented". Gadot described Diana as having "the heart of a human so she can be emotional, she's curious, she's compassionate, she loves people. And then she has the powers of a goddess. She's all for good, she fights for good." She also said that Diana has "many strengths and powers, but at the end of the day she's a woman with a lot of emotional intelligence". Nicole Kidman was in negotiations for the role of Queen Hippolyta, but was forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with Big Little Lies. As well, Elena Anaya's performance as Doctor Poison is the cinematic debut of that character. She said, "I trained six hours a day for six months—gym, fight choreography, and horseback riding. It was more intense than the army."
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Williams then juxtaposes Wonder Woman with past female action heroes Sarah Connor, Ellen Ripley and Lara Croft, whom she suggests were all constructed for the male gaze, in which a "female warrior becomes a sex object". Chris Nashawaty applauded the film's "smart, slick, and satisfying" tone, while emphasizing the irony that a female hero and director set new standards in a male-dominated genre. Scott Mendelson of Forbes called it "the best female-centric comic book movie," far surpassing films like Catwoman (2004) and Elektra (2005), though he noted it has flaws and doesn't match the 2009 animated film Wonder Woman.