Director Darren Aronofsky is known for his unique take on the psychological thriller subgenre, particularly for incorporating disturbing elements and themes into his films, so most cinephiles may have forgotten that the filmmaker forayed into blockbuster cinema with a film starring Emma Watson.

Aronofsky led in 2014 Noahwhich is loosely based on the biblical episode that centers on the title character and the apocalypse aspect. However, the film proved controversial in some regions, including China, where it was not released. Here’s what Aronofsky had to say about his underrated take on the biblical epic.

Darren Aronofsky explained his view of the biblical story of Noah

Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky is best known for his work on the 2000 psychodrama Requiem for a dreamwhich is generally considered to be one of the best films of the genre. However, Aronofsky devoted himself to the concept of a biblical epic with the 2014 film Noahwith Russell Crowe in the title role.

In an interview with The New Yorker, Aronofsky talked about his work on the film, emphasizing how he approached the concept, which is rooted in the Bible and religious themes.

It is the least biblical film ever made.

Aronofsky made this statement, but added that he doubted that the religious film’s existential interpretation would translate well to the screen.

Furthermore, the filmmaker admitted that his doubts only subsided after the studio assured him that the film would not be marketed to a religious audience. In addition, Aronofsky admitted that he himself is not very religious, which further increased his doubts about the film.

Noah Was not released in China, but was still a commercial success

Despite Aronofsky’s doubts, the film was a commercial success, grossing around $359.2 million worldwide. However, the director’s doubts were confirmed to some extent by the reaction to the film in China, where it was banned from theaters.

The film was reportedly heavily marketed, emphasizing its environmental message, special effects and star-studded lead cast. Despite this, the religious themes at the core of the concept reportedly led to a ban in China.

Similarly, the film’s religious undertones reportedly caused unrest in Arab countries such as Qatar, Kuwait and some others, where such issues can be extremely divisive. Noah remains the highest-grossing film of the Oscar-nominated director’s career to date.

Despite efforts by Aronofsky and Paramount Pictures to remove the film from the religious context, it was not released in several major territories. As a result, the film’s box office numbers were drastically affected, although reviews were generally positive. Despite the limitations it faced, the film was still able to achieve commercial success.

Noah is streaming on Paramount+.